Quality of Life Score
56.23
State Comparison
Iowa vs Wisconsin
Iowa is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Iowa, Wisconsin has higher incomes, Iowa has lower state income tax, and Iowa gets more sunshine.
Iowa
19
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Wisconsin
11
/ 30
metrics won
IA wins Housing
IA wins Quality of Life
IA wins Climate
WI wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Iowa
vs
Wisconsin
winner
Wisconsin scores higher on quality of life — 3.43 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 4.5 points cheaper overall
Iowa has the lower cost-of-living index. Iowa is at 91.0, while Wisconsin is at 95.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.00 further in Iowa
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.93 of local buying power in Iowa, versus $108.93 in Wisconsin.
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Income
Wisconsin income is 1.9% higher
Wisconsin has the higher median household income at $71,887, compared with $70,571 in Iowa.
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Jobs
Wisconsin has the higher minimum wage
Wisconsin has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Iowa.
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Housing
Wisconsin homes cost about 1.4x more
Iowa has the lower median home value at $173,300, versus $237,300 in Wisconsin.
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Taxes
Iowa has lower state income tax
Iowa has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.00%, compared with 7.65% in Wisconsin.
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%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Wisconsin
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.7%)
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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, 93.2 for Wisconsin). 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 lower property tax rates on average.
- Iowa has a lower violent crime rate.
- Iowa has more sunny days.
Cons
- Iowa shows lower median income.
- Iowa health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Iowa health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Iowa education proxy is lower.
Wisconsin
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Wisconsin
- Wisconsin shows higher median income.
- Wisconsin health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Wisconsin health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Wisconsin education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Wisconsin has a higher overall cost of living.
- Wisconsin has a higher housing cost index.
- Wisconsin has higher median home values.
- Wisconsin has higher property tax rates on average.
- Wisconsin has a higher violent crime rate.
- Wisconsin has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IA
|
WI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Des Moines | Madison |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Swing State |
|
Population
|
3,190,369
|
5,893,718
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,571
|
$71,887
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.0
|
95.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$173,300
|
$237,300
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.39%
|
1.42%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.00%
|
7.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.482/gal
|
$3.818/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.83 c/kWh
|
18.20 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.23
|
59.66
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.8°F
|
43.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
89 days
|
|
Land Area
|
56,273 sq mi
|
65,496 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.7 per sq mi
|
90.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 28, 1846 (#29)
|
May 29, 1848 (#30)
|
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
Iowa is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 vs 95.5 in Wisconsin. 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 $3.818/gal in Wisconsin. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Iowa has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.83 c/kWh in Iowa vs 18.20 c/kWh in Wisconsin. 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 3.30x in Wisconsin. 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 17.2% in Wisconsin. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full data
Property Tax
Iowa has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.39% in Iowa vs 1.42% in Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin - Common Questions
Q Is Iowa cheaper to live in than Wisconsin?
Iowa has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Iowa scores 91.0 versus 95.5 for Wisconsin - a gap of 4.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Iowa or Wisconsin?
$100 goes further in Iowa. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.93 in Iowa, compared with $108.93 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state is bigger - Iowa or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is larger, covering 65,496 sq mi compared with 56,273 sq mi for Iowa - roughly 1.2x the size.
Q Does Iowa or Wisconsin have more people?
Wisconsin has the larger population at 5,893,718, compared with 3,190,369 in Iowa.
Q Which state has higher household income - Iowa or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has the higher median household income at $71,887, versus $70,571 in Iowa.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Iowa or Wisconsin?
Iowa has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.00%, compared with 7.65% in Wisconsin.
Q Is housing cheaper in Iowa or Wisconsin?
Homes are cheaper in Iowa, where the median home value is $173,300, versus $237,300 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Iowa or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is more densely populated at 90.0 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.