Best places to live in Iowa
CityLedger tracks 5 Iowa metros, led by Des Moines. Cost of living runs from about 87 to 92 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 5 metros in Iowa, the largest being the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area (around 753,913 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $71,446 in Davenport to $85,446 in Des Moines, and typical rent from $933 a month in Cedar Rapids upward — a reminder that "Iowa" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Waterloo has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 87 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Des Moines delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $93,179.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Iowa levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.9% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Iowa state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Des Moines earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 72/100; Des Moines is the fastest-growing, up 7.8% over the latest population estimate; Des Moines carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $9 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 72 | 92 | $85,446 | $1,178/mo |
| Iowa City, IA | 70 | 92 | $75,225 | $1,099/mo |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 61 | 89 | $75,295 | $933/mo |
| Davenport, IA | 56 | 89 | $71,446 | $971/mo |
| Waterloo, IA | 56 | 87 | $72,382 | $1,047/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Iowa — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Iowa?
- By overall price level, Waterloo is the most affordable metro in Iowa, at about 87 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Iowa?
- Des Moines has the highest cost-adjusted income in Iowa — a median of about $93,179 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Iowa have a state income tax?
- Yes. Iowa levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 6.9%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Iowa metro has the highest livability score?
- Des Moines, at 72/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.