The 10 Happiest Cities In Iowa For 2024


The happiest cities in Iowa are Cedar Falls and Carroll for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Welcome to the happiest places in Iowa.

Using Saturday Night Science and data, we determined the cities and towns with the most rainbows, butterflies, puppies, and unicorns.

You know, the places where people have jobs, white-picked fences, and friendly neighbors – unicorn cities.

After analyzing the 84 largest cities, we happily present the happiest cities in the Hawkeye State.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


Happiest Cities In Iowa Map

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably live in one of these cities.

Oh, and by the way, Perry is the most miserable place in Iowa.

For more Iowa reading, check out:

The 10 Happiest Places In Iowa For 2024

Cedar Falls, IA

Source: Wikipedia User RifeIdeas | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 40,686
Poverty Level: 17.0%
Median Home Price $233,285
Married Households 27.0%
Households With Kids 23.04%
More on Cedar Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Cedar Falls is by far the happiest place in the state of Iowa. Let’s see why.
First off, having a solid family life is a good indication of how happy someone is. Lots of the residents of Cedar Falls aren’t missing out on love; more than 27% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 15 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.

Carroll, IA

Source: Wikipedia User David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 10,270
Poverty Level: 8.9%
Median Home Price $184,709
Married Households 37.0%
Households With Kids 23.82%
More on Carroll: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Things look to be pretty pleasant in Carroll. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (37%) mean there’s lots of stability at home.
In addition to those factors, there is a thriving amount of community involvement. Studies have shown that a key factor to happiness is when people volunteer, especially in their own neighborhoods.

Decorah, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 7,611
Poverty Level: 9.8%
Median Home Price $277,060
Married Households 24.0%
Households With Kids 20.3%
More on Decorah: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

The people who live in Decorah have a lot going for them. 45% of them have college degrees, and they command some of the highest salaries in IA. 24% of the people here are married.
Most of these all tops in the entire state.

Atlantic, IA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 6,770
Poverty Level: 21.4%
Median Home Price $138,713
Married Households 30.0%
Households With Kids 27.02%
More on Atlantic: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Atlantic is where you can bet there are lots of smiley and happy people all over town. Crime is essentially something that just doesn’t happen here very often. And when you can let your guard down and relax a little, the lack of stress really makes a difference.
Same goes on the job front. Only 1.3% of residents here are out of work. Sounds like there are jobs for just about everyone who wants one. Which must be a good feeling to have.

Iowa City, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 74,878
Poverty Level: 26.7%
Median Home Price $279,401
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 17.7%
More on Iowa City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Iowa City. It seriously looks like something out of a commercial.
They have a 17 minute commute time, which means lots more time with the kids.

Nevada, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Richc80 | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 6,933
Poverty Level: 11.4%
Median Home Price $224,887
Married Households 38.0%
Households With Kids 26.54%
More on Nevada: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

For those who say that money doesn’t buy happiness, you’re half right. Studies have shown that people are happy up to a certain point when it comes to annual salaries, somewhere around $72,000 a year. After that, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’re not going to be much happier.
The residents of Nevada have that covered. Plus about 38% of households are married.

Spirit Lake, IA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 5,409
Poverty Level: 5.7%
Median Home Price $306,042
Married Households 28.0%
Households With Kids 24.2%
More on Spirit Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Most of the people in Spirit Lake have to be ‘plum’ happy. True happiness is ‘Home Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.

Orange City, IA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 6,278
Poverty Level: 7.5%
Median Home Price $270,941
Married Households 38.0%
Households With Kids 26.84%
More on Orange City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Less than 5.4% of the residents in Orange City are jobless, which is just about as low as you’ll see.

Incomes are steady, and commute times are really low as well. That really takes away the stress factors that stop folks from relaxing and enjoying their ‘down time’ to do the little things that matter: Walks in the park, time alone with a book and extra face time with the children.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 5,417
Poverty Level: 14.7%
Median Home Price $187,712
Married Households 39.0%
Households With Kids 29.89%
More on Sheldon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

About 20% of residents in Sheldon, IA have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, ‘Ignorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.

Not only are most of the residents of Sheldon smart, they’re safe, too.

Pella, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Dekkanar at English Wikipedia | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 10,556
Poverty Level: 4.2%
Median Home Price $313,636
Married Households 34.0%
Households With Kids 29.27%
More on Pella: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

In Pella, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (14 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Pella.

