2023 Best Places to Live in Iowa

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 1,381

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: Although Clive is a small suburb of the larger city of Des Moines, it has lots to offer. Campbell park offers slow pitch softball and a little music festival every Friday night of the summer with food trucks, live music, and sand volleyball. Clive also provides lots of beautiful trails like the greenbelt trail that extends through Clive, that reach from the Country Club neighborhood to the Clive tool, to the other side. Along the trail you could see multiple parks, the Country Club Lake, and the Clive goats. The Neighborhoods in Clive are very nice, clean, and safe. Clive is kept up by the Clive grounds crew that keep the parks and streets clean of trash, they spray all streets and neighborhoods at night for bugs, and they plow the streets of snow in the winter. They also take care of the softball fields at Campbell park and mow the large fields. I have lived in a different suburb of Des Moines called West Des Moines and it couldn't compare to living in Clive. I wouldn’t want to move.... Read 43 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 18,323

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  53 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Waukee, Iowa for four years now! It is truly one of the best neighborhoods in this world! Everyone around here are good friends no matter if you are poor, different race, go to a private school, are part of a different religion, and more! There is a reason why Waukee's growth rate has increased by 74% since 2010! People love it here and there are so many opportunities everywhere! Waukee is the fastest growing city in the entire state of Iowa! You feel safe and protected where ever you are. Whether that be at school, at the park, at home, or maybe just hanging out with some friends! Waukee is a suburb of Iowa's capital, Des Moines. It's about a 20 minute drive to Des Moines which makes the commute time pretty good! There are some many things you can do in Waukee! I love Waukee and will continue to for as long as I live here!... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 23,441

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I love how Coralville is building more homes and newer developments. I have been living here for over a year now and I am always seeing new business and restaurants to explore. With these new business comes more job opportunities in the area. More people are moving to Coralville to encourage growth. The area is very safe and I feel comfortable in my home. Commute time to the university of Iowa is around 12 minutes and there are multiple routes to take if traffic occurs. However, the water quality could use some upgrading. Overall the area is above market price due to the accessibility to the University and quality of lif.e... Read 50 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 22,226

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  138 reviews

Current Resident: West Des Moines is a great place to live! It is very close to downtown and you can get just about anywhere you need to go in 25 minutes... with that being said, it can get pretty boring because there aren't many activities to do in WDM. Another pro of WDM would be the cost of living, of course!... Read 138 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 67,640

• Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

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• grade B minus

• Population 4,298

• Suburb of Davenport, IA

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  77 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in the city of Bettendorf for 13 years now, and I believe it's one of the safest cities in the area. Everyone in my neighborhood is very The city does a great job at quick renovations. New houses are being built all the time, forming a bigger, welcoming community. Luckily, the area of Bettendorf I live in is quite close to the Davenport district, giving me more access to schools around both Bettendorf and Davenport. One of my favorite parts about the the city is the amount of food options we have. If you want to grab a bite with friends or family, there are plenty of fast food options and restaurants to choose from, all with fairly fast service. With the amount of shops and stores around here, they're always looking for new hires, making it easy to find a job, especially for young students trying to get an early start on working experience! I highly recommend Bettendorf for families of all sizes and ages, and I'm sure you'll find a community that you feel belonged to.... Read 77 reviews

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• grade A+

• Population 38,631

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  108 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy living in Urbandale as it is included in the Des Moines Metro area while also having the rare ability of incorporating the country into it. Well connected to the rest of the city via I-35/235 mixmaster. Commute times are far better than any other major U.S city. Very safe suburb, grew up running around with friends without parental oversight. many natural areas to explore like walnut creek and all of its many parks that encompass the overall greenbelt. (network of trails following walnut creek) many fond memories of fishing and always being outside with school friends. Housing market is in a boom which is good for residents moving in as their homes will surely rise in value. Rapid expansion overall, new homes being built everyday with accompanying infrastructure. Cost of living is much lower than many other U.S cities, our tax rates are at a steady 6.3% and have no intentions of changing at all. Urbandale is just slightly below the national average in cost of living... Read 108 reviews

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• Population 45,037

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Johnston, Iowa is such a wonderful experience. I truly love it here! The small-town feel combined with the amenities of a larger city makes it the perfect place to call home. There are so many great parks and trails to explore in the area, and the local community is incredibly welcoming and friendly. Plus, there are plenty of delicious restaurants and unique shops to discover. Overall, Johnston, Iowa is a fantastic place to live and I feel lucky to call it my home. At this moment, I have only been living in Johnston for less than 6 months, and during this time I cannot say it needs more change. I am satisfied.... Read 37 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 23,418

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  373 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Ames my entire life. I am currently a senior at Ames High School. I gave Ames 4 stars because for multiple reasons. First, it is a safe town that is great to raise a family in. Crime rates are low, the schools are ranked, and there are many parks and such that are great for younger kids. Second, is a tight-knit community. Although we are a larger town, the community is very involved in decisions made by the city council and the school board. This means that the residents have a voice in the changes made in town. Lastly, Ames is a college town. This gives high schoolers an abundance of opportunities to begin preparing for college early, the university makes a positive impact on our community through student volunteering and involvement in local activities, and it boosts our economy and opens many jobs as the leading employer in town.... Read 373 reviews

