The 10 best places to retire in Iowa all share one thing in common – a very low crime rate. Looking for safe and friendly communities? Look no further!
Located in the Midwest, Iowa is the 30th most populous state and has the 26th largest land area. “The Hawkeye State” has rivers for its east and west borders – the Mississippi and Missouri rivers – respectively. Formerly a part of the French Empire, it became part of American territory in 1803 after the Louisiana Purchase and was officially named as the 29th state in 1846.
Primarily an agricultural state, changes were in effect after the 1980s, which saw Iowa become less dependent on agriculture and shift to manufacturing and finance services. Evidence of this change has seen 61% of its population now residing in urban areas. Its capital and largest city is Des Moines, located in Polk County.
State attractions include the annual Pow-wow, which is the gathering of several Native American communities. It is hosted by the Meskwaki Settlement located in Tama, Iowa. The Amana colonies, comprised of villages founded by German Pietists and listed as National Historic Landmarks, are located in Iowa County. These were originally self-sufficient villages, with their products made by themselves, and little to no good were “imported” from neighboring communities. Davenport City hosts the largest air show in the state, the Quad City Air Show.
Loess Hills have some of the most scenic and breathtaking landscapes in Iowa. The waterman in you will enjoy the Iowa Great Lakes region, which is a collection of glacial lakes in Dickinson County. Fishermen flock to these lakes during the summer, as well as families as it offers an abundance of recreational and outdoor activities. The adventurers might want to venture into the Driftless Area, which has a variety of landscapes, but is known for the deep river valleys. Sports enthusiasts might want to consider joining the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI. Its trails differ every year, with some passing through the best places to retire in Iowa. Most communities along the trails hold farmer’s markets or wine-tasting venues during the event.
Thrilled with these activities? Why not check the 10 best places to retire in Idaho! The Gem State also has much to offer in terms of outdoor activities!
To determine the 10 best places to retire in Iowa, we determined the most important factors for retirees – the cost of living, physicians per capita, crime, and house values. Information from Sperling’s Best Places, Areavibes and Livability were utilized, with every county given a corresponding score on how high or low they ranked on each of the 4 factors. Scores were then added and averaged, with the top 10 counties earning a place on our list.
Read on for the 10 best places to retire in Iowa! Exciting Iowa is awaiting!
10. Lucas County
Cost of living: 18.5% lower than the US average
Crime score: 24
Physicians per 100k: 79
Median House Value: $85,000
Insider Monkey score: 64
Named after the former Governor Robert Lucas, Lucas County has a population of 8,898. Known for its excellent baseball program, the county has fielded players for the Iowa State tournaments regularly. The 72 acre Red Haw State Park can also be found in the county.
9. Sac County
Cost of living: 19.7% lower than US average
Crime score: 24
Physicians per 100k: 68
Median House Value: $77,900
Insider Monkey score: 64.7
Named after the Sauk Indians, Sac County has been an area of significant geocaching activity. Geocaching is somehow similar to treasure hunting, but in this case, the “treasures” are containers of varied sizes and with different items that can only be found using GPS coordinates. The county is consistently placed in the top 10 in the “best places to live in rural America” by the Progressive Farmer magazine from 2007-2009.
8. Osceola County
Cost of living: 21.1% lower than US average
Crime score: 21
Physicians per 100k: 31
Median House Value: $73,900
Insider Monkey score: 65.7
Named after the Seminole chief, Osceola County is both the youngest and smallest county in term of land area. The highest point in Iowa, Hawkeye point, is located in the county.
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7. Van Buren County
Cost of living: 21.7% lower than US average
Crime score: 25
Physicians per 100k: 66
Median House Value: $67,700
Insider Monkey score: 68
Named after President Martin Van Buren, the county courthouse is the oldest continuously used in the state of Iowa and is the second oldest in the United States. It was originally built in 1843 and has been in use ever since. Its county seat is Keosauqua, which has one of the largest state parks in Iowa, the Lacey-Keosauqua State Park.
6. Audubon County
Cost of living: 21.2% lower than US average
Crime score: 21
Physicians per 100k: 49
Median House Value: $70,100
Insider Monkey score: 69.7
Audubon County has 6,119 residents, making it the 3rd least populated county in Iowa. Its county seat is in Audubon City, which is popular for bikers and outdoor enthusiasts as being one the RAGBRAI overnight stops. The county also has parts of the American Discovery Trail, an east coast-west coast trail which passes through national parks, forests, and trails in 15 different states. Take note bikers and hikers!
5. Cherokee County
Cost of living: lower than US average
Crime score: 26
Physicians per 100k: 124
Median House Value: $78,600
Insider Monkey score: 70.3
Named after the Cherokee Indians, Cherokee County’s seat also has the same name as the county’s name. Cherokee City is home to the Phipps site and the Cherokee Sewer Site, which are the two important landmarks in the area. The county fair and rodeo are held in Cherokee City during the summer.
4. Calhoun County
Cost of living: 21.6% lower than US average
Crime score: 27
Physicians per 100k: 93
Median House Value: $72,200
Insider Monkey score: 70.7
Calhoun County was formed from land originally belonging to the adjacent Fox county in 1851. Today, it has a population of 9,670. Its county seat is Rockwell City.
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3. Ida County
Cost of living: lower than US average
Crime score: 25
Physicians per 100k: 85
Median House Value: $74,000
Insider Monkey score: 71.7
Much debate has been going on the origins of Ida County’s name. Some say the county was named after the first child born from European immigrants in the area. Others say that the county was named after Mount Ida, a mountain in Greece. Regardless, Ida County makes it to the 10 best places to retire in Iowa. Its county seat is Ida Grove, also known as “The Castle Town”.
2. Ringgold County
Cost of living: 18.4% lower than US average
Crime score: 24
Physicians per 100k: 156
Median House Value: $84,000
Insider Monkey score: 75
Having 5,131 residents, Ringgold County is the 2nd least populated county in Iowa. The county seat is located in Mount Ayr, with the “Mount” added to signify that the location is the highest point in the county. Recreational facilities for retirees include the golf courses and boating facilities at the Sun Valley Lake and Resort and Fife’s Grove and Loch Ayre park and lake.
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1. Wayne County
Cost of living: 23.9% lower than US average
Crime score: 25
Physicians per 100k: 125
Median House Value: $59,700
Insider Monkey score: 82
Located in the southern Iowa, Wayne County shares its southern border with Missouri. Contrary to belief, the county does not have an exact rectangular shape, as depicted by most maps. Its southern border is not a true east-west line, which does not make it a perfect rectangle. Its county seat is Corydon, Iowa. The Prairie Trails Museum is located in Corydon and showcases over 25,000 artifacts from the 1800s onwards – a treasure trove for archaeology hobbyists – which is one of the reasons why Wayne County is the best place to retire in Iowa!
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