Best counties to retire to in Iowa
Best counties to retire to in Iowa
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—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 possibly 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 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular 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.
To find the best counties to retire to in Iowa based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many 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.
#25. Mills County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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)
#24. Poweshiek County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,582
- Median household income: $64,837
- Median home value: $184,200
- Top places to live: Grinnell (A-), Malcom (B+), Washington Township (B+)
#23. Worth County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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)
#22. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 10,254
- Median household income: $63,190
- Median home value: $109,900
- Top places to live: Red Oak (C+), Scott Township (B), Stanton (B)
#21. Page County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 15,168
- Median household income: $57,752
- Median home value: $120,000
- Top places to live: Shenandoah (B), Clarinda (B-), Washington Township (B)
#20. Grundy County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#19. Taylor County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,901
- Median household income: $67,279
- Median home value: $109,700
- Top places to live: Platte Township (B+), Bedford Township (B), Lenox (B)
#18. Wright County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 12,817
- Median household income: $64,033
- Median home value: $109,800
- Top places to live: Clarion (B+), Eagle Grove (B-), Grant Township (B+)
#17. Cherokee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 11,587
- Median household income: $64,478
- Median home value: $145,100
- Top places to live: Cherokee (B-), Pitcher Township (B+), Pilot Township (B+)
#16. Clay County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 16,446
- Median household income: $64,082
- Median home value: $171,500
- Top places to live: Spencer (B-), Meadow Township (B+), Peterson Township (B+)
#15. Hardin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 16,729
- Median household income: $64,906
- Median home value: $113,000
- Top places to live: Iowa Falls (B), Union Township (B+), Sherman Township (B)
#14. Howard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,459
- Median household income: $67,336
- Median home value: $133,900
- Top places to live: Cresco (B), Protivin (A-), New Oregon Township (B+)
#13. Guthrie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,646
- Median household income: $79,981
- Median home value: $163,900
- Top places to live: Seely Township (B), Stuart Township (B), Valley Township (B)
#12. Ida County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 6,944
- Median household income: $62,841
- Median home value: $108,800
- Top places to live: Douglas Township (B+), Griggs Township (B), Holstein (B)
#11. Bremer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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)
#10. Kossuth County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 14,610
- Median household income: $65,656
- Median home value: $135,100
- Top places to live: Algona (B), Harrison Township (B+), Swea City (B+)
#9. Van Buren County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,236
- Median household income: $60,183
- Median home value: $118,800
- Top places to live: Chequest Township (B-), Bonaparte Township (B-), Des Moines Township (B-)
#8. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,977
- Median household income: $63,648
- Median home value: $118,500
- Top places to live: Hampton (B), Osceola Township (B+), Marion Township (B)
#7. Winnebago County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), 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+)
#6. Hancock County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#5. Calhoun County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,858
- Median household income: $66,875
- Median home value: $114,400
- Top places to live: Twin Lakes Township (B+), Manson (B), Lincoln Township (B)
#4. Sac County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 9,759
- Median household income: $70,991
- Median home value: $138,400
- Top places to live: Wall Lake Township (B+), Eureka Township (B+), Schaller (B)
#3. Cerro Gordo County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 42,785
- Median household income: $65,537
- Median home value: $154,100
- Top places to live: Clear Lake (B+), Mason City (B), Lake Township (A)
#2. Dickinson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 17,844
- Median household income: $74,570
- Median home value: $251,600
- Top places to live: Spirit Lake (A-), Milford (B-), Wahpeton (B+)
#1. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,676
- Median household income: $56,824
- Median home value: $161,200
- Top places to live: Fairfield (A-), Center Township (B+), Maharishi Vedic City (B)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
