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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Iowa, 2026

Denison is the most affordable ranked town in Iowa. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

85
Towns ranked in Iowa.
Denison
Number 1 in Iowa. Rent is 13.4% of income. National rank 169.
16.1%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Iowa.
0
Ranked Iowa towns in the national top 100.
Iowa City
Least affordable ranked town in Iowa. Rent is 22.4% of income. National rank 2507.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Iowa price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Iowa.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Iowa." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/iowa

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Benefits and taxes in Iowa

Top 25

  1. #1 in Iowa · National #169

    Denison

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.207

    Median rent is $731 a month and median income is $65,684, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Iowa · National #175

    Charles City

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.208

    Median rent is $735 a month and median income is $59,180, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Iowa · National #177

    Independence

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.208

    Median rent is $820 a month and median income is $73,806, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Iowa · National #180

    Cherokee

    Rent share 14.1% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.208

    Median rent is $728 a month and median income is $61,750, so rent is 14.1% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Iowa · National #190

    Sergeant Bluff

    Rent share 11.2% · Price level 86.5 · Score 0.210

    Median rent is $1,156 a month and median income is $123,481, so rent is 11.2% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro price level is 86.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  6. #6 in Iowa · National #207

    Carroll

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.215

    Median rent is $722 a month and median income is $69,706, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #7 in Iowa · National #220

    Marshalltown

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.216

    Median rent is $891 a month and median income is $69,068, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Iowa · National #222

    DeWitt

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.216

    Median rent is $955 a month and median income is $92,587, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  9. #9 in Iowa · National #228

    Clinton

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.218

    Median rent is $791 a month and median income is $60,230, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Iowa · National #243

    Atlantic

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.222

    Median rent is $764 a month and median income is $61,141, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Iowa · National #251

    Creston

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.223

    Median rent is $703 a month and median income is $52,633, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Iowa · National #255

    Maquoketa

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.224

    Median rent is $795 a month and median income is $60,240, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Iowa · National #261

    Manchester

    Rent share 15.7% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.225

    Median rent is $802 a month and median income is $61,191, so rent is 15.7% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Iowa · National #262

    Fort Dodge

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.225

    Median rent is $785 a month and median income is $60,649, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Iowa · National #268

    Orange City

    Rent share 11.5% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.227

    Median rent is $789 a month and median income is $82,122, so rent is 11.5% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Iowa · National #269

    Oskaloosa

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.228

    Median rent is $831 a month and median income is $64,004, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Iowa · National #270

    Estherville

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.228

    Median rent is $754 a month and median income is $54,124, so rent is 16.7% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Iowa · National #271

    Boone

    Rent share 14.4% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.228

    Median rent is $831 a month and median income is $69,222, so rent is 14.4% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Ames, IA metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Iowa · National #284

    Clear Lake

    Rent share 12.2% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.230

    Median rent is $808 a month and median income is $79,415, so rent is 12.2% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  20. #20 in Iowa · National #293

    Knoxville

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.232

    Median rent is $801 a month and median income is $61,599, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Iowa · National #295

    Mason City

    Rent share 16.3% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.232

    Median rent is $882 a month and median income is $64,804, so rent is 16.3% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Iowa · National #303

    Marion

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.233

    Median rent is $961 a month and median income is $86,743, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Cedar Rapids, IA metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  23. #23 in Iowa · National #320

    Nevada

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.236

    Median rent is $953 a month and median income is $75,094, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Ames, IA metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Iowa · National #324

    Osceola

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.236

    Median rent is $943 a month and median income is $68,284, so rent is 16.6% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Iowa · National #335

    Le Mars

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.238

    Median rent is $929 a month and median income is $74,701, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

Least affordable 10

  1. #85 in Iowa · National #2507

    Iowa City

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.404

    Median rent is $1,094 a month and median income is $58,546, so rent is 22.4% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa City, IA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #84 in Iowa · National #1675

    Washington

    Rent share 21.0% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.348

    Median rent is $968 a month and median income is $55,373, so rent is 21.0% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa City, IA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #83 in Iowa · National #1672

    Ames

    Rent share 20.1% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.348

    Median rent is $1,023 a month and median income is $60,991, so rent is 20.1% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Ames, IA metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #82 in Iowa · National #1589

    Windsor Heights

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 91.7 · Score 0.342

    Median rent is $1,498 a month and median income is $91,707, so rent is 19.6% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro price level is 91.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #81 in Iowa · National #1537

    Des Moines

    Rent share 19.8% · Price level 91.7 · Score 0.339

    Median rent is $1,090 a month and median income is $65,932, so rent is 19.8% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro price level is 91.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #80 in Iowa · National #1438

    Coralville

    Rent share 18.3% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.332

    Median rent is $1,057 a month and median income is $69,144, so rent is 18.3% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa City, IA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #79 in Iowa · National #1402

    Winterset

    Rent share 19.4% · Price level 91.7 · Score 0.330

    Median rent is $1,095 a month and median income is $67,708, so rent is 19.4% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro price level is 91.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #78 in Iowa · National #1264

    Council Bluffs

    Rent share 19.1% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.321

    Median rent is $1,030 a month and median income is $64,578, so rent is 19.1% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Omaha, NE-IA metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #77 in Iowa · National #1252

    Oelwein

    Rent share 21.8% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.320

    Median rent is $847 a month and median income is $46,653, so rent is 21.8% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #76 in Iowa · National #1250

    Fairfield

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 87.8 · Score 0.320

    Median rent is $870 a month and median income is $51,311, so rent is 20.3% of income, over the 16.1% median for ranked towns in Iowa. The Iowa state price level is 87.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.99 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Iowa in this index?

Denison is number 1 of 85 ranked towns in Iowa. Median rent is 13.4% of median income. Its national rank is 169.

How many towns in Iowa were ranked?

85 towns in Iowa have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Iowa?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.