Oelwein, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Oelwein, Iowa Summary

Life in Oelwein research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Oelwein over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Oelwein:

  • The population in Oelwein is 5,878.

  • The median home value in Oelwein is $109,782.

  • The median income in Oelwein is $49,821.

  • The cost of living in Oelwein is 77 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Oelwein is $762.

  • The unemployment rate in Oelwein is 7.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Oelwein is 17.1%.

  • The average high in Oelwein is 56.7° and the average low is 36.3°.

Oelwein SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8
Diversity
5
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
9

Oelwein, IA Crime Report

Crime in Oelwein summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Oelwein. Key points include:

  • There were 44 total crimes in Oelwein in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Oelwein is 764.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Oelwein is 208.6 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Oelwein is 556.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Oelwein is -63.91% below the national average.

44
Total Crimes
-63.91%
Below National Average

Crime In Oelwein Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Oelwein
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 44 764.8 1,540.0 2,119.2
Violent Crime 12 208.6 243.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 2.1 5.0
Robbery 0 0.0 18.7 61.0
Aggravated Assault 11 191.2 187.2 256.0
Property Crime 32 556.2 1,296.8 1,760.0
Burglary 6 104.3 199.1 229.0
Larceny 24 417.2 962.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 2 34.8 135.1 259.0

Oelwein, IA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Oelwein summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Oelwein. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Oelwein is 77 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Oelwein is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Oelwein is $109,782.

  • The median income in Oelwein is $49,821.

77
Oelwein's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Oelwein Comparison Table

Living Expense Oelwein Iowa National Average
Overall 77 90 100
Services 83 96 100
Groceries 93 97 100
Health 100 99 100
Housing 55 75 100
Transportation 94 99 100
Utilities 86 94 100

Oelwein, IA Weather

  • The average high in Oelwein is 56.7° and the average low is 36.3°.

  • There are 67.2 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 36.4 inches of precipitation each year with 33.3 inches of snow.

StatOelwein
Average Annual High56.7
Average Annual Low36.3
Annual Precipitation Days67.2
Average Annual Precipitation36.4
Average Annual Snowfall33.3
56.7°
Average High
67.2
Days of Rain

Rankings for Oelwein in Iowa

Locations Around Oelwein

Map Of Oelwein, IA

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Oelwein Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Oelwein

The current population in Oelwein is 5,878. The population has decreased -8.6% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 5,878 -0.9%
2022 5,934 -0.5%
2021 5,961 1.1%
2020 5,896 -1.4%
2019 5,979 -1.2%
2018 6,050 -0.7%
2017 6,093 -1.6%
2016 6,195 -1.3%
2015 6,275 -0.7%
2014 6,321 -0.7%
2013 6,368 -0.6%
2012 6,408 -0.2%
2011 6,418 -0.2%
2010 6,433 -

Race / Ethnicity in Oelwein

White
89.6% (5,267)
African American
0.2% (9)
American Indian
1.0% (56)
Asian
0.7% (42)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.0% (0)
Two Or More
5.8% (341)
Hispanic
2.8% (163)

Oelwein is:

  • 89.6% White with 5,267 White residents.

  • 0.2% African American with 9 African American residents.

  • 1.0% American Indian with 56 American Indian residents.

  • 0.7% Asian with 42 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.0% Other with 0 Other residents.

  • 5.8% Two Or More with 341 Two Or More residents.

  • 2.8% Hispanic with 163 Hispanic residents.

Race Oelwein IA USA
White 89.6% 83.1% 58.2%
African American 0.2% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 1.0% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 0.7% 2.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.0% 0.2% 0.5%
Two Or More 5.8% 3.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 2.8% 7.0% 19.0%

Gender in Oelwein

Female
51.7% (3,039)
Male
48.3% (2,838)
  • Oelwein is 51.7% female with 3,039 female residents.

  • Oelwein is 48.3% male with 2,838 male residents.

Gender Oelwein IA USA
Female 51.7% 49.9% 50.5%
Male 48.3% 50.1% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Oelwein for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Oelwein completed < 9th grade.

  • 7.0% of adults in Oelwein completed 9-12th grade.

  • 47.0% of adults in Oelwein completed high school / ged.

  • 18.0% of adults in Oelwein completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Oelwein completed associate's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Oelwein completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% of adults in Oelwein completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Oelwein completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Oelwein completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (117)
9-12th Grade
7.0% (411)
High School / GED
47.0% (2,762)
Some College
18.0% (1,058)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (587)
Bachelor's Degree
9.0% (529)
Master's Degree
6.0% (352)
Professional Degree
1.0% (58)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
Education Oelwein IA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 7.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 47.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 18.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 9.0% 21.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Oelwein, Iowa

  • 5.7% of households in Oelwein earn Less than $10,000.

  • 8.7% of households in Oelwein earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 12.4% of households in Oelwein earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 11.2% of households in Oelwein earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 12.0% of households in Oelwein earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.9% of households in Oelwein earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.8% of households in Oelwein earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 12.8% of households in Oelwein earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 2.4% of households in Oelwein earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.1% of households in Oelwein earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.7% (33,595)
$10,000 to $14,999
8.7% (51,203)
$15,000 to $24,999
12.4% (72,982)
$25,000 to $34,999
11.2% (66,031)
$35,000 to $49,999
12.0% (70,665)
$50,000 to $74,999
18.9% (111,211)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.8% (75,067)
$100,000 to $149,999
12.8% (75,067)
$150,000 to $199,999
2.4% (13,901)
$200,000 or more
3.1% (18,071)
Income Oelwein IA USA
Less than $10,000 5.7% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 8.7% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 12.4% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 11.2% 7.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.0% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.9% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.8% 14.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 12.8% 18.4% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 2.4% 8.4% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.1% 8.0% 12.6%

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