Livability Score Comparison
Quality of Life

Iowa vs Nebraska: Livability Score

Iowa has a higher livability score than Nebraska.

Iowa flag
Iowa
IA • Midwest
Winner
56.23
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).
Nebraska flag
Nebraska
NE • Midwest
52.89
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Visual Comparison

Iowa 56.23
Nebraska 52.89

Difference: 3.34 points — Iowa leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for livability score.

Iowa #12 · 56.23
Nebraska #20 · 52.89
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Livability Score

#1 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
60.23
#2 Idaho flag Idaho
60.19
#3 New Jersey flag New Jersey
59.81
#4 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
59.66
#5 Minnesota flag Minnesota
58.69
#6 Florida flag Florida
58.51
#7 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
58.21
#8 New York flag New York
57.94
#9 Utah flag Utah
57.94
#10 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
57.90
Selected states
#12 Iowa flag Iowa
56.23
#20 Nebraska flag Nebraska
52.89

Iowa ranks 12th and Nebraska ranks 20th nationally for livability score.

Related Context

What Drives the Score

The livability score synthesizes several quality-of-life signals — here are the key inputs.

What This Means

Iowa vs Nebraska: Livability Score in context

Iowa has a livability score of 56.23, compared with 52.89 in Nebraska. Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Iowa
56.23
Nebraska
52.89
Difference
3.34 points

People Also Ask

Iowa vs Nebraska Livability Score — Common Questions

Q What is Iowa's livability score?

Iowa's livability score is 56.23.

Q What is Nebraska's livability score?

Nebraska's livability score is 52.89.

Q Which state has a higher livability score — Iowa or Nebraska?

Iowa has a higher livability score than Nebraska.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. 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.