Iowa
IA • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
56.23
State Comparison
Iowa vs North Dakota
Iowa is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Iowa, North Dakota has higher incomes, North Dakota has lower state income tax, and Iowa gets more sunshine.
Iowa
14
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
North Dakota
16
/ 30
metrics won
IA wins Housing
ND wins Quality of Life
IA wins Climate
ND wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Iowa
winner
vs
North Dakota
Iowa scores higher on quality of life — 1.60 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 8.1 points cheaper overall
Iowa has the lower cost-of-living index. Iowa is at 91.0, while North Dakota is at 99.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.23 further in Iowa
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.93 of local buying power in Iowa, versus $110.70 in North Dakota.
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Income
North Dakota income is 4.8% higher
North Dakota has the higher median household income at $73,959, compared with $70,571 in Iowa.
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Jobs
North Dakota has the higher minimum wage
North Dakota has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.
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Housing
North Dakota homes cost about 1.3x more
Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $220,600 in North Dakota.
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Taxes
North Dakota has lower state income tax
North Dakota has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 2.50%, 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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North Dakota
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 2.5%)
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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, 91.0 for North Dakota). 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 a lower violent crime rate.
- Iowa job growth trend is stronger.
- Iowa has more sunny days.
Cons
- Iowa shows lower median income.
- Iowa has higher property tax rates on average.
- Iowa health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Iowa health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Iowa education proxy is lower.
North Dakota
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: North Dakota
- North Dakota shows higher median income.
- North Dakota has lower property tax rates on average.
- North Dakota health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- North Dakota health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- North Dakota education proxy is higher.
Cons
- North Dakota has a higher overall cost of living.
- North Dakota has a higher housing cost index.
- North Dakota has higher median home values.
- North Dakota has a higher violent crime rate.
- North Dakota job growth trend is weaker.
- North Dakota has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IA
|
ND
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Des Moines | Bismarck |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,190,369
|
779,094
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,571
|
$73,959
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.0
|
99.1
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$173,300
|
$220,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.39%
|
0.99%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.00%
|
2.50%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.482/gal
|
$3.451/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.83 c/kWh
|
10.92 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.23
|
54.63
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.8°F
|
40.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
93 days
|
|
Land Area
|
56,273 sq mi
|
70,698 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.7 per sq mi
|
11.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 28, 1846 (#29)
|
November 2, 1889 (#39)
|
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
16
shown
Saving Money
Iowa is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 vs 99.1 in North Dakota. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
North Dakota is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.451/gal in North Dakota vs $3.482/gal in Iowa. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
North Dakota has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 10.92 c/kWh in North Dakota 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 2.98x in North Dakota. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
North Dakota is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 15.2% in North Dakota vs 15.5% in Iowa. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
North Dakota has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.99% in North Dakota vs 1.39% in Iowa. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Iowa has a larger population than North Dakota by 2,411,275 people.
Population Density
Iowa is more densely populated than North Dakota.
Bachelor's Degree
North Dakota has a higher college-educated share than Iowa.
Advanced Degree
Iowa has a higher advanced-degree share than North Dakota.
People Also Ask
Iowa vs North Dakota - Common Questions
Q Is Iowa cheaper to live in than North Dakota?
Iowa has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Iowa scores 91.0 versus 99.1 for North Dakota - a gap of 8.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Iowa or North Dakota?
$100 goes further in Iowa. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.93 in Iowa, compared with $110.70 in North Dakota.
Q Which state is bigger - Iowa or North Dakota?
North Dakota is larger, covering 70,698 sq mi compared with 56,273 sq mi for Iowa - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Iowa or North Dakota have more people?
Iowa has the larger population at 3,190,369, compared with 779,094 in North Dakota.
Q Which state has higher household income - Iowa or North Dakota?
North Dakota has the higher median household income at $73,959, versus $70,571 in Iowa.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Iowa or North Dakota?
North Dakota has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 6.00% in Iowa.
Q Is housing cheaper in Iowa or North Dakota?
Homes are cheaper in Iowa, where the median home value is $173,300, versus $220,600 in North Dakota.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Iowa or North Dakota?
Iowa is more densely populated at 56.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. North Dakota is more spread out at 11.0 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.