Is Living In Iowa Worth It? The Surprising Truth

Is Living In Iowa Worth It? The Surprising Truth

Scenic green fields in Iowa

Updated 2/17/23

Moving to another state without knowing the ins and outs of living there can be tough. If you’re considering a move to Iowa, you’re probably looking into what life in Iowa is like. You may be surprised to learn that the Hawkeye State has a lot to offer! In this guide, we’ve consolidated some pros and cons of living in Iowa to help you determine if Iowa is a good place to live.

Graphic reading "Moving Blog: Is living in Iowa worth it? The surprising truth." with an image of the capitol building.

Cost of Living In Iowa

For many people, the most appealing thing about Iowa is its cost of living! Iowa is one of the least expensive states to live in in the entire country.

Groceries tend to be more affordable. Things like healthcare meet the country’s average, but with the savings in other demographics that still makes the cost of living in Iowa enticing.

For those looking for more flexibility with their living options, wanting a higher quality of life for less, or looking to save, Iowa is a nice option in terms of the cost of living.

Southern and Midwestern states compare greatly with Iowa in terms of cost of living. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living, but it has a higher unemployment rate than Iowa at 4%. Iowa is a better prospect when looking at other factors like the unemployment rate and housing.

Housing In Iowa

The cost of housing in Iowa is 24% lower than the national average, and utilities are 4% lower.

Iowa has great opportunities for family homes. Bigger cities like Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids have surrounding suburbs to meet the goals of families looking to settle down, while still having access to jobs in the city.

The previously mentioned big cities have bustling downtowns to rent apartments in. This is well suited for the recent college grad or young person looking to experience city life.

Housing in Iowa is also not mutually exclusive to a house or apartment. There are also townhomes, duplexes, condos, and anything in between.

Finding housing in Iowa is relatively easy. The best times to look at renting or housing in Iowa, in general, is late July through November.

Pros of Living In Iowa

Safety

If we’re talking pros and cons of living in Iowa you can’t overlook safety. Iowa is an extremely safe place to live in the United States. It has low crime rates compared to the national average.

Only 31% of people from Iowa report anxiety about their safety, which is fifteen percentage points lower than the average person. This means the typical worries that you may have in popular states like California, Texas, or New York will be less in Iowa. If you have a family or just in general are extra cautious about safety, then Iowa may be the place for you.

Great Education

Another great thing about Iowa is its educational opportunities. Iowa is one of the top twenty states in terms of education. The state is also home to the country’s highest graduation rate at 91.6%. If you are looking for a good place to raise a family and give your kids the best education possible, Iowa might be the right place for you to live.

Beyond high school, there are also many great schools in Iowa, from community colleges to small and regional universities. Many successful names in the writing and film industry have attended the University of Iowa. Iowa State is great for agriculture and mechanical engineering. The University of Northern Iowa is also a top school for education majors.

Jobs In Iowa

You might be wondering if job prospects in Iowa match the great outlook on education. The answer is yes! Iowa has great opportunities to further or launch your career.

If you’re looking for jobs in healthcare, places like Iowa City with the University Hospitals and Clinics may be right for you.

If you’re pursuing any agriculture or relatable careers, Iowa may also be up your alley since Iowa is a mostly rural state.

Iowa is also a great place to start your career as many of the markets are considered smaller. Employers are more willing to hire and train entry-level employees than in some other places.

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Fun Stuff

Despite being a pretty rural state, Iowa is home to a nice art scene.

The aforementioned University of Iowa has one of the best writing programs in the country, the famed Iowa Writer’s Workshop.

Another attraction for art lovers is the famed Iowa Arts Festival. It takes place over one weekend each summer. The festival features local and national visual artists. There are several booths and performances to see while you’re there!

Iowa has a great selection of food and breweries, which makes it a nice place to live for foodies and beer fans. It is known for its great farm-to-table fare, especially in Des Moines. Fresh and locally grown ingredients are always tasty. Iowa also has plenty of craft breweries, too.

Though lovers of seafood may find themselves a little disappointed, as Iowa is a landlocked state and some seafood products are difficult to come by or not as fresh as in other states. However, the many rivers in Iowa provide freshwater fish for people to get their fix!

You also can’t forget Iowa’s nationally-ranked pork and beef production. Many restaurants in the state do a great job of showcasing these meats through excellent farm-to-table meals. The Iowa State Fair also has an expo to promote the pork and beef industry.

Cons of Living in Iowa

Even though Iowa is a pretty nice place to live and has plenty of “pros”, there are some cons to living in the Hawkeye state. The biggest con for many people is that Iowa is a very rural state. For those who like the hustle and bustle of the city, Iowa might not be what they are looking for. That being said, there is still some great nightlife in Iowa. Cities like Iowa City have a selection of bars and clubs for those that like to party.

Another big challenge for many people is adjusting to unpredictable weather. Iowa can experience heavy snow and arctic temperatures in winter, but boiling hot and humid summers. Temperatures commonly reach around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and can drop to -20 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. The record high temperature in Iowa is 118 degrees, and the record low temperature is -47 degrees.

There are also some natural disasters, most commonly flooding and tornadoes. Iowa is also known to get blizzards. For those that hail from milder climates, such extremes at both ends of the spectrum might be a bit of an adjustment.

Conclusion

If living in a huge city is important to you, or you prefer a milder climate, Iowa may not be the right place for you. However, Iowa is a really nice place to live!

Iowa is very affordable, which gives you a chance to save money or treat yourself in ways that big cities may not allow. It is also a safe place to live, so you can feel secure while living here.

Iowa has great educational opportunities and job opportunities. There is also a nice art and food scene to boot. No place is completely perfect, but Iowa comes close. You know what they say-

“Is this Heaven?”
“No, this is Iowa.”

Gif of scene from "Field of Dreams" stating, "Is this heaven?"
"No this is Iowa."
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Maura De Cicco attends the University of Iowa as a Journalism and Anthropology student. She plans to pursue a strategic communications track when it comes to writing, and an archaeology track when it comes to Anthropology.