Best counties to live in Iowa

- Overall Rank: 985
- Population: 10,790
- Median household income: $67,865
- Median home value: $116,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $782 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: West Hancock Elementary School (grade A minus), Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School (grade A minus), Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Kanawha Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Forest City (grade A minus), Garner (grade B+), Orthel Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 982
- Population: 5,916
- Median household income: $65,926
- Median home value: $104,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $636 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Bedford Elementary School (grade A minus), Bedford High School (grade A minus), Lenox Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Grove Township (grade B+), Platte Township (grade B+), Bedford Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 972
- Population: 16,450
- Median household income: $61,188
- Median home value: $118,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $732 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Schleswig Elementary School (grade B+), Ar-We-VA Elementary School (grade B+), Denison High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Rose of Lima School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Denison (grade B+), Schleswig (grade B+), West Side Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 969
- Population: 26,700
- Median household income: $75,759
- Median home value: $171,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $852 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: United Community School South (grade A minus), Howe Elementary School (grade B+), Ogden High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Boone (grade B), Colfax Township (grade A minus), Jackson Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 966
- Population: 9,893
- Median household income: $65,614
- Median home value: $104,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $696 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Prairie Valley Elementary School (grade B+), South Central Calhoun Elementary School (grade B), South Central Calhoun High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Garfield Township (grade B), Twin Lakes Township (grade B), Twin Lakes (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 915
- Population: 52,709
- Median household income: $89,741
- Median home value: $234,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $943 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Norwalk Senior High School (grade B+), Lakewood Elementary School (grade B+), Orchard Hills Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Victory Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Cadence Academy Before & After School - Norwalk (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Norwalk (grade A minus), Indianola (grade B+), Carlisle (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 850
- Population: 20,687
- Median household income: $62,662
- Median home value: $138,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $781 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Alta Aurelia High School (grade B+), Sioux Central Elementary School (grade B), Newell-Fonda High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Storm Lake St. Mary's Schools (grade A)
- Top places: Storm Lake (grade B+), Hayes Township (grade B+), Brooke Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 790
- Population: 40,049
- Median household income: $70,828
- Median home value: $125,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $832 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: West Marshall High School (grade A minus), West Marshall Middle School (grade B+), West Marshall Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Marshalltown Area Catholic School (grade unavailable), Marshalltown Christian School (grade unavailable), Clemons Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Marshalltown (grade B minus), Marietta Township (grade A minus), Vienna Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 770
- Population: 20,728
- Median household income: $68,041
- Median home value: $162,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $697 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: IKM-Manning Middle School (grade A minus), Fairview Elementary School (grade B+), Carroll High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Kuemper Catholic School (grade C+)
- Top places: Carroll (grade B+), Grant Township (grade B+), Manning (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 745
- Population: 14,138
- Median household income: $65,076
- Median home value: $141,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $691 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: East Elementary School (grade A minus), Sheldon High School (grade B+), Sheldon Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sanborn Christian School (grade unavailable), Sheldon Christian School (grade unavailable), St. Patrick Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sheldon (grade A minus), Summit Township (grade A minus), Carroll Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 736
- Population: 131,041
- Median household income: $62,329
- Median home value: $172,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $932 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Helen A. Hansen Elementary School (grade A minus), Orchard Hill Elementary School (grade A minus), Peet Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Waterloo Christian School (grade A minus), Valley Lutheran School (grade B+), Don Bosco High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Cedar Falls (grade A), Hudson (grade A minus), Waterloo (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 733
- Population: 18,608
- Median household income: $61,192
- Median home value: $173,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $850 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Montezuma Elementary School (grade A), Davis Elementary School (grade A minus), Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Central Iowa Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grinnell (grade A minus), Sheridan Township (grade A minus), Malcom (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 728
- Population: 12,351
- Median household income: $80,701
- Median home value: $166,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $742 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Grundy Center Middle School (grade A minus), Grundy Center High School (grade A minus), Grundy Center Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Timothy Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grundy Center (grade A minus), Grant Township (grade A minus), Palermo Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 724
- Population: 14,605
- Median household income: $81,907
- Median home value: $225,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $843 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: West Elementary School (grade A minus), Glenwood Middle School (grade B+), East Mills Jr. Sr. High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Glenwood (grade B), Oak Township (grade A minus), Malvern (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 700
- Population: 20,050
- Median household income: $67,770
- Median home value: $225,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $763 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Decorah High School (grade A), Decorah Middle School (grade A minus), Turkey Valley Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Benedict Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School (grade unavailable), Crossroads Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Decorah (grade A), Decorah Township (grade A minus), Pleasant Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 673
- Population: 17,692
- Median household income: $72,446
