2018 Best Places to Live in IowaAbout this List

University Heights

• Town in Iowa

• A+

• A+

• 1,242 Population

Mount Vernon

• Town in Iowa
• 12

Current Resident: Great community for families and students. The town is very welcoming, and locals are very friendly.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 4,461 Population

Waukee

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 21

Current Resident: Waukee is nice friendly town with great schools. Conveniently located less than 15min from Des Moines, 10min from West Des Moines- great places to go explore, volunteer & have fun!
Read 21 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 17,980 Population

Coralville

• Town in Iowa
• 40

Current Resident: Coralville is a great place for people to raise a family or for couples just starting out. There are homes across all price ranges, plenty of retail, lots of restaurants, parks, bike trails, movie theaters, easy access on/off highways and close to the University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) and art, culture and nightlife in downtown Iowa City. Coralville itself has reasonable taxes, is safe, and still growing. We've lived here after living in Atlanta, Boston, Greater NYC, Chicago suburbs, and Seattle. Have to say it's one of the best places we've ever lived for overall quality of life, affordability and safety.
Read 40 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 20,250 Population

West Des Moines

• Town in Iowa
• 95

Former Resident: The people live up to the "Iowa nice" reputation! There are great public schools, as well as options for private. Shopping and dining options have greatly increased over the past ten years. Cost of living and taxes are also lower than most places. My biggest complaints would be 1)the harsh winter weather and 2)the relatively small airport if you enjoy traveling...(though getting through security usually only takes 10 minutes!).
Read 95 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 62,999 Population

Ames

• Town in Iowa
• 287

Current Resident: Ames is a great place to live! It has a beautiful college campus and a unique Main Street. It has many parks and is family friendly. The city has great tasting water and was recently awarded best water in Iowa. One thing that I'd like to see change would be the cost of rent. Due to the high demand and student population, rent prices have skyrocketed, making it difficult for students and families to afford housing.
Read 287 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 65,005 Population

Bettendorf

• Town in Iowa
• 58

Current Resident: I have lived in this city for all of my life and loved it! It is right next to the beautiful Mississippi river, and there are many parks long bike trails for good exercise. The city is connected with several other cities along the river on both sides, and in the area combined there is just about anything you would want to do--great restaurants, a zoo, movie theaters, etc.
Read 58 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 35,293 Population

Clive

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 36

Current Resident: Suburban life style, with easy access to anything in the Des Moines area. Commute to major malls are easy, lots of options for public schools, housing price range is decent, and apartments are affordable in the area, plenty of easy access to gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores. You have all the basics and are within reach of all the extras you could want.
Read 36 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 17,134 Population

Iowa City

• Town in Iowa
• 253

Current Resident: I have had a phenomenal experience in Iowa City over the past 4 years. Raised in Chicago, standards were high, and leaving the big city prepared me to expect nothing but corn fields and campus. Arriving in "the I.C.", I saw much more than just a campus. Its absolutely beautiful, with many shops, restaurants, and a lovely surrounding neighborhood. Not only upon arrival did it already have these attributes, but since then it has not stopped it's exponential rate of development! Its constant, and spectacular work is being done to the city and buildings. Renovation and construction have made Iowa City even more substantial. Apart from it's structural aspects, the neighborly vibe motivates a student on campus, like myself, to reflect the positivity back on a daily basis. I've never felt so welcomed by strangers in my entire life, and am not surprised by Iowa being credited for having the 'nicest' population. I've fallen in love with Iowa City, and will miss it when I return to Chicago.
Read 253 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 73,415 Population

Johnston

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 23

Current Resident: I love Johnston because of the caring community. So many people help out the Johnston’s Partnership, dedicating hours and money to help those in need. Community members volunteer as mentors at the schools to provide guidance and support to struggling students. In the summertime, when students don’t have access to free and reduced meals at school, community members package free meals and serve them at the library.
Read 23 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 20,172 Population

North Liberty

• Town in Iowa
• 39

Current Resident: North Liberty is booming! There are a lot of young families here and new housing, but also older folks and homes still remain. Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are all a short drive away. The community is very active and there is always something to do or somewhere to eat. The only thing missing is a leashless dog park. Otherwise, it is a fun and safe place to live.
Read 39 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 17,721 Population

Orange City

• Town in Iowa
• 17

Current Resident: Orange City is a small town of 6,000 in Northwest Iowa. Don't let that number fool you, though. Orange City has a public elementary and high school, a private elementary and high school, private college, hospital, two retirement homes, fifteen churches and many more. It is bustling with activity, and Dutch heritage. We have the Tulip Festival on the third weekend in May; which showcases Dutch costumes, floats, foods, and many more! The whole town gets involved with putting on the Tulip Festival, and thousands of people from all over the world come to watch our Dutch kids scrub streets, dance, and ride floats. Orange City has been my home all my life, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The sense of community and love that emits from this town is unbelievable.
Read 17 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 6,123 Population

Urbandale

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 84

Current Resident: It's great! Lots of friendly people, close to Des Moines, and lots of things to do. Very safe community with lots of amazing things.
Read 84 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 42,222 Population

Le Claire

• Town in Iowa
• 1

Current Resident: Excellent. The down town is beautiful. Lots of fun shops and restaurants. Baseball fields and a rec center are open to the public. Has some parks and a skate park. However, there needs to be more sidewalks in the city so children and families can be safe while riding their bikes or walking around the neighborhood.
Read 1 Review

• A+

• A+

• 3,940 Population

Decorah

• Town in Iowa
• 32

Current Resident: Beautiful town, with rich history and friendly people. A very close knit strong community. The academics are outstanding as well as the extracurricular activities, the community is very active within the school. Deborah students strive to help the community in every way possible.
Read 32 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 7,850 Population

Ankeny

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 126

Current Resident: It’s a safe city. You won’t have to worry about much.
People are extremely reserved and proper here.
Expect to keep your outside house looking perfect.
People have what’s called Midwest nice. Google it.
Only 3 pets per household and you have to register your pets otherwise you could be fined.
Keep your cats indoors at all times, roaming animals is frowned upon.
Keep dog poop bags on you at all times, they take animal clean up seriously.
Buying a house is not enough. Once spring hits neighbors are lining up the best home improvement workers and it’s a contest to see who gets the most repairs in. Get to know your neighbors so you have a list of such repair men in demand.
Grow a backyard garden and share with your neighbors, this will gain friends quickly.
Schools are great and overachieving. Very involved with kids and parents!
There’s no animal control so no pound and police pick up strays.
Read 126 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 56,237 Population

Cedar Falls

• Town in Iowa
• 99

Current Resident: There is always something to do here, Main street is always my go-to place when I'm bored. I absolutely LOVE the schools here! All the teachers here love the students and try to help them in any way possible. I have lived here almost my entire life and I have always felt safe.
Read 99 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 41,167 Population

Robins

• Town in Iowa
• 1

Current Resident: I am a senior in high school that has lived in Robins most of their life. It is a quite town, right next to the larger cities of Cedar Rapids and Marion. It's a mostly residential town, with only a couple small businesses, such as a bank and a restaurant. Overall, it's a wonderful place to grow up, with access to both the Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids school districts.
Read 1 Review

• A

• A

• 3,380 Population

Waverly

• Town in Iowa
• 29

Current Resident: A bit more of an expensive town, but well worth it! A good variety of businesses and a decent sized downtown. Bike trails and dog park...can't go wrong!
Read 29 Reviews

• A

• A

• 10,052 Population

Gilbert

• Town in Iowa
• 3

Current Resident: Gilbert is a small farm town right outside of Ames, Iowa. It has a gas station and a post office and a school system but not much else. It is surrounded by beautiful farm land and has gorgeous sunsets.
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 1,197 Population

Pella

• Town in Iowa
• 22

Current Resident: I grew up in Pella most of my childhood. It is a great community. It is large enough that there is everything you could/would ever need, but still has the small town vibe. Des Moines is less than an hour away which is also great for shopping or finding something fun to do. I loved the community because everyone was always so kind and helpful to each other. Something unique about our town is our dutch heritage. Tulip Time is a festival held yearly and it is a great way to bring tourists. There are lots of parades, dutch foods, and dutch attractions to experience. Pella has been a great town to live in and I wouldn't change anything about it. It has been difficult being away from home for college, but a great growing experience. Can't wait till Tulip Time in May this year!
Read 22 Reviews

• A

• A

• 10,243 Population

Windsor Heights

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 8

Current Resident: Great houses, cool events in the park, awesome bike trails, and generally friendly people. We have Hy-Vee, Walmart, and samsclub. The police, fire, and end personal are exceptional as well. Overall a great place to live.
Read 8 Reviews

• A

• A-

• 4,990 Population

Grimes

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA
• 50

Current Resident: Grimes Iowa is a developing suburban area heading towards the direction of a welcoming community. Neighborhoods are in progress as houses continue to be built which provides a great opportunity for house searching. New up-and-coming stores are being brought into the city of Grimes, increasing the quality of the community.
Read 50 Reviews

• A

• A

• 11,139 Population

Asbury

• Town in Iowa
• 6

Parent: It is a small town feel in a moderate sized community. The river and atmosphere of downtown has developed into a tourist area, yet we don't have the crime or crowded feel. The jobs for the future may not hold out. We have john deere, and IBM laying people off. Young entrepreneurs are doing well in the downtown area.
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• A-

• 5,338 Population

Sioux Center

• Town in Iowa
• 18

Current Resident: A town like Sioux Center is an excellent town for young people or families looking for a growing, safe, diverse community. Having gone through the community school here from Kindergarten to 12th grade, the quality of learning and ability to be involved in many extracurricular activities, has allowed myself to thrive out in the real world. There are many accommodations and amenities that will suit your every need.
Read 18 Reviews

• A

• B

• 7,450 Population