#1Emmetsburg
Palo Alto County · 3,684 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.3 years of area income·Overall A · #32 of 140 in IA
Emmetsburg, #1 on this list · Photo: David Morris · CC BY 2.0Iowa rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Iowa
Emmetsburg ranks first on cost of living among Iowa’s 140 towns of 2,500+; 47 of the 140 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Osage
Mitchell County · 3,552 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.9 years of area income·Overall A+ · #16 of 140 in IA
#3Missouri Valley
Harrison County · 2,616 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.8 years of area income·Overall B · #73 of 140 in IA
All 140 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
140 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
71Council BluffsPottawattamie County · 62,680 peopleB+2.7 years of area income·Overall D · #127 of 140
99Saylorvilleunincorporated, Polk County · 3,366 peopleB3.7 years of area income·Overall A− · #39 of 140
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Iowa?
Emmetsburg (Palo Alto County) ranks first on cost of living among 140 towns, with an A+; Osage and Missouri Valley follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (140 in Iowa). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Iowa page.
Go deeper
All Iowa rankings →More Iowa lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live140 towns · #1 Orange CityBest small towns99 towns · #1 Orange CitySafest towns105 towns · #1 Rock ValleyTowns with the best schools140 towns · #1 Grundy CenterHealthiest towns140 towns · #1 SolonBest towns for jobs & income140 towns · #1 EldridgeMost walkable towns140 towns · #1 Iowa CityTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk140 towns · #1 SaylorvilleBest towns for the outdoors140 towns · #1 Polk CityMost historic towns140 towns · #1 VintonTowns with the most civic life138 towns · #1 AtlanticTowns with the least snow140 towns · #1 Fort MadisonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns140 towns · #1 Clear LakeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters142 towns · #1 KeokukDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers142 towns · #1 Council BluffsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers142 towns · #1 Postville and WaukonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes140 towns · #1 Polk CityDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes140 towns · #1 Fort MadisonDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns139 towns · #1 TiffinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries51 towns · #1 CoralvilleDescribed, no letters
Other states