State Comparison

Iowa vs Ohio

Iowa has higher incomes, while Ohio has lower state income tax, and Iowa gets more sunshine.

Iowa

IA • Midwest

Better quality of life

Quality of Life Score

56.23

Ohio

OH • Midwest

Quality of Life Score

51.61

Iowa

20 / 30

metrics won

Wins

Score

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

56.23

Ohio

51.61

Iowa scores higher on quality of life — 4.62 points difference.

Quick Take

Iowa vs Ohio

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

Ohio has a larger population than Iowa by 8,609,079 people.
Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Iowa is at 91.0.
Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.
Ohio has the higher statewide minimum wage at $11.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.

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.

View detailed comparison

Income

Iowa income is 5.3% higher

Iowa has the higher median household income at $70,571, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.

View detailed comparison

Jobs

Ohio minimum wage is $3.75 higher

Ohio has the higher statewide minimum wage at $11.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.

View detailed comparison

Housing

Ohio homes cost about 1.1x more

Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $196,200 in Ohio.

View detailed comparison

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 comparison

Cost of Driving

Iowa gas is about $0.27 cheaper

Iowa has the lower regular gas price at $3.482/gal, versus $3.751/gal in Ohio.

View detailed comparison

Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Des Moines	Columbus	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Red	Solid Red	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	3,190,369	11,799,448	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$70,571	$66,990	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	91.0	91.0	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$173,300	$196,200	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.39%	1.31%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	6.00%	3.75%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$7.25/hr	$11.00/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.482/gal	$3.751/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	12.83 c/kWh	17.59 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	56.23	51.61	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	47.8°F	50.7°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	105 days	72 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	56,273 sq mi	44,826 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	56.7 per sq mi	263.2 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 28, 1846 (#29)	March 1, 1803 (#17)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	3,190,369	11,799,448	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	56.7 per sq mi	263.2 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	31.5%	32.0%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	10.7%	12.7%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$7.25/hr	$11.00/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	56.23	51.61	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	91.0	91.0	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.482/gal	$3.751/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	12.83 c/kWh	17.59 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	19.2 min	23.5 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	47.8°F	50.7°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	71.6°F	70.9°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	21.7°F	29.5°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	105 days	72 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	34.0 in	39.1 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$173,300	$196,200	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$914/mo	$1,038/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	72.7%	68.7%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	2.46x	2.93x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	15.5%	18.6%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	16.4%	16.0%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	6.00%	3.75%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	6.00%	5.75%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.39%	1.31%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Red	Solid Red	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Rep +13.21	Rep +11.14	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Not a battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Republican	Republican	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Republican	Republican	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Republican	Republican	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Republican Trifecta	Republican Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Permissive	Permissive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	Control State	Control State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Medical	Legal	Details ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	56,273 sq mi	44,826 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Hawkeye Point (1,670 ft)	Campbell Hill (1,549 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 28, 1846 (#29)	March 1, 1803 (#17)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Des Moines	Columbus	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	Midwest	Midwest	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	78.1 yrs	75.1 yrs	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	5.0%	6.1%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	36.6%	36.9%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	277.2	316.5	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	1452.6	1866.0	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	IA	OH	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$70,571	$66,990	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	90.4	91.0	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	11.3%	13.3%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	64.4%	60.8%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	3.5%	4.5%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	0.2%	1.0%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

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.

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: $11.00/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 data

State Color

Ohio votes bluer

2024 presidential margin: Rep +11.14 in Ohio vs Rep +13.21 in Iowa.

See full data

Marijuana Legalization

Ohio has broader marijuana access

Ohio currently rates as Legal, while Iowa rates as Medical under statewide marijuana law.

See full data

Lower Taxes

Ohio has lower income taxes

Top state income tax rate: 3.75% in Ohio vs 6.00% in Iowa.

See full data

More Space

Iowa feels less crowded

Population density: 56.7 per sq mi in Iowa vs 263.2 per sq mi in Ohio. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.

See full data

Shorter Commute

Iowa has the shorter commute

Average commute: 19.2 min in Iowa vs 23.5 min in Ohio.

See full data

Job Opportunities

Iowa looks better for job seekers

Unemployment rate: 3.5% in Iowa vs 4.5% in Ohio.

See full data

Remote Workers

Iowa looks better for remote workers

Livability score: 56.23 in Iowa vs 51.61 in Ohio. Iowa also has the shorter average commute.

See full data

Families

Iowa looks better for families

Iowa wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Ohio.

See full data

Warmer Climate

Ohio is warmer overall

Average annual temperature: 50.7°F in Ohio vs 47.8°F in Iowa.

See full data

More Sunshine

Iowa gets more sun

Sunny days per year: 105 days in Iowa vs 72 days in Ohio.

See full data

Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population

Ohio has a larger population than Iowa by 8,609,079 people.

Population Density

Ohio is more densely populated than Iowa.

Bachelor's Degree

Ohio has a higher college-educated share than Iowa.

Advanced Degree

Ohio has a higher advanced-degree share than Iowa.

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 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

Illinois vs Ohio

Indiana vs Ohio

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, with minimum wage data 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.