Iowa
IA • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
56.23
State Comparison
Iowa vs Missouri
Missouri is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Missouri, Iowa has higher incomes, Missouri has lower state income tax, and Missouri gets more sunshine.
Iowa
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Missouri
17
/ 31
metrics won
IA wins Housing
IA wins Quality of Life
MO wins Climate
IA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Iowa
winner
vs
Missouri
Iowa scores higher on quality of life — 5.00 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
Missouri is 1.0 points cheaper overall
Missouri has the lower cost-of-living index. Missouri is at 90.0, while Iowa is at 91.0.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.28 further in Missouri
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $112.21 of local buying power in Missouri, versus $111.93 in Iowa.
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Income
Iowa income is 7.1% higher
Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, compared with $65,920 in Missouri.
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Jobs
Missouri minimum wage is $7.75 higher
Missouri has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.
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Housing
Missouri homes cost about 1.2x more
Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $202,500 in Missouri.
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Taxes
Missouri has lower state income tax
Missouri has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.95%, compared with 6.00% in Iowa.
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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
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- 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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Missouri
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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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, 89.5 for Missouri). 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 housing cost index.
- Iowa has lower median home values.
- Iowa shows higher median income.
- Iowa has a lower violent crime rate.
- Iowa health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Iowa health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Iowa has a higher overall cost of living.
- Iowa has higher property tax rates on average.
- Iowa job growth trend is weaker.
- Iowa education proxy is lower.
- Iowa has fewer sunny days.
Missouri
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Missouri
- Missouri has a lower overall cost of living.
- Missouri has lower property tax rates on average.
- Missouri job growth trend is stronger.
- Missouri education proxy is higher.
- Missouri has more sunny days.
Cons
- Missouri has a higher housing cost index.
- Missouri has higher median home values.
- Missouri shows lower median income.
- Missouri has a higher violent crime rate.
- Missouri health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Missouri health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IA
|
MO
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Des Moines | Jefferson City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,190,369
|
6,154,913
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,571
|
$65,920
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.0
|
90.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$173,300
|
$202,500
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.39%
|
0.85%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.00%
|
4.95%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.482/gal
|
$3.559/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.83 c/kWh
|
11.80 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.23
|
51.23
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.8°F
|
54.5°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
115 days
|
|
Land Area
|
56,273 sq mi
|
69,707 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.7 per sq mi
|
88.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 28, 1846 (#29)
|
August 10, 1821 (#24)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Missouri is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 90.0 vs 91.0 in Iowa. 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 $3.559/gal in Missouri. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Missouri has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Missouri vs $7.25/hr in Iowa. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Missouri has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 11.80 c/kWh in Missouri vs 12.83 c/kWh in Iowa. 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 3.07x in Missouri. 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 17.8% in Missouri. 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 Missouri - Common Questions
Q Is Iowa cheaper to live in than Missouri?
Missouri has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Missouri scores 90.0 versus 91.0 for Iowa - a gap of 1.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Iowa or Missouri?
$100 goes further in Missouri. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $112.21 in Missouri, compared with $111.93 in Iowa.
Q Which state is bigger - Iowa or Missouri?
Missouri is larger, covering 69,707 sq mi compared with 56,273 sq mi for Iowa - roughly 1.2x the size.
Q Does Iowa or Missouri have more people?
Missouri has the larger population at 6,154,913, compared with 3,190,369 in Iowa.
Q Which state has higher household income - Iowa or Missouri?
Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, versus $65,920 in Missouri.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Iowa or Missouri?
Missouri has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.95%, compared with 6.00% in Iowa.
Q Is housing cheaper in Iowa or Missouri?
Homes are cheaper in Iowa, where the median home value is $173,300, versus $202,500 in Missouri.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Iowa or Missouri?
Missouri is more densely populated at 88.3 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.