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IA area data

Melrose, IA

Melrose, IA.

Population: 550 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Melrose, IA is $130,842 — up 4.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $156,500 after a median 388 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$130,842

Typical home value

+4.9%

1-year change

388

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$130,842
1-year appreciation
+4.9%
3-year appreciation
+3.2%
5-year appreciation
+25.8%
10-year appreciation
+116.8%
Peak value since 2000 (May 2026)
$131,911
House Price Index (state)
386.7 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$156,500
Median list price
$160,000
Median price per sqft
$112
1-year sale-price change
-27.2%
Median days on market
388 days
Homes sold (recent period)
2
For-sale inventory
10
Sale-to-list ratio
100.6%
Active listings
7

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$688/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$709/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$927/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,247/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,251/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
drought
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Low · cold wave: Relatively Low · heat wave: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Low · strong wind: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 62% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
63.0%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
50.0°F
Average high
61.0°F
Average low
39.0°F
Annual precipitation
36.0 in
Annual snowfall
21.5 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
14
Nearest airport
Beck Airport (7 mi)
Nearest major airport
Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) (31 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
14
Hospitals include
VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI, MERCYONE DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.9 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
0 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1975
Housing built before 1970
37.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
7.1%
Median annual property tax
$821
Households with broadband internet
38.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
2,997
Average weekly wage
$1,403
Top industries (by employment)
Administrative Services, Wholesale Trade, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
12

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

MelroseState medianUS median
Typical home value$130,842$211,043$288,527
Median sale price$156,500$220,000$325,000
Median days on market388 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$821$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Melrose, IA?
$130,842.
What is the median sale price in Melrose, IA?
$156,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Melrose, IA?
Median days on market: 388 days.
What is typical rent in Melrose, IA?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $927/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Melrose, IA?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought.
What is the wildfire risk in Melrose, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 62% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Melrose, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Melrose, IA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
What is the cost of living in Melrose, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Melrose

Listing a home in Melrose, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents