I have not spent that much time in Iowa, but it is a neighboring state to Wisconsin, where I do live.
I have researched this area once before, and I found the feedback from people who live there concerning its pros and cons.
Contents
Pros of Living in Iowa
1. Reasonable Cost of Living
Iowa has its incentives, and its cost of living, which comes in at 16.3% below the national average, is probably one of them for most people.
I was impressed when I found that out.
Median rents for a two-bedroom house are only about $793, in contrast to the $1,148 national average.
2. Less Snow Than Other States
It does not snow as much in Iowa, as in Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, or other states.
This allows for safer road conditions, even in the winter.
About 31.27 inches fall here, according to 2022 reports.
That is about 15 inches less than in Wisconsin and 30 inches less than in Michigan, and that is far less than Vermont, which gets 89.25 inches total per year.
3. Farming Opportunities
Living on a farm, in my opinion, would be more interesting than just passing through one when traveling.
You would be pretty busy working on it if you wanted to pursue this for a living.
Even if it is just for you and your household’s sustenance, Iowa would be a great place to do that.
It also seems to be an excellent place to find agricultural jobs working on other people’s farms in Iowa.
4. High Educational Rankings
Iowa ranked number one for opportunities in 2021 and number 18 for educational opportunities overall.
It has also ranked in the top 10 in different periods in history in both the K-12 and higher education sectors.
By 2022, Iowa is ranked 8th in education, and you can receive quality training here even at state and local colleges.
5. Plenty of Personal Space
It is not such a dense state that you practically bump into your neighbor’s elbow when you walk on the side of your lot. Des Moines, Iowa’s most populous city, has only 218,384 people in it.
Considering that New York City has more than a million people in all its boroughs, that is not many people.
You can live and breathe here and only talk to people when you want to.
6. Mostly Safe
Despite some metropolitan crime, Iowa still ties with Wyoming for the position of the sixth safest state in the U.S. to live in 2022.
Another report indicates that Iowa is number eight for personal safety after 2020-2021.
It ranks 18th safest state overall during this same period.
7. Variety of Seasons
Iowa is not considered one of the most exciting places to live.
However, one thing that keeps it interesting is that it does experience a range of weather during summer, fall, winter, and spring.
It also has its share of pretty flowers, such as the Snowy Goldenrod, Milkweed, or Cornflowers.
In the fall, it is one place you can go to see the changing leaf colors sooner than in other U.S. locations.
8. A Creative Place
People who do not want to drink in cornfields have to think of something else to do with their time – just kidding.
Iowa does not consume nearly as much alcohol as Wisconsin does.
Iowa comes in at 24th, as opposed to WI being eighth as reported in 2022.
However, this state has more going for it if you are one of those people who like arts, crafts, music, and other creative pursuits.
Cons of Living in Iowa
1. Harsh Winters
My experience with Wisconsin winters is that we have enough snow to insulate.
It is much harder to deal with the dryness of a winter without snow too.
That is rough.
I do feel sorry for Iowans because of this.
I contend with enough skin problems as it is, such as chapped hands and lips.
I cannot imagine what it is like for them.
By the way, average January temperatures are about 14 degrees Fahrenheit here, and it sometimes reaches -50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It does also get this cold in WI sometimes.
However, the primary difference remains about how much snow a place does or does not have.
Snow just always seems to make cold air less frigid on subzero days.
2. Boring Landscape
“Iowa is a very rural state… Anywhere that isn’t a city is pretty much one huge cornfield.” —City-Data Forum User.
It didn’t make the top 10 list of flattest states.
However, the local perception is that it consists of mainly cornfields.
This may be part of the reason it also ranked the sixth most boring state overall.
More than half of the people in the state over 15 are married, but that does not necessarily mean you cannot have fun here.
3. High Crime in Cities
Maybe the most exciting thing about Iowa is its high crime rate in the cities.
I am not sure why that is, but Cedar Rapids, for instance, has a 2019 safety index ranking of -.21.
It is still one of the least dangerous cities because of its population density, however (77,390 in 2022).
At least it is safer than Davenport or Des Moines, which have two to three times more violent crimes than Cedar Rapids.
Some Iowa residents, however, think of Cedar Rapids as not that safe.
4. No Major Sports Teams
This may be a bummer for people who like the NFL, AFL, or NBA teams.
However, the state does still have plenty of minor baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, and other sports teams in it.
Of course, that does not mean Iowans cannot enjoy major sports on TV, but they do not have them.
5. Sparse Beaches and Mountains
Iowa does have its Big Creek State Park in Des Moines, and it also has lakeside dining and campsites.
However, you will not see many mountains unless you are near the Mississippi River.
It does have some rivers and streams though.
6. Lack of Entertainment (Some Places)
Apparently, you have places like Centerville that only have a Walmart.
