There is more to Iowa than farmers, Hawkeyes fans, and Des Moines. There are many awesome places in the great Midwest for those looking to retire.
Take a look below at our list of the best places to retire in Iowa for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in the Hawkeye State.
To determine Iowa’s best places to retire, we looked at the latest FBI and Census reports on crime, demographics, affordable housing, distance to the closest international airport, and amenities for 38 cities with over 10,000 residents. The numbers don’t lie.
We discovered that the best places to retire in Iowa are also some of the state’s safest. Secondly, many of the top ten have great rates if you choose to rent. And the ultimate reason to move to one of Iowa’s best places to retire is that they house some of the nicest people.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Iowa For 2024
Where is the best place to retire in Iowa for 2024? Carroll is the best place to retire in Iowa according to the most recent data.
If you’re already kicking up your feet in one of Iowa’s best places to retire, congrats. If not, look at our list below before making any life-changing decisions.
Why did Carroll take the top spot? And where are Des Moines and Cedar Rapids?
For more Iowa state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Iowa
- Cheapest Places To Live In Iowa
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Iowa
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Iowa For 2024
/10
Population: 10,270
Median Income: $60,368
Median Home Price: $184,709
Median Rent: $695
Distance to Closest Airport: 72 miles
More on Carroll: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,482
Median Income: $64,192
Median Home Price: $166,057
Median Rent: $837
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Boone: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,692
Median Income: $53,873
Median Home Price: $161,059
Median Rent: $826
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Newton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,293
Median Income: $48,944
Median Home Price: $102,359
Median Rent: $806
Distance to Closest Airport: 72 miles
More on Fort Madison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,351
Median Income: $57,175
Median Home Price: $172,012
Median Rent: $737
Distance to Closest Airport: 134 miles
More on Spencer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,524
Median Income: $55,196
Median Home Price: $118,088
Median Rent: $746
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,492
Median Income: $57,949
Median Home Price: $162,462
Median Rent: $815
Distance to Closest Airport: 55 miles
More on Oskaloosa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 38,997
Median Income: $100,570
Median Home Price: $294,879
Median Rent: $1,060
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Bettendorf: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,057
Median Income: $94,176
Median Home Price: $318,235
Median Rent: $956
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Norwalk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,556
Median Income: $86,025
Median Home Price: $313,636
Median Rent: $1,025
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Pella: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Hawkeye State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Iowa to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Hawkeye State — 1002 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 38 places from across the state.
For these 38, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 38, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Carroll, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Iowa.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Iowa Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Iowa goes to Carroll.
The best places to retire in Iowa are Carroll, Boone, Newton, Fort Madison, Spencer, Clinton, Oskaloosa, Bettendorf, Norwalk, and Pella.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Cedar Falls
- North Liberty
- Coralville
For more Iowa reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Iowa
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll | 10,270 | $60,368 | $184,709 | $695 |
| 2 | Boone | 12,482 | $64,192 | $166,057 | $837 |
| 3 | Newton | 15,692 | $53,873 | $161,059 | $826 |
| 4 | Fort Madison | 10,293 | $48,944 | $102,359 | $806 |
| 5 | Spencer | 11,351 | $57,175 | $172,012 | $737 |
| 6 | Clinton | 24,524 | $55,196 | $118,088 | $746 |
| 7 | Oskaloosa | 11,492 | $57,949 | $162,462 | $815 |
| 8 | Bettendorf | 38,997 | $100,570 | $294,879 | $1,060 |
| 9 | Norwalk | 13,057 | $94,176 | $318,235 | $956 |
| 10 | Pella | 10,556 | $86,025 | $313,636 | $1,025 |