Best Counties to Retire to in Iowa

User:Magicpiano // Wikimedia Commons

Best counties to retire to in Iowa

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what are the three most essential considerations about a property—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and perhaps raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 years or older decide on where they want to live out their golden years, they consider very specific factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to retire in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, healthcare, recreation and weather. Read more about Niche's methodology here.

Location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities; however, it’s a very unique decision based on a multitude of preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Iowa.

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Cass County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Atlantic (B), Washington Township (B+), Pleasant Township (B-)

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Scott Romine // Wikimedia Commons

#24. O'Brien County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Sheldon (A-), Summit Township (A-), Floyd Township (B+)

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Jared Winkler // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Taylor County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Platte Township (B+), Grant Township (B), Grove Township (B)

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Jim Roberts // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Bremer County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Waverly (A), Jefferson Township (A-), Denver (A-)

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Lolwhynot3498 // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Grundy County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Grant Township (A-), Dike (A-), Palermo Township (A-)

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en:User:Cburnett // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Lucas County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Chariton (B-), Cedar Township (B), English Township (B-)

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Alejandro Pulido // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Kossuth County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Algona (B), Cresco Township (B+), Burt Township (B)

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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Cherokee County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Cherokee (B), Pitcher Township (A-), Amherst Township (B+)

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Scott Romine // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Palo Alto County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Emmetsburg (B+), Emmetsburg Township (B+), Walnut Township (B)

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Billwhittaker // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Butler County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Shell Rock (B), Shell Rock Township (B), Butler Township (B)

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Pettingills // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Pocahontas County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
- Top places to live: Bellville Township (B), Cedar Township (B), Dover Township (B)

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Ann Sullivan-Larson // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Hardin County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Iowa Falls (B), Etna Township (A-), Ackley (B+)

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Poweshiek County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Grinnell (A-), Grant Township (B+), Jackson Township (B+)

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Nst101 // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Guthrie County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Orange Township (B+), Beaver Township (B), Highland Township (B)

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Ann Sullivan-Larson // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Wright County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Clarion (B), Eagle Grove (B), Grant Township (B+)

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Chuckmor // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Winnebago County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Center Township (B+), Forest Township (B+), Lake Mills (B+)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Chickasaw County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: New Hampton (B), New Hampton Township (B), Fredericksburg Township (B)

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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Monona County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Onawa (C+), Sherman Township (B), Maple Township (B)

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Nst101 // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Calhoun County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Top places to live: Garfield Township (A), Twin Lakes Township (B+), Lohrville (B+)

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Ann Sullivan-Larson // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Hamilton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Webster City (B), Lyon Township (B+), Scott Township (B+)

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Scott Romine // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Ida County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Top places to live: Holstein (A-), Griggs Township (A-), Blaine Township (B)

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en:User:Cburnett // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Jefferson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Fairfield (A-), Center Township (A), Maharishi Vedic City (B+)

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Dan Breyfogle // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Cerro Gordo County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Clear Lake (A-), Mason City (B), Grant Township (A-)

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User:Magicpiano // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Sac County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Top places to live: Cedar Township (A-), Wall Lake Township (B+), Lake View (B+)

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TheCatalyst31 // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Dickinson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Top places to live: Spirit Lake (A-), Milford (B), Arnolds Park (C+)