26 Pros and Cons of Living In Iowa (Explained)

Iowa was purchased in the year 1803 as a part of the Louisiana Purchase by the European settlers. It has had its fair share of troubles over the year. The Americans displaced the tribes and claimed it fully by the year 1852.

It has gone on to be an agrarian state with an economy based heavily on agriculture. The 1930s economic collapse played a pivotal role as new policies and subsidized plans were put in place to help the farmers.

Here is a detailed account of the pros and cons one may face moving to Iowa.

Benefits of Living in Iowa	Drawbacks of Living in Iowa
Cost of Living is Low	Lack of Sporting Activities
Affordable Houses	No Mountains or Beaches to Visit
Efficient Education System	Occasional Harsh Winters
Low Crime Rates	Travelling is Time Consuming
Soothing Seasons	High Crime Rates in Specific Areas
Non-existent Traffic Jams
Ideal Place to Retire

Table of Contents

Advantages of Living in Iowa:

Cost of Living is Low.

The cost of living in Iowa is considerably low when compared to other states of the USA. The cost of living is estimated to be at least 10% lower across the state.

Cities like Iowa City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, etc. significantly lower this advantage. But the towns in the state are not as expensive as the cities. With most towns supporting agricultural activities, the expense of living is significantly low.

Affordable Houses.

The houses in Iowa are not as expensive as the rest of the USA. A single-family house costs within $200,000 in most places across Iowa.

Some properties even have land attached that the owner may use as he or she seems fit. This makes the second-best cost profile in all of the USA. Even rented houses are available for as low as $1000 per month.

Efficient Education System.

The literacy rate in Iowa is 99%. It’s the highest among all the states of the USA. Iowa also has the highest graduation rate at 90%. The state also boasts high scores in SATs and ACTs. For a largely agrarian state, these are astonishing stat.

There are three well-established universities in the state as well- Iowa State, Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa.

Low Crime Rates.

The crime rates in Iowa is significantly low. Although drug use continues to be a problem, especially a meth.

Violent crimes are exceedingly low in numbers across the state. Iowa almost always features in the top 10 safest places to live in America. State-based statistics confirm that it has the second-lowest murder rate in all of the USA.

Soothing Seasons.

The weather tends to be comparatively forgiving in Iowa. All 4 kinds of weather pay a visit to the state across the year. With the arrival of spring, the state is enveloped in green cover for as far as your eyes can see.

Even the Autumn season brings fiery colors to feast on. The drive along the Mississippi route is one of the best color fests of autumn.

Non-existent Traffic Jams.

Traffic Jams are practically non-existent. Except for the downtown corridor in Des Moines, which exhibits considerable jams, there are traffic jams that need searching across the country.

The jams are less frequent thanks to the large distances between the places unlike the states on the east coast of the USA. Although the places may require lengthy traveling, they are full of scenic beauty.

Ideal Place to Retire.

Iowa is considered the second-best place to retire in USA. It comes second only to Hawaii. Of course, it does not have long beaches like Hawaii, but the state is dotted with various lakes that one can go and boat in.

There are also historic places that one can easily visit. The benefits of Iowa help one gets excellent healthcare at low prices.

Disadvantages of living in Iowa:

Lack of Sporting Activities.

The state of Iowa seriously lacks sporting activities. If you’re a sports lover, the state has little to offer in way of entertainment. Chicago Cubs only have affiliates in Iowa.

Apart from that a few semi-professional teams compete in the state. But to see proper sporting action, one may have to travel 5-7hours and requires severe monetary commitment.

No Mountains or Beaches to Visit.

If you like traveling to places with beaches or the mountains frequently call you, you’ll be major disappointed in Iowa. The state isn’t surrounded by longshore lines and therefore doesn’t cater to the residents with beaches.

Big Creek State Park in Des Moines does offer a lot of sand and somewhat a shoreline to tour along the lake. As for mountains, the highest elevation in the state is about 1670ft. The highest point is named Hawkeye Point, a natural summit.

Occasional Harsh Winters.

Winters can be occasionally harsh across Iowa. Temperatures can go as low as -50°F. In January especially, winters tend to be unforgiving partly due to chilly winds that blow across the state.

Traveling is Time-Consuming.

Travelling may not be ridden with traffic jams, but the distance between the places of Iowa makes traveling a time-consuming affair.

Places are located far away from each other when compared to other states of the USA. However, it is due to the distances that traffic jams are not prevalent in the state.

High Crime Rates in Specific Areas.

Not all places across Iowa are as safe as previously stated. The state of Keokuk regularly ranks among the worst states to live in Iowa. Th unemployment rate is as high as 10% and is ranked first in terms of the rate of crimes.

The housing facilities may cost as low as $65000, but that is largely due to the lack of demand in this area.

Iowa is an ideal place for one to retire and go life peacefully. The low crime rates also contribute to the idea of moving there after they retire, as it is safer for the older generations.

Furthermore, the education facilities of the state are rather astute and anybody with a child may consider that important. However, entertainment in the form of sports may be limited. Even traveling options are limited for the itchy feet.