The 10 Best Small Towns In Iowa For 2024


The best small towns in Iowa are Solon and Atkins for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Iowa. Best sururbs in Iowa. Best counties in Iowa.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Hawkeye State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Iowa based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Iowa ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Iowa For 2024

  1. Solon
  2. Atkins
  3. Earlham
  4. University Heights
  5. Roland
  6. Gilbert
  7. Bellevue
  8. Huxley
  9. Lawton
  10. Walford
  11. Denver
  12. Fairfax
  13. Mount Vernon
  14. Peosta
  15. Ely

Best Small Towns To Live In Iowa Map

What’s the best small town in Iowa? Solon is the best small town in Iowa based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Solon, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Hawkeye State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Iowa For 2024

1. Solon

Solon, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,020
Median Income: $114,936 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $406,468 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

2. Atkins

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,296
Median Income: $110,313 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $320,532 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

3. Earlham

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,367
Median Income: $103,977 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $327,368 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

4. University Heights

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,353
Median Income: $102,838 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $439,281 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

5. Roland

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,472
Median Income: $80,250 (45th Best)
Median Home Value: $230,733 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

6. Gilbert

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,185
Median Income: $105,000 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $298,373 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

7. Bellevue

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,132
Median Income: $72,188 (66th Best)
Median Home Value: $284,774 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

8. Huxley

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,331
Median Income: $120,868 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $321,023 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

9. Lawton

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,021
Median Income: $86,607 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $322,972 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

10. Walford

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,434
Median Income: $108,864 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $293,703 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

11. Denver

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,921
Median Income: $84,107 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $284,408 (29th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

12. Fairfax

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,814
Median Income: $118,750 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $294,735 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

13. Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, IA

Source: Wikipedia User ArtisticAbode | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,529
Median Income: $98,991 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $313,593 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

14. Peosta

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,852
Median Income: $108,542 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $376,675 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

15. Ely

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,045
Median Income: $97,188 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $336,949 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Iowa

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Iowa possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 197 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 197, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Iowa. Top of that list — Solon.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Iowa.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Iowa are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Iowa are Solon, Atkins, Earlham, University Heights, Roland, Gilbert, Bellevue, Huxley, Lawton, and Walford.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Iowa:

  1. Postville
  2. Tama
  3. Toledo

For more Iowa reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Iowa

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Solon, IA 3,020 $114,936 1.2%
2 Atkins, IA 2,296 $110,313 2.7%
3 Earlham, IA 1,367 $103,977 1.0%
4 University Heights, IA 1,353 $102,838 1.6%
5 Roland, IA 1,472 $80,250 0.7%
6 Gilbert, IA 1,185 $105,000 2.2%
7 Bellevue, IA 2,132 $72,188 1.0%
8 Huxley, IA 4,331 $120,868 1.4%
9 Lawton, IA 1,021 $86,607 1.8%
10 Walford, IA 1,434 $108,864 2.3%
11 Denver, IA 1,921 $84,107 2.5%
12 Fairfax, IA 2,814 $118,750 2.9%
13 Mount Vernon, IA 4,529 $98,991 4.9%
14 Peosta, IA 1,852 $108,542 1.7%
15 Ely, IA 2,045 $97,188 2.9%
16 Treynor, IA 1,071 $93,958 3.6%
17 Dike, IA 1,240 $86,188 2.5%
18 Moville, IA 1,640 $90,250 1.9%
19 Fruitland, IA 1,127 $97,015 1.0%
20 Wilton, IA 2,939 $69,094 0.0%
21 Janesville, IA 1,063 $88,625 1.6%
22 Van Meter, IA 1,468 $124,375 0.9%
23 Durant, IA 1,902 $76,625 1.6%
24 Alton, IA 1,283 $81,923 2.3%
25 Slater, IA 1,546 $87,955 2.0%
26 Hudson, IA 2,557 $113,274 4.4%
27 Le Claire, IA 4,679 $95,206 0.7%
28 Robins, IA 3,356 $127,443 6.8%
29 Granger, IA 1,950 $107,604 4.0%
30 Epworth, IA 1,982 $69,188 1.9%
31 Sully, IA 1,022 $83,029 4.2%
32 Swisher, IA 1,126 $94,091 1.5%
33 Saylorville, IA 2,837 $75,571 10.4%
34 Hull, IA 2,340 $69,583 3.4%
35 Park View, IA 2,835 $111,711 3.1%
36 Kalona, IA 2,637 $67,813 0.9%
37 Center Point, IA 2,573 $80,053 3.1%
38 Tiffin, IA 4,845 $94,011 3.6%
39 Prairie City, IA 1,762 $80,000 5.8%
40 Neola, IA 1,125 $69,167 0.6%
41 Springville, IA 1,160 $78,636 1.4%
42 Lisbon, IA 1,874 $82,452 2.9%
43 Nora Springs, IA 1,464 $71,389 0.0%
44 Mediapolis, IA 2,214 $71,761 3.2%
45 Milford, IA 3,295 $59,059 3.4%
46 Remsen, IA 2,095 $87,800 2.3%
47 Elkader, IA 1,326 $62,574 1.0%
48 Rock Valley, IA 4,045 $63,485 0.8%
49 Jesup, IA 2,502 $83,519 4.7%
50 Logan, IA 1,437 $78,421 1.6%
51 Farley, IA 1,833 $97,868 4.8%
52 Tipton, IA 3,130 $69,231 2.5%
53 Garner, IA 3,065 $69,056 1.8%
54 Urbana, IA 1,565 $107,625 2.4%
55 Palo, IA 1,162 $92,368 3.2%
56 Monroe, IA 1,889 $83,362 1.2%
57 Conrad, IA 1,234 $67,500 1.4%
58 Osage, IA 3,590 $56,667 1.2%
59 Baxter, IA 1,036 $57,500 0.0%
60 Riverside, IA 1,090 $79,265 4.1%
61 Story City, IA 3,352 $67,308 4.0%
62 Alta, IA 2,207 $70,094 15.4%
63 Dyersville, IA 4,318 $71,571 3.1%
64 Malvern, IA 1,264 $86,413 4.3%
65 Marcus, IA 1,200 $68,750 2.4%
66 Williamsburg, IA 3,332 $78,861 5.4%
67 Reinbeck, IA 1,784 $82,188 2.7%
68 Madrid, IA 2,784 $74,375 1.1%
69 Cascade, IA 2,312 $62,829 0.4%
70 St. Ansgar, IA 1,140 $76,042 3.9%
71 Carlisle, IA 4,116 $94,214 5.5%
72 Monticello, IA 4,034 $65,266 2.1%
73 Cresco, IA 3,899 $60,135 0.0%
74 Humboldt, IA 4,774 $68,085 0.7%
75 Bloomfield, IA 2,687 $58,047 1.8%
76 State Center, IA 1,654 $81,250 6.1%
77 Fairbank, IA 1,490 $95,200 3.8%
78 Kingsley, IA 1,382 $64,524 0.0%
79 Tripoli, IA 1,207 $71,641 2.3%
80 Parkersburg, IA 1,738 $69,038 4.6%
81 Holstein, IA 1,560 $65,043 1.3%
82 Grundy Center, IA 2,792 $80,294 2.7%
83 Lone Tree, IA 1,261 $78,359 1.2%
84 Dallas Center, IA 1,770 $78,939 1.1%
85 Traer, IA 1,441 $67,321 3.4%
86 Lake Park, IA 1,223 $75,476 0.4%
87 Vinton, IA 4,953 $63,100 2.2%
88 Albia, IA 3,705 $58,894 2.8%
89 West Liberty, IA 3,821 $63,910 4.2%
90 Preston, IA 1,005 $81,542 0.2%
91 West Branch, IA 2,503 $72,938 0.5%
92 Winthrop, IA 1,035 $62,396 1.5%
93 Fredericksburg, IA 1,133 $62,583 1.0%
94 Rock Rapids, IA 2,631 $67,625 4.1%
95 Shell Rock, IA 1,542 $68,125 2.7%
96 Mitchellville, IA 2,506 $75,278 1.0%
97 Forest City, IA 4,254 $58,060 2.4%
98 Central City, IA 1,166 $76,667 4.9%
99 Jewell Junction, IA 1,284 $75,179 0.7%
100 New London, IA 2,471 $60,735 2.5%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns