Best Counties to Live in Iowa

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Best counties to live in Iowa

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Iowa using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Hancock County, 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)

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#29. Taylor County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#28. Crawford County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#27. Boone County, Iowa

- 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)

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#26. Calhoun County, Iowa

- 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)

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#25. Warren County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#24. Buena Vista County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#23. Marshall County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#22. Carroll County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#21. O'Brien County, Iowa

- 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)

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#20. Black Hawk County, Iowa

- 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)

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#19. Poweshiek County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#18. Grundy County, Iowa

- 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)

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#17. Mills County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#16. Winneshiek County, Iowa

- 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)

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#15. Dickinson County, Iowa

- 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)

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#14. Plymouth County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#13. Winnebago County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#12. Woodbury County, Iowa

- 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)

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#11. Marion County, Iowa

- 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)

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#10. Jefferson County, Iowa

- 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)

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#9. Bremer County, Iowa

- 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)

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#8. Linn County, Iowa

- 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)

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#7. Dubuque County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#6. Sioux County, Iowa

- 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)

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#5. Scott County, Iowa

- 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)

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#4. Polk County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#3. Johnson County, Iowa

- 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+)

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#2. Dallas County, Iowa

- 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)

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#1. Story County, Iowa

- 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.

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