Smart Movers Club

    Iowa county rankings

    Best counties in Iowa to live

    We scored 97 counties with 5,000+ residents on home affordability, unemployment, education, population growth and total crime per 100,000 people.

    #CountyScoreHome valueIncomeUnemploymentCrime /100k
    1Grundy County76$180,500$83,6172.2%202
    2Mitchell County75$164,100$68,7040.9%223
    3Sioux County73$235,600$84,7362.0%287
    4Wright County71$109,800$64,0331.7%352
    5Wayne County69$102,300$59,1182.0%408
    6Boone County68$191,200$79,7411.3%445
    7Plymouth County68$218,600$81,6001.9%412
    8Ida County67$108,800$62,8411.9%461
    9Benton County66$198,400$84,7422.3%447
    10Lyon County65$215,600$72,8812.4%314
    11Madison County65$236,900$89,5422.7%476
    12Marion County65$211,100$78,0591.9%602
    13Shelby County64$156,200$67,6903.3%255
    14Dickinson County63$251,600$74,5702.4%579
    15Guthrie County63$163,900$79,9813.3%586

    Also see: Where to move in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer county agency totals. "—" means no reporting data.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report on Iowa