c.1902 Iowa Colonial Revival With Beautiful Woodwork Under $154K

508 West St, Shenandoah, IA 51601  $153,500

• Contact Realtor: Shawn P Munsinger
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• Niche

John Burkhiser (1841-1921) was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to this country when a young man and found employment upon a farm. At the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted and served for three years. After the close of the war he married and moved to Indiana, where he remained for only a short time. He then moved with his family to Putnam county, Missouri, where he bought a farm and remained for two years. He then traded his farm in Missouri for a farm of eighty acres in Fremont County, Iowa, and by hard work and honest methods he increased his land holdings in Fremont County until he was the owner of one thousand one hundred and forty acres of excellent land. He continued in active charge of his farm work until 1909, when he retired from active life and moved to this home in Shenandoah, Iowa.

After the death of his wife Mary in 1913, he moved to Texas where he died in 1921.  John Burkhiser and wife were the parents of eleven children: Conde F., who married Kathrine Roach; Matilda, the wife of William Swift; Sylvester, who died at the age of three; Dorothy, the wife of Charles O’Brien; Annie, unmarried; Laura, the wife of Joseph Hilger; Mary, who became the wife of Louis Hilger; John, a Catholic priest at Des Moines, Iowa; Ernest, who is unmarried; Agnes, who died at the age of eighteen months; Charles V.,

Pros of Living in Shenandoah, IA

1. Extremely Affordable Cost of Living

• Total living costs are about 30% below the U.S. average and about 12% less than Iowa’s average. Monthly expenses for a single person are around ~$1,970, and ~$1,740 for a family—well below national norms.

• Housing is notably inexpensive: median home value is around $108,500—nearly 68% below U.S. average—and average rent for a two-bedroom is $770/month.

2. High Livability & Sense of Community

• Ranked in the top cities in Iowa for livability (#189 in IA, #3,431 in U.S.), ranked above 88% of U.S. communities.

• Locals report good walkability within neighborhoods and a strong feeling of safety and belonging.

• One user review:

  “I love the close community… safe… someone is always looking after you… constantly trying to improve our town.”

3. Decent Education Outcomes

• The public schools receive solid reviews: math proficiency around 62%, reading proficiency around 71%, and a student-teacher ratio near 15:1. The district earns a B‑minus grade from Niche.

• High school math proficiency is relatively strong compared to rest of Iowa.

4. Compact Commutes & Historic Character

• Average commute time is about 17 minutes—low traffic makes travel easy

• Shenandoah offers charm with historic architecture and landmarks like the old Wabash Depot alongside the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

Cons of Living in Shenandoah, IA

1. Elevated Crime Rates

• CrimeGrade.org gives Shenandoah a D‑ overall grade for safety: both violent and property crimes are significantly above national averages (overall crime occurs in as many as 48 per 1,000 residents). Your chance of being a victim changes by neighborhood, from 1 in 9 to 1 in 33.

• Areavibes also highlights overall crime as a major concern.

2. Limited Job Market & Low Income

• Median household income is around $44,900/year, significantly below the U.S. median (~$69,000), with per capita income only ~$25,100.

• The town’s job base shrank by 6.4% in the last year; projected growth over next decade is ~14.8%, well below the U.S. average (~33.5%).

3. Small Town with Few Amenities

• Population is under 5,000 and has stagnated in recent years. Shenandoah is stable but has limited retail or cultural amenities.

• While residents rank walkability highly, most amenities still require driving.

4. Social & Cultural Limitations

• A sparse rental market and limited diversity: