Compare cities in Iowa
Compare 4 metro profiles in Iowa, with housing cost, climate, work, safety, daily-life, and source-labeled data.
Iowa metros to compare
- #1
Davenport, IA
Cost/climate 74, Work 77, Daily life 45, Community 53. ACS rent $875/mo; safety 64/100.
- #2
Iowa City, IA
Cost/climate 57, Work 78, Daily life 46, Community 65. ACS rent $1,057/mo; safety 64/100.
- #3
Des Moines, IA
Cost/climate 68, Work 77, Daily life 39, Community 60. ACS rent $1,063/mo; safety 62/100.
- #4
Cedar Rapids, IA
Cost/climate 72, Work 78, Daily life 35, Community 55. ACS rent $863/mo; safety 64/100.
In-state comparisons
Retiring in Iowa: state tax treatment
| Social Security | Not taxed | Social Security benefits are exempt from Iowa income tax. |
|---|---|---|
| Pension / 401(k) / IRA | Broadly exempt | Taxpayers 55+ exclude qualifying retirement income (pensions, 401(k), IRA, annuities) from Iowa income tax beginning tax year 2023. |
| Senior property-tax relief | Available | Homestead tax exemption for homeowners 65+ ($6,500 of taxable value) in addition to credit programs. |
| Estate tax | No | |
| Inheritance tax | No |
Research, not tax advice. This is an unverified snapshot retrieved 2026-07-13 from public sources — thresholds, phase-outs, and rules change every year. Verify with the Iowa revenue department and a tax professional before acting on it.
Use the Retirement Edition quiz to reweight Iowa metros around healthcare access, retirement taxes, cost, and climate comfort.
Score these Iowa cities against your own answers
State hubs use broad public-data screens. The questionnaire reweights every city around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, household needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match