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• Population 65,522

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  52 reviews

Current Resident: I've always lived in North Liberty, and I absolutely love it. I love that I live by all of my friends and that it has plenty of restaurants and stores to keep yourself busy. I like that it doesn't feel like some blink-once-and-you'll-miss-it town, but it isn't heavily populated. I wish its overall cleanliness would improve. There is a lot of trash and litter lying around, but we plenty of pretty awesome people that group together to clean it up!... Read 52 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 19,976

• Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

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• grade B minus

• Population 1,217

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.65 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Huxley is a small community but is very family friendly. It has 2 gas stations, a grocery store, several eating places and a few retail stores. The school system is amazing! The teachers genuinely care about their students and want to see them succeed. We have a bike trail that runs through town connecting us to other small towns nearby. There are 2 fitness centers with a variety of equipment to stay fit.... Read 17 reviews

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• grade A minus

• Population 4,293

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  337 reviews

Current Resident: Iowa City is a great place to live...if you have to live in Iowa. It is a university town (Go Hawks) and during the school year, the students take over the downtown area and beyond. I lived downtown as a 30something for nearly 9 years and it was great to be close to almost everything you need (to get to an affordable grocery store, you would have to grab a bus or drive) but the loud nights from the students was something that I could never get used to. Rent is much higher than anywhere else in Iowa, but if you are a part of a diverse community (I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community), it's one of the places I feel safest in Iowa. Unfortunately the liberal bubble only encompasses Iowa City. There is always something interesting going on in the community and much of it is free. You meet people who are very interesting & might run into well known authors at your favorite restaurant! Being a UNESCO City of Literature is sure something.... Read 337 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 74,240

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.61 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: My partners and I just moved to Mount Vernon a few months ago (as of my typing this), and it has turned out to be a real dream town! The combination of small town and college town vibes are perfectly balanced, creating an environment that is welcoming to newcomers, conducive to creators, and protective of its citizens. Having Cornell College just down the street is a never-ending source of inspiration and joy, bringing in new face and fresh ideas every year. The city takes great pride in its many landmarks, and its people strive to honor its roots. The stores and restaurants are all absolutely delightful to visit, and there are a plethora of events from farmer's markets to chalk festivals to bring people together any time of the year. The only place it falls short is in affordability, but even as costly as it is, Mount Vernon absolutely belongs at the top of the list of greatest places to live in Iowa.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 4,498

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: Orange City is the town I have grown up in. Being able to see my Dutch heritage all around the community is a huge blessing. The people are some of the kindest one would ever encounter and the society is very welcoming. Orange City is a clean and healthy community with lots to offer and there is much room for expansion. My favorite part about living here is the amazing community involvement seen all across town. Everyone will get together for school events, tulip festival (celebration of the Dutch heritage), and so much more.... Read 27 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 6,214

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  182 reviews

Former Resident: A great town that is growing yet neighbors still hang out and befriend each other. The schools are amazing. It's right outside the capitol yet you don't have to leave town, great restaurants, shops, everything you need!... Read 182 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 66,346

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: Waverly is great college town. Lots of opportunities to get involved with the community outside the campus. While some local establishments providing entertainment have been shut down due to COVID-19 or other problems, there is still plenty to keep college kids entertained.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 10,278

• Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

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• grade B minus

• Population 1,032

• Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

• grade A

• grade B minus

• Population 1,453

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  136 reviews

Current Resident: It is obviously a college town. Even though it is the University of Northern Iowa I think over time it has grown out of it to become a town in itself. There are a lot of small businesses which are really nice. Whether they are on college hill, downtown, farmers market, or anywhere else I am never disappointed.... Read 136 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 40,500

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.53 out of 5  58 reviews

Current Resident: Grimes is a booming suburb of Des Moines. They have amazing schools & the kindness of the community is hands down incredible. If you want a growing city where it still has a small town feel close to the Capitol, Grimes is the place for you!... Read 58 reviews

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• grade A

• Population 14,842

• Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: I love my area because of my comfortability, but there are more wealthy communities in the area than mine. However compared to the rest of the country, this is definitely a phenomenal suburb to live in. It is very safe and welcoming to anyone.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 6,861

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.7 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: It is exactly what one would expect from a smaller suburb of a medium city. There is a community presence, but the community itself is not overwhelmingly close-knit. There are two separate school districts in this suburb, and both are among the best in the state. All in all, a good place to live and you get exactly what you expect.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 5,208

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: Decorah is such a vibrant little town! There's a lot to do no matter how old you are. The parks are well tended, and the entire town has so many beautifully kept historical buildings! Just walking down the street and seeing all of the beautiful old houses is so lovely. I also really like the farmer's market every Wednesday, where locals gather around to sell their lovingly crafted goods.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 7,767