Iowa Area Profiles
42 published city profiles across Iowa, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
Opportunity34th of 51 states measured47
Growth29th of 51 states measured48
Housing affordabilityTop 8% of 51 states measured78
Climate36th of 51 states measured57
Physical resilienceTop 30% of 51 states measured69
AccessTop 40% of 51 states measured79
Economic stabilityTop 26% of 51 states measured70
Cities
42 published profiles across 23 areasDes Moines-West Des Moines, IA
13 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | Polk County | 212,421 | 62 |
| Ankeny | Polk County | 72,615 | 80 |
| West Des Moines | Polk County | 71,083 | 75 |
| Urbandale | Polk County | 46,595 | 79 |
| Waukee | Dallas County | 29,236 | 78 |
| Johnston | Polk County | 24,384 | 78 |
| Altoona | Polk County | 21,495 | 77 |
| Clive | Polk County | 19,012 | 71 |
| Grimes | Polk County | 16,366 | 81 |
| Indianola | Warren County | 16,044 | 72 |
| Newton | Jasper County | 15,700 | 64 |
| Norwalk | Warren County | 14,183 | 77 |
| Pleasant Hill | Polk County | 11,136 | 73 |
Iowa City, IA
3 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | Johnson County | 75,752 | 60 |
| Coralville | Johnson County | 23,234 | 68 |
| North Liberty | Johnson County | 21,125 | 71 |
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
3 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | Black Hawk County | 67,008 | 55 |
| Cedar Falls | Black Hawk County | 40,888 | 63 |
| Waverly | Bremer County | 10,494 | 64 |
Cedar Rapids, IA
2 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | Linn County | 137,264 | 61 |
| Marion | Linn County | 41,896 | 68 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
2 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | Scott County | 100,913 | 57 |
| Bettendorf | Scott County | 39,647 | 73 |
Statewide physical risk
DroughtElevated
HailModerate
TornadoElevated
Strong windModerate
Cold waveModerate
Heat waveModerate
Low or minimal exposure: winter weather, ice storm, inland flooding, landslide, lightning, wildfire, earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity, avalanche, coastal flooding.
Population-weighted across every county in Iowa, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared nationally | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband access ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year | 88.9% | Bottom 20%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Distance to major airportNASR current cycle | 38 mi | Top 42%of 51 | NASR current cycle |
| Major airports within 100 milesNASR current cycle | 3 | Top 48%of 51 | NASR current cycle |
| No internet access ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year | 7.5% | Bottom 29%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Annual precipitation1991-2020 Normals | 35.9" | 44th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low1991-2020 Normals | 11°F | 22nd percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average July high1991-2020 Normals | 84°F | 28th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Comfortable months1991-2020 Normals | 5 | Bottom 22%of 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Seasonal temperature swing1991-2020 Normals | 54°F | 90th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average household size ±0.012024 ACS 5-Year | 2.36 | 12th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±3,9842024 ACS 5-Year | 1,315,707 | 43rd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.22024 ACS 5-Year | 38.6 | 33rd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population2024 ACS 5-Year | 3,210,507 | 39th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population change (1 year)July 1, 2024 estimate | +0.7% | Top 50%of 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Population change (4 years)July 1, 2024 estimate | +1.6% | Bottom 40%of 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Population density2024 ACS 5-Year | 57/sq mi | 27th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population estimateJuly 1, 2024 estimate | 3,241,488 | 38th percentileof 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Average permitted value per unit12 months ending July 2026 | $273,565 | 62nd percentileof 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Housing units permitted (12 months)12 months ending July 2026 | 13,208 | Bottom 38%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Multifamily share of permits12 months ending July 2026 | 38.5% | 64th percentileof 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (3 years)12 months ending July 2026 | +14.7% | Top 28%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year)12 months ending July 2026 | −4.2% | Bottom 28%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents12 months ending July 2026 | 4.1 | Top 42%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Cost of living index2023 | 88.8 | Top 12%of 51 | 2023 |
