Ever wondered where the very best places to live in Iowa are? Clearly, every and any city in Iowa is the best, but if we had to narrow it down, these 10 cities would be the best of the best. Each of these places were chosen based off of employment, cost of living, crime, education, amenities and housing, so you know these cities are the real deal. Is your city on the list? Find out!
- Johnston
Iowahwyman/Wikimedia Commons Johnston, population 17,278, is a nice sized city in the Des Moines metro area. Johnston is a great place to live for its low crime rates, great education, and equally great employment opportunities.
- Decorah
Kent Kanouse/Flickr Decorah, population 8,127, is a small community with great perks. Decorah offers a cheap cost of living, grade A amenities, and a virtually non-existent crime rate. Plus, the city itself is just beautiful, and full of culture.
- Orange City
Denise Krebs/Flickr Orange City, population 5,582, is another small town with big opportunities. Orange City offers great education, a low cost of living, and a super low crime rate. This classy, cultural small town is known for it’s Tulip Festival and proud Dutch heritage.
- West Des Moines
AnneCN/Flickr West Des Moines, population 56,609, is the perfect sized city, with all the perks of a big city and all the charm of a small town. West Des Moines has a low cost of living, great education, and sunny employment prospects. Plus, they have an awesome Farmers Market.
- Clive
Iowahwyman/Wikimedia Commons Clive, population 15,447, is another city in the Des Moines metro area that offers great living opportunities, such as good employment rates, a low cost of living, and great education.
- University Heights
American007/Wikimedia Commons University Heights, population 1,051, is by far the smallest town on this list, but they more than make up for it with their outstanding education, great amenities, and low crime rate.
- Mount Vernon
Louis/Flickr Mount Vernon, population 3,390, is a charming little town that offers an extremely low crime rate, excellent education, and a low cost of living. Plus, they have a super fun Chalk The Walk festival.
- Waukee
Iowahwyman/Wikimedia Commons Waukee, population 13,790, is a friendly little city that offers a low crime rate, good employment opportunities, and a low cost of living.
- Ankeny
Ashton B Crew/Wikimedia Commons Ankeny, population 45,562, is a mid-sized city that offers all the right benefits of a big city, without actually being a very big city. Ankeny offers excellent amenities, cheap living, and great education.
- Urbandale
rachaelvoorhees/Flickr The Des Moines metro area must be doing something right, because many of these cities, including the #1 best city in Iowa - Urbandale - are located in the Des Moines metro area. Urbandale, home of Living History Farms, is the best place to live in Iowa based off of its great education, superb amenities, and excellent employment opportunities.
Lets be honest, though, anywhere in Iowa is the best place to live!
Iowahwyman/Wikimedia Commons
Johnston, population 17,278, is a nice sized city in the Des Moines metro area. Johnston is a great place to live for its low crime rates, great education, and equally great employment opportunities.
Kent Kanouse/Flickr
Decorah, population 8,127, is a small community with great perks. Decorah offers a cheap cost of living, grade A amenities, and a virtually non-existent crime rate. Plus, the city itself is just beautiful, and full of culture.
Denise Krebs/Flickr
Orange City, population 5,582, is another small town with big opportunities. Orange City offers great education, a low cost of living, and a super low crime rate. This classy, cultural small town is known for it’s Tulip Festival and proud Dutch heritage.
AnneCN/Flickr
West Des Moines, population 56,609, is the perfect sized city, with all the perks of a big city and all the charm of a small town. West Des Moines has a low cost of living, great education, and sunny employment prospects. Plus, they have an awesome Farmers Market.
Clive, population 15,447, is another city in the Des Moines metro area that offers great living opportunities, such as good employment rates, a low cost of living, and great education.
American007/Wikimedia Commons
University Heights, population 1,051, is by far the smallest town on this list, but they more than make up for it with their outstanding education, great amenities, and low crime rate.
Louis/Flickr
Mount Vernon, population 3,390, is a charming little town that offers an extremely low crime rate, excellent education, and a low cost of living. Plus, they have a super fun Chalk The Walk festival.
Waukee, population 13,790, is a friendly little city that offers a low crime rate, good employment opportunities, and a low cost of living.
Ashton B Crew/Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, population 45,562, is a mid-sized city that offers all the right benefits of a big city, without actually being a very big city. Ankeny offers excellent amenities, cheap living, and great education.
rachaelvoorhees/Flickr
The Des Moines metro area must be doing something right, because many of these cities, including the #1 best city in Iowa - Urbandale - are located in the Des Moines metro area. Urbandale, home of Living History Farms, is the best place to live in Iowa based off of its great education, superb amenities, and excellent employment opportunities.
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