Methodology: How We Measured The Happiest Cities In The Hawkeye State

To rank the happiest places in Iowa, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.

So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2018-2022 report for the happy criteria, added some Saturday Night Science, and generated the answer.

Here are the criteria we used to measure happiness:

  • Percentage of residents with a college degree
  • Average commute times
  • Unemployment rates
  • Cost of living
  • % of married couples
  • % of families with kids
  • Poverty rate

After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 84 places in Iowa with over 5,000 people.

We then ranked each place from one to 84 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the happiest.

Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Happy Index for each place with the lowest overall Happy Index “earning” the title “Happiest City In Iowa.”

If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, happiest to saddest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.

We updated this article for 2024, and it’s our tenth time ranking the happiest cities in Iowa.

There You Have It – The Happiest Cities In Iowa

As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in Iowa is usually a subjective matter.

But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.

The happiest cities in Iowa are Cedar Falls, Carroll, Decorah, Atlantic, Iowa City, Nevada, Spirit Lake, Orange City, Sheldon, and Pella.

If you’re curious enough, here are the most miserable cities in Iowa, according to science:

  1. Perry
  2. Marshalltown
  3. Oelwein

For more Iowa reading, check out:

Happiest Cities In Iowa For 2024

Rank City Population Poverty Level Median Home Value % Married % Kids
1 Cedar Falls, IA 40,686 17.0% $233,285 27.0% 23.04%
2 Carroll, IA 10,270 8.9% $184,709 37.0% 23.82%
3 Decorah, IA 7,611 9.8% $277,060 24.0% 20.3%
4 Atlantic, IA 6,770 21.4% $138,713 30.0% 27.02%
5 Iowa City, IA 74,878 26.7% $279,401 15.0% 17.7%
6 Nevada, IA 6,933 11.4% $224,887 38.0% 26.54%
7 Spirit Lake, IA 5,409 5.7% $306,042 28.0% 24.2%
8 Orange City, IA 6,278 7.5% $270,941 38.0% 26.84%
9 Sheldon, IA 5,417 14.7% $187,712 39.0% 29.89%
10 Pella, IA 10,556 4.2% $313,636 34.0% 29.27%
11 Clear Lake, IA 7,642 6.8% $314,635 38.0% 20.31%
12 Waverly, IA 10,399 9.7% $246,782 37.0% 29.25%
13 Ames, IA 66,265 26.8% $242,576 13.0% 16.13%
14 Johnston, IA 23,856 10.5% $374,570 35.0% 37.45%
15 Manchester, IA 5,112 8.6% $160,728 52.0% 21.7%
16 Sergeant Bluff, IA 5,007 8.3% $331,417 43.0% 47.59%
17 Sioux Center, IA 8,227 2.7% $306,984 32.0% 36.7%
18 Mount Pleasant, IA 9,214 15.8% $176,987 27.0% 28.14%
19 Windsor Heights, IA 5,200 8.0% $264,202 35.0% 30.16%
20 Dubuque, IA 59,315 13.0% $216,138 30.0% 23.84%
21 West Des Moines, IA 68,744 7.5% $294,330 25.0% 26.07%
22 Cherokee, IA 5,154 22.4% $136,850 38.0% 26.33%
23 Grinnell, IA 9,511 10.2% $198,148 22.0% 23.02%
24 Charles City, IA 7,364 13.4% $128,017 37.0% 21.04%
25 Independence, IA 6,106 11.7% $192,496 37.0% 27.75%
