Quality of Life Score
56.23
State Comparison
Iowa vs Minnesota
Iowa is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Iowa, Minnesota has higher incomes, Iowa has lower state income tax, and Iowa gets more sunshine.
Iowa
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Minnesota
15
/ 31
metrics won
IA wins Housing
IA wins Quality of Life
IA wins Climate
MN wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Iowa
vs
Minnesota
winner
Minnesota scores higher on quality of life — 2.46 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Iowa is 8.5 points cheaper overall
Iowa has the lower cost-of-living index. Iowa is at 91.0, while Minnesota is at 99.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $4.61 further in Iowa
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.93 of local buying power in Iowa, versus $107.32 in Minnesota.
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Income
Minnesota income is 19.5% higher
Minnesota has the higher median household income at $84,313, compared with $70,571 in Iowa.
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Jobs
Minnesota minimum wage is $3.60 higher
Minnesota has the higher statewide minimum wage at $10.85/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.
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Housing
Minnesota homes cost about 1.7x more
Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $293,200 in Minnesota.
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Taxes
Iowa has lower state income tax
Iowa has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.00%, compared with 9.85% in Minnesota.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Iowa
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Minnesota
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 9.8%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (90.4 for Iowa, 95.5 for Minnesota). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Iowa
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Iowa
- Iowa has a lower overall cost of living.
- Iowa has a lower housing cost index.
- Iowa has lower median home values.
- Iowa has more sunny days.
Cons
- Iowa shows lower median income.
- Iowa has higher property tax rates on average.
- Iowa has a higher violent crime rate.
- Iowa job growth trend is weaker.
- Iowa health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Iowa health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Minnesota
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Minnesota
- Minnesota shows higher median income.
- Minnesota has lower property tax rates on average.
- Minnesota has a lower violent crime rate.
- Minnesota job growth trend is stronger.
- Minnesota health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Minnesota health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Minnesota has a higher overall cost of living.
- Minnesota has a higher housing cost index.
- Minnesota has higher median home values.
- Minnesota has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IA
|
MN
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Des Moines | Saint Paul |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,190,369
|
5,706,494
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,571
|
$84,313
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.0
|
99.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$173,300
|
$293,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.39%
|
1.02%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.00%
|
9.85%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$10.85/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.482/gal
|
$3.572/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.83 c/kWh
|
14.98 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.23
|
58.69
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.8°F
|
41.2°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
95 days
|
|
Land Area
|
56,273 sq mi
|
86,936 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.7 per sq mi
|
65.6 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 28, 1846 (#29)
|
May 11, 1858 (#32)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
20
shown
Saving Money
Iowa is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 vs 99.5 in Minnesota. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Iowa is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.482/gal in Iowa vs $3.572/gal in Minnesota. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Minnesota has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $10.85/hr in Minnesota vs $7.25/hr in Iowa. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Iowa has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.83 c/kWh in Iowa vs 14.98 c/kWh in Minnesota. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Iowa is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.46x in Iowa vs 3.48x in Minnesota. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Iowa is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 15.5% in Iowa vs 16.6% in Minnesota. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Iowa vs Minnesota - Common Questions
Q Is Iowa cheaper to live in than Minnesota?
Iowa has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Iowa scores 91.0 versus 99.5 for Minnesota - a gap of 8.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Iowa or Minnesota?
$100 goes further in Iowa. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.93 in Iowa, compared with $107.32 in Minnesota.
Q Which state is bigger - Iowa or Minnesota?
Minnesota is larger, covering 86,936 sq mi compared with 56,273 sq mi for Iowa - roughly 1.5x the size.
Q Does Iowa or Minnesota have more people?
Minnesota has the larger population at 5,706,494, compared with 3,190,369 in Iowa.
Q Which state has higher household income - Iowa or Minnesota?
Minnesota has the higher median household income at $84,313, versus $70,571 in Iowa.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Iowa or Minnesota?
Iowa has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.00%, compared with 9.85% in Minnesota.
Q Is housing cheaper in Iowa or Minnesota?
Homes are cheaper in Iowa, where the median home value is $173,300, versus $293,200 in Minnesota.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Iowa or Minnesota?
Minnesota is more densely populated at 65.6 per sq mi people per sq mi. Iowa is more spread out at 56.7 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.