Best counties to raise a family in Iowa

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 11,757
- Median household income: $67,690
- Median home value: $156,200
- Top places to live: Harlan (B), Jackson Township (B+), Fairview Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,352
- Median household income: $83,617
- Median home value: $180,500
- Top places to live: Grundy Center (A-), Grant Township (A-), Dike (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,380
- Median household income: $76,875
- Median home value: $142,300
- Top places to live: Silver Lake Township (B+), Bristol Township (B+), Fertile Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 14,893
- Median household income: $71,750
- Median home value: $132,300
- Top places to live: Webster City (B+), Lyon Township (A-), Jewell Junction (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 19,972
- Median household income: $75,652
- Median home value: $239,000
- Top places to live: Decorah (A), Decorah Township (A-), Madison Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,648
- Median household income: $63,719
- Median home value: $132,300
- Top places to live: Logan Township (A), Center Township (A-), Forest Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 53,484
- Median household income: $92,990
- Median home value: $252,800
- Top places to live: Norwalk (A-), Indianola (B+), Carlisle (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 14,563
- Median household income: $87,810
- Median home value: $228,700
- Top places to live: Glenwood (B), Oak Township (B+), Plattville Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 10,718
- Median household income: $70,212
- Median home value: $129,300
- Top places to live: Forest City (A-), Garner (B+), Amsterdam Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 33,551
- Median household income: $78,059
- Median home value: $211,100
- Top places to live: Pella (A), Knoxville (B), Lake Prairie Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 14,103
- Median household income: $68,216
- Median home value: $158,900
- Top places to live: Sheldon (A-), Highland Township (A), Floyd Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 39,971
- Median household income: $72,785
- Median home value: $134,100
- Top places to live: Marshalltown (B-), Minerva Township (A-), Vienna Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,699
- Median household income: $81,600
- Median home value: $218,600
- Top places to live: Le Mars (B+), Washington Township (A-), Perry Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 16,289
- Median household income: $65,039
- Median home value: $136,300
- Top places to live: Denison (B+), Denison Township (B+), Schleswig (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 105,760
- Median household income: $70,147
- Median home value: $172,000
- Top places to live: Sergeant Bluff (A-), Sioux City (B), Woodbury Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,087
- Median household income: $72,881
- Median home value: $215,600
- Top places to live: Larchwood (B+), Larchwood Township (B+), Wheeler Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 229,463
- Median household income: $76,421
- Median home value: $204,400
- Top places to live: Mount Vernon (A), Marion (A), Hiawatha (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,118
- Median household income: $83,343
- Median home value: $207,200
- Top places to live: Waverly (A), Washington Township (A), Warren Township (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 98,948
- Median household income: $75,919
- Median home value: $226,100
- Top places to live: Asbury (A-), Dubuque (B+), Dyersville (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 154,881
- Median household income: $74,721
- Median home value: $293,100
- Top places to live: University Heights (A+), Coralville (A), North Liberty (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 98,592
- Median household income: $69,006
- Median home value: $243,600
- Top places to live: Ames (A), Gilbert (A), Huxley (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 35,984
- Median household income: $84,736
- Median home value: $235,600
- Top places to live: Orange City (A+), Alton (A-), Sioux Center (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 174,302
- Median household income: $76,363
- Median home value: $212,500
- Top places to live: Bettendorf (A+), Eldridge (A), Le Claire (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 497,441
- Median household income: $81,621
- Median home value: $248,400
- Top places to live: West Des Moines (A+), Waterbury (A+), Ankeny (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 104,136
- Median household income: $102,349
- Median home value: $333,400
- Top places to live: Clive (A+), Waukee (A), Adel (A-)