IA area data
Prairie city, IA
Prairie city, IA.
Population: 2,120 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Prairie city, IA is $272,655 — up 4.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $382,000 after a median 27 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, hail, strongwind the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$272,655
Median home value
+4.9%
1-year change
27
Median days on market
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $272,655
- 1-year appreciation
- +4.9%
- 3-year appreciation
- +10.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- +29.5%
- 10-year appreciation
- +86.2%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $272,655
- House Price Index (state)
- 379.0 (+3.7% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $382,000
- Median list price
- $335,000
- Median price per sqft
- $234
- 1-year sale-price change
- +34.0%
- Median days on market
- 27 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 15
- For-sale inventory
- 8
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 97.8%
- Active listings
- 4
- 1-year forecast
- +1.1%
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Studio fair-market rent
- $830/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $840/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,070/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,420/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $1,450/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Low)
- 89.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 13.7¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $10.60/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 2
- Elementary schools
- 1
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 0
- Schools include
- PCM Middle School, Prairie City Elementary School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- drought, hail, strongWind, tornado, winterWeather
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 33% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 39.4%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Des Moines TCE (20.4 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (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
- 60.0°F
- Average low
- 40.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 40.0 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)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 2.0 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 20,774
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 19,151
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 18
- Nearest airport
- Newton Municipal Airport (TNU) (13 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (22 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 2
- Hospitals include
- MERCYONE NEWTON MEDICAL CENTER, PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 4.0 / 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 · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -42 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,972
- Housing built before 1970
- 45.7%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 19.0%
- Median annual property tax
- $2,670
- Mean commute to work
- 28 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 55.6%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 8,174
- Average weekly wage
- $908
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 11
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Prairie city | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $272,655 | $211,348 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $382,000 | $220,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 27 days | 48 days | 51 days |
| Median annual property tax | $2,670 | $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 median home value in Prairie city, IA?
- $272,655.
- What is the median sale price in Prairie city, IA?
- $382,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in Prairie city, IA?
- Median days on market: 27 days.
- What is typical rent in Prairie city, IA?
- 2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,070/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Prairie city, IA?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, hail, strongWind, tornado, winterWeather.
- Is Prairie city, IA in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in Prairie city, IA?
- Risk to homes is higher than 33% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Prairie city, IA?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Prairie city, IA?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Prairie city, IA?
- 2 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Prairie city, IA walkable?
- Walkability index: 2.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the cost of living in Prairie city, IA?
- Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Prairie city
Selling a home in Prairie city, IA?
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →