The 10 Best Places To Live In Iowa For 2024

The 10 Best Places To Live In Iowa For 2024

More on Sergeant Bluff: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Sergeant Bluff, part of the Sioux City Metropolitan Statistical Area, offers a robust economy, high educational attainment with 40% of adults being highly educated, and a low 4.2 unemployment rate.

A historical site since 1852 and the first town in Woodbury County, it’s located near the Sioux Gateway Airport, Interstate 29, and the Missouri River. With a population of 5,007, it ensures affordability with a median home value of $331,417, a median rent of $1,155, and a 117,500 median income, all complemented by a low crime rate. So you won’t have to call the sergeant anytime soon in Sergeant Bluff.

More on Asbury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’re taking a drive out to eastern Iowa to reach our 2nd best place in the state, Asbury. A suburb of Dubuque, Asbury’s local economy is quite small. But the residents who are working in Dubuque do quite well for themselves, seeing as Asbury has the 4th highest median household income in Iowa at $117,391/year. Homes are also the 5th most expensive statewide in Asbury, with a median price of $333,805. That doesn’t seem to be turning people off of Asbury though because a whopping 90% of the population opts to buy instead of rent. And with Asbury’s population exploding by more than 40% since 2010, the housing market isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

Asbury also has the 9th lowest poverty level in Iowa at 5.5%. An incredibly high 98.0% of residents also have health insurance, the 6th highest rate in the state. While Asbury itself doesn’t have a whole lot going on in terms of entertainment, a short drive to Dubuque can get you to the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium or the Dubuque Botanical Gardens any time you want.

More on Eldridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

You would be hard-pressed to find an area more family friendly than Eldridge. This community located a little north of Davenport has almost everything a parent would want in a place to raise their children, including access to quality education. GreatSchools gives the area’s Neil Armstrong Elementary School an 8/10 rating.

Moms and dads in Eldridge do not have to fret about how they are going to foot the bill for extracurricular activities either. The city’s median household income of $89,946 should provide the financial wiggle room needed to cover the cost of gymnastics, piano lessons, and the like.

And for those oh-so-memorable family bonding moments like weekend camping trips, the more than 1,000 acres of Scott County Park should do the trick. Plus, Eldridge has the 12th lowest levels of total crime in the state, you can let your youngsters roam free with minimal worry.

More on North Liberty: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’re finishing off our tour of the best places to call home in Iowa with North Liberty, a southern suburb of Cedar Rapids. North Liberty enjoys the 5th lowest crime rate in Iowa, which is about 50% lower than the national average. North Liberty is served by two school districts that together spend 20% more per student than the Iowa average, so you know your kiddos will get all the resources they need here.

North Liberty has an incredibly low unemployment rate of just 2.0%, which ranks as the 12th lowest in Iowa. Folks that do have jobs enjoy the 9th highest median household income in the state at $100,197/year.

North Liberty also knows how to party year-round. In the summer, it’s all about the Blues & BBQ festival, while a week of winter is dedicated to Beat the Bitter events.

More on Pella: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Head forty miles southeast of Des Moines and you will find Pella. If you dream of residing in Europe but that is not in the cards right now, this city founded by Dutch immigrants could be your next best option.

Pella offers many of the perks associated with life abroad. Some of the most notable being the high quality of life people who reside here can achieve thanks to a 1.7% unemployment rate and the 5th lowest levels of poverty in Iowa.

That reliable paycheck means the area’s $313,636 median home value is within reach. Parents will especially want to harness their purchasing power to land an abode zoned for Pella Middle School, which gets a 9/10 rating from GreatSchools.

Beyond providing its residents the opportunity to earn and learn their way to a better life, Pella also serves up a taste of Dutch culture — literally and figuratively. The city honors its roots through food, architecture, events and more. The area is even home to the Vermeer Windmill, the tallest working grain windmill in the United States.