- Median home value: $236,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $902 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Spirit Lake High School (grade A minus), Okoboji Middle School (grade B+), Okoboji Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Spirit Lake (grade A minus), Milford (grade B), Wahpeton (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 668
- Population: 25,621
- Median household income: $79,963
- Median home value: $199,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $816 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Mars High School (grade A minus), Hinton Middle School (grade A minus), Franklin Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Gehlen Catholic Schools (grade B+), St. Mary's High School (grade B), St. Catherine-St. Mary's Grade School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Le Mars (grade A minus), Hinton (grade B+), Washington Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 597
- Population: 10,704
- Median household income: $62,853
- Median home value: $121,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $669 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Mills Elementary School (grade B+), Forest City Middle School (grade B+), Lake Mills Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Logan Township (grade A), Center Township (grade B+), Forest Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 589
- Population: 105,526
- Median household income: $68,399
- Median home value: $158,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $913 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronson Elementary School (grade A), Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle School (grade A), Clark Early Childhood Center (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Bishop Heelan Catholic High School (grade A), Siouxland Community Christian School (grade B), Mater Dei School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sergeant Bluff (grade A minus), Sioux City (grade B), Woodbury Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 583
- Population: 33,487
- Median household income: $74,193
- Median home value: $192,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $845 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Pella Middle School (grade A minus), Pella High School (grade A minus), Jefferson Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Pella Christian High School (grade B), Pella Christian Grade School (grade unavailable), Peoria Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pella (grade A), Knoxville (grade B minus), Lake Prairie Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 451
- Population: 15,785
- Median household income: $52,210
- Median home value: $141,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $838 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Pekin Elementary School (grade B+), Washington Elementary School (grade B), Pekin Community High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Maharishi School (grade A+)
- Top places: Fairfield (grade A minus), Maharishi Vedic City (grade B+), Center Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 337
- Population: 25,012
- Median household income: $84,727
- Median home value: $202,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $783 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Denver Middle School (grade A), Denver Elementary School (grade A), Southeast Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Community Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Waverly (grade A), Jefferson Township (grade A), Washington Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 258
- Population: 229,308
- Median household income: $75,457
- Median home value: $188,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $878 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Indian Creek Elementary School (grade A), Westfield Elementary School (grade A), Linn-Mar High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Xavier High School (grade A minus), Cedar Valley Christian School (grade B minus), Isaac Newton Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Mount Vernon (grade A), Marion (grade A), Hiawatha (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 237
- Population: 98,812
- Median household income: $73,495
- Median home value: $210,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $912 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Cascade Elementary School (grade A), Peosta Elementary School (grade A), Epworth Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Wahlert Catholic High School (grade B+), Beckman Catholic School (grade B), St. Francis Xavier Elementary School (grade A)
- Top places: Asbury (grade A), Dubuque (grade A minus), Dyersville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 203
- Population: 35,815
- Median household income: $81,914
- Median home value: $220,700 (79% own)
- Median rent: $795 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Hospers Elementary School (grade A+), Orange City Elementary School (grade A), MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Western Christian High School (grade B+), Unity Christian High School (grade B+), Netherlands Reformed Christian School (grade C minus)
- Top places: Orange City (grade A+), Sioux Center (grade A), Alton (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 192
- Population: 174,315
- Median household income: $72,792
- Median home value: $198,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $919 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Hopewell Elementary (grade A+), Pleasant View Elementary (grade A+), Pleasant Valley Junior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rivermont Collegiate (grade A+), Assumption High School (grade A minus), Morning Star Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Bettendorf (grade A+), Eldridge (grade A), Le Claire (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 143
- Population: 493,378
- Median household income: $78,827
- Median home value: $232,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,060 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Prairie Trail Elementary School (grade A), Northeast Elementary School (grade A), Valley High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dowling Catholic High School (grade A), Grand View Christian School (grade A minus), Des Moines Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: West Des Moines (grade A+), Waterbury (grade A+), Urbandale (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 68
- Population: 153,360
- Median household income: $72,977
- Median home value: $277,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,086 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: West Senior High School (grade A+), Wickham Elementary School (grade A), Lincoln Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Regina Catholic Education Center (grade A), Hillcrest Academy (grade A minus), Regina Catholic Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: University Heights (grade A+), Coralville (grade A+), North Liberty (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 67
- Population: 100,367
- Median household income: $99,533
- Median home value: $314,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,198 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Waukee Senior High School (grade A), Walnut Hills Elementary School (grade A), Eason Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Francis of Assisi School (grade unavailable), St. Patrick's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Dallas Center Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Waukee (grade A+), Clive (grade A+), Adel (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 65
- Population: 98,573
- Median household income: $66,197
- Median home value: $229,100 (56% own)
- Median rent: $991 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Gilbert Elementary School (grade A), Gilbert Middle School (grade A), Gilbert Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Cecilia Elementary School (grade unavailable), Ames Christian School (grade unavailable), Nevada Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Ames (grade A), Huxley (grade A), Gilbert (grade A)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.