Iowa
R+13 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
3.8%
Income Tax
284
Violent Crime / 100K
78
Life Expectancy
$215K
Median Home
$1,100
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
Income Tax
Flat 3.8% as of 2025
Property Tax
~$3,053/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Retirement income fully exempt as of 2023
Estate Tax
Inheritance tax fully phased out 2025
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.8/100K residents — Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Iowa City college-town venues; Hinterland Festival (St. Luke's); Des Moines outdoor shows
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
Abortion Access
6-week ban signed 2023
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
19+ casinos along river corridors. Sports betting legal since 2019.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Iowa Naturists (Des Moines area)
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Job Market
+1.1% job growth · 3% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Daily Life
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.22 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal statewide
Weather & Natural Risks
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 27°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Veteran Benefits
Veteran-Friendly Score
6.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Partial exemption for service-connected disability
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Iowa counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Iowa
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
IA vs MI
Iowa vs Michigan
COL 88 vs 88 · 3.8% vs 4.25% income tax
Full comparison →
IA vs OH
Iowa vs Ohio
COL 88 vs 88 · 3.8% vs 3.5% income tax
Full comparison →
IA vs AL
Iowa vs Alabama
COL 88 vs 87 · 3.8% vs 5% income tax
Full comparison →
IA vs IN
Iowa vs Indiana
COL 88 vs 87 · 3.8% vs 3.05% income tax
Full comparison →
Stay Current
Get notified when Iowa tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.