More on Urbandale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Urbandale is another Des Moines suburb located just west of the capital. With a population of 45,591, Urbandale is the most populous city we’ll be covering on this list. It’s a popular choice for those working in Des Moines looking to get away from the increased crime rates associated with the bigger city. Homes in Urbandale are the 8th most expensive in the state at $326,786. That doesn’t seem to put people off though because nearly 80% of folks choose to buy instead of rent in Urbandale. Having the 5th highest median household income in the state at $111,888/year certainly helps offset the cost.

The economy works for everyone in Urbandale as well. The unemployment rate is a measly 2.1% and the poverty level is the 8th lowest in Iowa at 5.5%.

Of course, being just 15 minutes from the heart of Des Moines comes with some great perks. Like being able to get the freshest goodies around at the Des Moines Farmer’s Market and having ready access to all the events put on at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. And if you don’t feel like looking for parking in Des Moines, there’s always the option to catch a Buccaneers game closer to home.

More on Sioux Center: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Located an hour north of Sioux City and south of Sioux Falls, the aptly named Sioux Center is the 7th best place to call home in Iowa. The unemployment rate in Sioux Center is the 3rd lowest in Iowa at 1.1%. If you’re part of the mega-majority of employed residents, you also get the advantage of having the 7th shortest commute time in the state at just 11 minutes. That ought to help cut down on the everyday stress of traveling to and from work.

The median age in Sioux Center is a spritely 31, making it the youngest place to make this list. Don’t let the young median age fool you, though; Sioux Center has the essentials down pat. In fact, it’s the safest place in Iowa. On top of that, Sioux Center spends 60% more per student and has a student-teacher ratio 30% lower than the statewide average.

As for non-essentials, Sioux Center also has you covered with the Siouxnami Waterpark, home to the only aqua zipline in Iowa. For the more mature crowd, there’s always a chance to get the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra at Dordt University.

More on Johnston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Next up on our tour of Iowa’s best cities in Johnston, a northern suburb of Des Moines. GreatSchools gave Johnston’s public schools an average score of 8/10, the best rating of anywhere on this list. The investment in youth pays off, because the high school dropout rate in Johnston is among the lowest in the state, while test scores and graduation rates are among the highest. This love of education transcends generations in Johnston, because over half the adult population finished college, and a whopping 20% have a master’s degree, PhD, or professional degree.

History buffs with a military bent will find plenty to love at Johnston’s Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, while those just looking for a do-nothing day will find solace at Saylorville Lake. At either venue, you won’t have to worry about criminal activity, because Johnston had the 8th lowest crime rate in Iowa.

If you’re trying to buy a home in Johnston, it’ll cost you about $374,570, the 3rd highest price tag in the state. On the other hand, the median household income in Johnston is also the 11th highest in the state at $98,324/year, so if you can get salaries to match, the high price of housing shouldn’t faze you much. Nor should medical bills, seeing as 97.5% of residents have health insurance, the 12th highest rate of places in Iowa.

More on Norwalk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

You could say living in Norwalk is the equivalent to getting a hole-in-one — and not only because it has three golf courses, including the nationally recognized one at The Legacy Golf Club.

Located right outside of Des Moines, this city of 13,057 offers a win-win for the wallets of its residents. With the first being an affordable cost of living. Considering that Norwalk landed a spot on this list, one would expect living here to come with a sky-high price tag. Instead, everyday costs are surprisingly reasonable in this community — take its median home value of $318,235 for example.

But you might think practically all the prices here are reasonable if you have the city’s median household income of $94,176 — the area’s second financial upside. Employers in Norwalk not only pay their people well, but they take care of them too. The city ranks 2nd in the state for the amount of residents with health insurance.

More on Windsor Heights: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Located in Polk County, Windsor Heights is the 10th most desirable place to live in the state. Since its incorporation in 1941, the city has thrived economically, evidenced by a low 2.0 unemployment rate, ranking 14th best in Iowa, and a high 85,055 median income.

Windsor Heights’ residents enjoy a safe environment with low crime rates, ranking 70th best statewide in total crime per capita. Bordered by Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, and West Des Moines, it ensures easy access to work with an average 16 minute commute.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Iowa

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Iowa across a number of criteria from one to 77, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Iowa.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher is better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Iowa’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Iowa. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Sergeant Bluff at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Best Places To Live In Iowa Table