26 Bondurant, IA 7,617 6.1% $319,817 40.0% 55.7%
27 Urbandale, IA 45,591 5.5% $326,786 36.0% 36.88%
28 Mason City, IA 27,271 10.5% $144,252 35.0% 22.81%
29 Algona, IA 5,443 10.3% $166,950 33.0% 22.05%
30 Coralville, IA 22,494 10.7% $234,792 18.0% 27.19%
31 Le Mars, IA 10,549 6.9% $223,605 39.0% 33.94%
32 Adel, IA 6,090 7.9% $389,668 47.0% 37.13%
33 Fairfield, IA 9,474 17.1% $147,059 14.0% 24.14%
34 Spencer, IA 11,351 13.6% $172,012 32.0% 25.4%
35 Ankeny, IA 68,392 4.7% $323,344 37.0% 35.59%
36 Clive, IA 18,576 2.7% $397,338 33.0% 34.18%
37 Eldridge, IA 6,693 1.5% $307,856 36.0% 46.7%
38 Creston, IA 7,519 13.8% $127,665 28.0% 26.24%
39 Marion, IA 41,401 7.1% $249,715 40.0% 32.68%
40 Polk City, IA 5,604 7.1% $399,341 56.0% 42.98%
41 Iowa Falls, IA 5,095 9.0% $122,764 40.0% 20.99%
42 Burlington, IA 23,976 17.8% $115,784 29.0% 26.57%
43 Asbury, IA 5,890 5.5% $333,805 41.0% 45.67%
44 Waukee, IA 25,045 5.8% $337,040 33.0% 42.34%
45 Knoxville, IA 7,523 13.0% $180,777 38.0% 28.95%
46 Cedar Rapids, IA 136,929 11.4% $183,682 28.0% 27.57%
47 Winterset, IA 5,366 9.9% $258,592 30.0% 31.75%
48 Washington, IA 7,329 11.6% $169,496 31.0% 28.49%
49 Oskaloosa, IA 11,492 17.0% $162,462 31.0% 30.49%
50 Boone, IA 12,482 8.2% $166,057 36.0% 29.62%
51 Bettendorf, IA 38,997 7.4% $294,879 25.0% 35.2%
52 Hiawatha, IA 7,179 12.3% $234,116 30.0% 29.32%
53 Norwalk, IA 13,057 4.1% $318,235 43.0% 37.15%
54 Fort Dodge, IA 24,850 15.1% $126,549 24.0% 24.35%
55 Davenport, IA 101,448 15.8% $166,729 23.0% 25.9%
56 Grimes, IA 15,402 6.5% $330,335 36.0% 41.77%
57 Estherville, IA 5,881 14.7% $105,579 25.0% 21.28%
58 North Liberty, IA 20,393 4.5% $286,151 28.0% 39.69%
59 Clinton, IA 24,524 17.0% $118,088 28.0% 23.75%
60 Indianola, IA 15,845 8.7% $279,064 32.0% 34.14%
61 Waterloo, IA 67,256 17.4% $135,521 27.0% 27.62%
62 Council Bluffs, IA 62,670 13.6% $196,527 21.0% 27.31%
63 Sioux City, IA 85,469 14.8% $179,943 24.0% 33.69%
64 Muscatine, IA 23,671 17.4% $171,138 26.0% 36.65%
65 Webster City, IA 7,787 8.6% $139,256 35.0% 28.25%
66 Osceola, IA 5,455 19.8% $163,656 32.0% 32.75%
67 Pleasant Hill, IA 10,456 9.3% $289,143 38.0% 36.58%
68 Glenwood, IA 5,128 8.8% $288,271 18.0% 19.98%
69 Centerville, IA 5,393 25.3% $73,340 26.0% 23.05%
70 Altoona, IA 20,017 6.0% $300,143 38.0% 34.96%
71 Des Moines, IA 213,164 15.2% $194,392 21.0% 29.63%
72 Maquoketa, IA 6,123 16.7% $177,483 36.0% 30.35%
73 Fort Madison, IA 10,293 14.5% $102,359 29.0% 25.08%
74 Ottumwa, IA 25,359 19.0% $108,733 26.0% 34.21%
75 Storm Lake, IA 11,194 6.4% $170,758 17.0% 29.13%
76 Newton, IA 15,692 12.4% $161,059 34.0% 28.3%
77 Denison, IA 8,316 20.9% $162,813 17.0% 43.81%
78 Clarinda, IA 5,371 11.8% $116,188 24.0% 25.66%
79 Red Oak, IA 5,563 18.6% $106,242 32.0% 28.96%
80 Keokuk, IA 9,868 19.3% $77,849 23.0% 29.06%
81 Anamosa, IA 5,493 19.1% $220,620 19.0% 33.85%
82 Oelwein, IA 5,934 17.5% $97,930 32.0% 27.44%
83 Marshalltown, IA 27,511 14.3% $148,067 23.0% 36.74%
84 Perry, IA 7,875 13.9% $141,243 20.0% 28.23%
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 900,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.