2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 811 cities in Iowa.
Average median home value across Iowa cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in Iowa.
COL index 90.1 vs. national average of 100. Your dollar goes further here.
Quick look at the cost extremes across Iowa.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Okoboji | 124.5 | Very Expensive | $591,700 | N/A |
| 2 | Shueyville | 123.1 | Very Expensive | $572,700 | N/A |
| 3 | Stone City CDP | 121.1 | Very Expensive | $547,400 | N/A |
| 4 | Twin Lakes CDP | 120.8 | Very Expensive | $543,400 | N/A |
| 5 | Sun Valley Lake CDP | 116.5 | Expensive | $485,300 | N/A |
| 6 | Wahpeton | 114.8 | Expensive | $463,300 | N/A |
| 7 | Orleans | 113.7 | Expensive | $448,800 | N/A |
| 8 | Arnolds Park | 110.6 | Expensive | $407,600 | N/A |
| 9 | Ackworth | 110.1 | Expensive | $400,000 | N/A |
| 10 | University Heights | 109.6 | Moderate | $393,200 | N/A |
| 11 | Polk City | 108.9 | Moderate | $385,000 | N/A |
| 12 | Clive | 108.5 | Moderate | $379,000 | N/A |
| 13 | Kent Estates CDP | 106.4 | Moderate | $351,100 | N/A |
| 14 | Oak Hills CDP | 106.3 | Moderate | $350,000 | N/A |
| 15 | Johnston | 106.0 | Moderate | $346,200 | N/A |
| 16 | Waukee | 104.7 | Moderate | $328,200 | N/A |
| 17 | Adel | 104.1 | Moderate | $320,500 | N/A |
| 18 | Okoboji | 104.1 | Moderate | $320,000 | N/A |
| 19 | Urbandale | 104.0 | Moderate | $318,800 | N/A |
| 20 | Tiffin | 103.7 | Moderate | $315,800 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources