Best places to live in Iowa
Cities and suburbs in Iowa with 25,000+ people, scored against each other: affordability on a $75k salary after taxes and rent (35%), violent crime (30%), schools (20%) and job growth (15%).
| # | City | Score | Rent | Home | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ames, IA | 71/100 | $1,023/mo | $277k | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Dubuque, IA | 62/100 | $948/mo | $205k | 5.9/10 |
| 3 | Iowa City, IA | 55/100 | $1,094/mo | $286k | 7.8/10 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 54/100 | $967/mo | $187k | 4.9/10 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | 33/100 | $978/mo | $166k | 3/10 |
| 6 | Des Moines, IA | 25/100 | $1,090/mo | $195k | 2.1/10 |
Rent, income and home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: 2026 federal and state rates for a single filer.
Compare the top 4