Quality of Life Score
56.23
State Comparison
Iowa vs Ohio
$100 goes further in Iowa, while Iowa has higher incomes, Ohio has lower state income tax, and Iowa gets more sunshine.
Iowa
20
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Ohio
10
/ 30
metrics won
IA wins Housing
IA wins Climate
IA wins Income
IA wins Quality of Life
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Iowa
winner
vs
Ohio
Iowa scores higher on quality of life — 4.62 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
Ohio is 0.0 points cheaper overall
Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Iowa is at 91.0.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.02 further in Iowa
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.93 of local buying power in Iowa, versus $109.91 in Ohio.
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Income
Iowa income is 5.3% higher
Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.
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Jobs
Ohio minimum wage is $3.20 higher
Ohio has the higher statewide minimum wage at $10.45/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.
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Housing
Ohio homes cost about 1.1x more
Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $196,200 in Ohio.
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Taxes
Ohio has lower state income tax
Ohio has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 3.75%, compared with 6.00% in Iowa.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
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%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Ohio
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 3.8%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
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 Ohio). 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 higher property tax rates on average.
- Iowa job growth trend is weaker.
- Iowa education proxy is lower.
Ohio
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Ohio
- Ohio has lower property tax rates on average.
- Ohio job growth trend is stronger.
- Ohio education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Ohio has a higher housing cost index.
- Ohio has higher median home values.
- Ohio shows lower median income.
- Ohio has a higher violent crime rate.
- Ohio health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Ohio 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
|
OH
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Des Moines | Columbus |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,190,369
|
11,799,448
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,571
|
$66,990
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.0
|
91.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$173,300
|
$196,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.39%
|
1.31%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.00%
|
3.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$10.45/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.482/gal
|
$3.751/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.83 c/kWh
|
17.59 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.23
|
51.61
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.8°F
|
50.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
72 days
|
|
Land Area
|
56,273 sq mi
|
44,826 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.7 per sq mi
|
263.2 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 28, 1846 (#29)
|
March 1, 1803 (#17)
|
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
Gas Price
Iowa is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.482/gal in Iowa vs $3.751/gal in Ohio. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Ohio has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $10.45/hr in Ohio vs $7.25/hr in Iowa. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Iowa has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.83 c/kWh in Iowa vs 17.59 c/kWh in Ohio. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Iowa is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.46x in Iowa vs 2.93x in Ohio. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Iowa is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 15.5% in Iowa vs 18.6% in Ohio. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full data
Property Tax
Ohio has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.31% in Ohio 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.
People Also Ask
Iowa vs Ohio - Common Questions
Q Is Iowa cheaper to live in than Ohio?
Ohio has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Ohio scores 91.0 versus 91.0 for Iowa - a gap of 0.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Iowa or Ohio?
$100 goes further in Iowa. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.93 in Iowa, compared with $109.91 in Ohio.
Q Which state is bigger - Iowa or Ohio?
Iowa is larger, covering 56,273 sq mi compared with 44,826 sq mi for Ohio - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Iowa or Ohio have more people?
Ohio has the larger population at 11,799,448, compared with 3,190,369 in Iowa.
Q Which state has higher household income - Iowa or Ohio?
Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, versus $66,990 in Ohio.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Iowa or Ohio?
Ohio has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.75%, compared with 6.00% in Iowa.
Q Is housing cheaper in Iowa or Ohio?
Homes are cheaper in Iowa, where the median home value is $173,300, versus $196,200 in Ohio.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Iowa or Ohio?
Ohio is more densely populated at 263.2 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.