Livability Score Comparison
Quality of Life

Iowa vs Wisconsin: Livability Score

Wisconsin has a higher livability score than Iowa.

Iowa flag
Iowa
IA • Midwest
56.23
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).
Wisconsin flag
Wisconsin
WI • Midwest
Winner
59.66
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Visual Comparison

Iowa 56.23
Wisconsin 59.66

Difference: 3.43 points — Wisconsin leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

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

Iowa #12 · 56.23
Wisconsin #4 · 59.66
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

Iowa ranks 12th and Wisconsin ranks 4th 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 Wisconsin: Livability Score in context

Wisconsin has a livability score of 59.66, compared with 56.23 in Iowa. Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Iowa
56.23
Wisconsin
59.66
Difference
3.43 points

People Also Ask

Iowa vs Wisconsin Livability Score — Common Questions

Q What is Iowa's livability score?

Iowa's livability score is 56.23.

Q What is Wisconsin's livability score?

Wisconsin's livability score is 59.66.

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

Wisconsin has a higher livability score than Iowa.

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.