That is the equivalent of a Wisconsin, whose prime social spot beside the bars is the local Kwik Trip in small communities.
Iowa does also have some Kwik Trips (or Kwik Stars), just in case you want some other place to hang out than Walmart.
7. Low Income
It is nice to have a low cost of living.
However, you may have to think of a way to work at home, such as online freelancing, to take advantage of an inexpensive lifestyle.
Local incomes might only average about $30,000 per year or less.
8. Not Much Ethnic Diversity
Word has it that Iowa is about 90% white.
I did not believe it until I saw it for myself.
Sure enough, it is the seventh least ethnic diverse state in the U.S.
Pros and Cons of Living in Iowa – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Iowa | Cons of Living in Iowa |
|---|---|
| 1. Reasonable Cost of Living | 1. Harsh Winters |
| 2. Less Snow Than Other States | 2. Boring Landscape |
| 3. Farming Opportunities | 3. High Crime in Cities |
| 4. High Educational Rankings | 4. No Major Sports Teams |
| 5. Plenty of Personal Space | 5. Sparse Beaches and Mountains |
| 6. Mostly Safe | 6. Lack of Entertainment (Some Places) |
| 7. Variety of Seasons | 7. Low Income |
| 8. A Creative Place | 8. Not Much Ethnic Diversity |
Iowa Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Iowa Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job market like in Iowa?
The state’s May 2022 unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is lower than the national average of 3.6%.
Despite the fewer people, it seems that you can find career opportunities here.
The tradeoff is you may earn less than in other states.
In 2019, the state’s median household income was $61,691 in contrast to $65,712 for the rest of the U.S.
What is the crime rate in Iowa?
The state’s violent crime rate is 267 per 100,000 people (2.67 per 1,000 people) as of 2019.
That is pretty low in contrast to the national rate of 379 per 100,000 people (3.79 per 1,000 people).
Iowa reportedly has the 13th lowest violent crime rate during this same period.
What is the housing market like in Iowa?
In January 2022, there were only 1,800 houses for sale as opposed to the usual 3,000 by this time in past years.
This is, however, a slight improvement from the 1,600 for sale in 2021.
This has quite a bit to do with the rising demand, when people decided to buy a house when prices were still low in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began.
You might want to wait until the economy normalizes a little before trying to buy a home – anywhere, including in Iowa.
If you do find one, however, it is probably one place to do it in 2022 because of how low the cost of living is here.
What is the weather like in Iowa?
“It is not always snowing or tornado-ing. It is called June”, says Tim Carty of Livability in 2019.
I had to chuckle at that quote a little.
I know what that is like.
People probably think that about where I am from too (WI).
Although for me, the “always snowing” might be closer to the truth than for Iowa, and the tornado situation would be truer for Iowa than for Wisconsin.
Thank goodness for me, but it is not for them.
It is ranked number eight in states that experience the most tornadoes.
Average Iowa temperatures based on Des Moines records are lows of 11-29 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and highs during the same season of 29-48 degrees.
Spring, summer, and fall averages range from lows of 39-66 degrees Fahrenheit and highs of 61-86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is it too cold to swim in Iowa?
I think this would be an excellent place to have a summer cottage, but the water might be too cold to swim in for some people.
You probably would want to go in June, July or August.
What is there to do in Iowa?
To me, finding what to do in Iowa seems like a mystery.
It is possible, however, as travel agencies and visitor websites always promise.
In this state, you could try out the Central Gardens of Northern Iowa or visit the famous architecture of Mason City.
If kayaking is your thing, Charles City is a good place for that.
It is also one of the best places to view sunrises and sunsets near the Cedar River shore.
Even if the state does not drink as much alcohol as Wisconsin, you can still do some wine tasting and visit some breweries here too.
It also has its share of shopping malls and small stores that sell vintage items and arts or crafts.
What are the best Iowa restaurants?
When living in Iowa, you do have to eat sometimes.
Maybe you do not always want to have meals delivered, so here are some restaurant ideas for you.
Some rated the highest include the Iowa River Restaurant, Breitbach’s Country Dining, and Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge.
Menu items range from bar & grille-style food to family meals that taste like home-cooked dinners.
In case you are curious, you might want to check out some of Iowa’s most-eaten Iowan foods.
Items most often eaten in Iowa at restaurants or potlucks include the Quad City-Style Pizza, Snickers Salad (which for some reason has apple chunks in it??), and a pork tenderloin sandwich (unless you don’t for religious or spiritual reasons).
Loose meat sandwiches (which would be called “sloppy joes” in WI), and the “Haystack” salad that contains chunks of beef or other meat is also popular in Iowa.
Great information and funny! Thank you!
Thanks for the info. Very helpful! We are moving soon…
Thanks for the info. Very helpful! BTW, lack of “diversity” is a pro ( not a con).
Stay in the cities people, a rural state isn’t for you yuppies