| Home price change (1 year)2026 Q2 | +3.2% | 42nd percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price change (5 years)2026 Q2 | +37.4% | 30th percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price change (10 years)2026 Q2 | +70.6% | 14th percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price to income ±0.02024 ACS 5-Year | 2.3 | Top 1%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year | 71.7% | 80th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±5232024 ACS 5-Year | 1,437,699 | 41st percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$62024 ACS 5-Year | $972 | Top 14%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$1,1412024 ACS 5-Year | $208,000 | 12th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median property taxes ±$132024 ACS 5-Year | $2,897 | 59th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Owner household income ±$5122024 ACS 5-Year | $91,638 | Bottom 41%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Property tax rate ±0.01%2024 ACS 5-Year | 1.39% | 82nd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year | 27.4% | Top 10%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Seasonal and second homes ±1,2522024 ACS 5-Year | 23,261 | 14th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Second homes2024 ACS 5-Year | 1.6% | 12th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate2024 ACS 5-Year | 6.9% | 51st percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacant housing units ±3,7892024 ACS 5-Year | 121,992 | 33rd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$4182024 ACS 5-Year | $75,059 | Bottom 39%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$2472024 ACS 5-Year | $40,877 | Bottom 37%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year | 9.9% | Top 35%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute ±0.1 min2024 ACS 5-Year | 21.2 min | Top 14%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year | 31.4% | Bottom 25%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Drove alone to work ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year | 76.0% | 75th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| EmploymentAugust 2026 | 1,650,704 | Bottom 40%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years)August 2026 | 0.0% | Bottom 40%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year)August 2026 | −1.0% | Bottom 40%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Labor forceAugust 2026 | 1,712,030 | 40th percentileof 51 | August 2026 |
| Labor force participation ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year | 83.3% | Top 8%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public transit to work ±0.1%2024 ACS 5-Year | 0.7% | 37th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year)August 2026 | −0.2% | Top 46%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Unemployment rateAugust 2026 | 3.6% | Top 30%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Worked from home ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year | 11.3% | 29th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility2024-25 school year | 41.5% | 18th percentileof 45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency2018-19 school year | 69.4% | Top 2%of 50 | 2018-19 school year |
| Public schools2024-25 school year | 1,285 | 48th percentileof 51 | 2024-25 school year |
| Reading proficiency2018-19 school year | 68.8% | Top 4%of 49 | 2018-19 school year |
| Schools behind the staffing ratio2024-25 school year | 1,267 | 51st percentileof 50 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher2024-25 school year | 14.4 | Bottom 45%of 50 | 2024-25 school year |
Counties in Iowa
29 publishedSome measures are published by county and nowhere finer — death rates by intent among them. On a county page those describe the geography they are printed on.
Polk County, IA
503,175 residents · 3.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Linn County, IA
230,004 residents · 2.1 homicide deaths per 100k
Scott County, IA
174,608 residents · 5.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Johnson County, IA
156,639 residents · 2.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Black Hawk County, IA
131,049 residents · 4.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Dallas County, IA
107,968 residents · 2.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Woodbury County, IA
106,247 residents · 2.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Story County, IA
100,466 residents · 2.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Dubuque County, IA
99,030 residents · 2.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Pottawattamie County, IA
93,424 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Warren County, IA
54,409 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Clinton County, IA
46,268 residents · 3.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Cerro Gordo County, IA
42,632 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Muscatine County, IA
42,559 residents · 3.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Marshall County, IA
40,114 residents · 2.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Des Moines County, IA
38,487 residents · 3.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Jasper County, IA
37,954 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Webster County, IA
36,886 residents · 2.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Wapello County, IA
35,362 residents · 3.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Marion County, IA
33,642 residents · 2.9 homicide deaths per 100k
Lee County, IA
32,893 residents · 3.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Boone County, IA
26,668 residents · 2.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Plymouth County, IA
25,747 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Bremer County, IA
25,204 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Mahaska County, IA
22,021 residents · 3.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Buena Vista County, IA
20,753 residents · 2.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Carroll County, IA
20,594 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Madison County, IA
16,926 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Clay County, IA
16,461 residents