The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 99 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Iowa. #1 is Decorah, IA.

1. 25New Hampton, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 69% of Iowa towns

   3,494 people · Chickasaw County · median home $167,700 · income $62,870 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

2. 24Shenandoah, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 71% of Iowa towns

   4,925 people · Page County · median home $116,700 · income $59,783 · Jan low 14°F · 26 in snow

3. 23Orange City, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 72% of Iowa towns

   6,267 people · Sioux County · median home $264,000 · income $82,122 · Jan low 9°F · 27 in snow

4. 22Grinnell, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 73% of Iowa towns

   9,564 people · Poweshiek County · median home $209,500 · income $65,320 · Jan low 10°F · 31 in snow

5. 21Kalona, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns

   2,630 people · Washington County · median home $257,900 · income $80,129 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

6. 20Emmetsburg, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns

   3,706 people · Palo Alto County · median home $114,300 · income $55,833 · Jan low 7°F · 37 in snow

7. 19Webster City, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns

   7,825 people · Hamilton County · median home $127,200 · income $63,430 · Jan low 7°F · 33 in snow

8. 18Waukon, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

   3,827 people · Allamakee County · median home $147,200 · income $60,269 · Jan low 8°F · 36 in snow

9. 17Vinton, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

   4,938 people · Benton County · median home $152,300 · income $66,495 · Jan low 8°F · 34 in snow

10. 16Independence, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

    6,064 people · Buchanan County · median home $165,300 · income $73,806 · Jan low 8°F · 34 in snow

11. 15Harlan, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns

    4,893 people · Shelby County · median home $152,500 · income $57,488 · Jan low 10°F · 31 in snow

12. 14Cherokee, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 81% of Iowa towns

    5,199 people · Cherokee County · median home $136,700 · income $61,750 · Jan low 7°F · 38 in snow

13. 13Monticello, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 84% of Iowa towns

    4,040 people · Jones County · median home $175,200 · income $70,015 · Jan low 9°F · 32 in snow

14. 12Spirit Lake, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns

    5,439 people · Dickinson County · median home $215,100 · income $65,720 · Jan low 7°F · 42 in snow

15. 11Madrid, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns

    2,802 people · Boone County · median home $185,600 · income $89,844 · Jan low 12°F · 33 in snow

16. 10Cresco, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns

    3,888 people · Howard County · median home $117,200 · income $60,608 · Jan low 6°F · 40 in snow

17. 9Grundy Center, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 87% of Iowa towns

    2,796 people · Grundy County · median home $177,900 · income $80,357 · Jan low 9°F · 32 in snow

18. 8Story City, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 92% of Iowa towns

    3,352 people · Story County · median home $215,600 · income $96,605 · Jan low 11°F · 32 in snow

19. 7Solon, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns

    3,018 people · Johnson County · median home $309,400 · income $113,295 · Jan low 15°F · 29 in snow

20. 6Fairfield, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns

    9,416 people · Jefferson County · median home $156,000 · income $51,311 · Jan low 14°F · 22 in snow

21. 5Garner, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns

    3,065 people · Hancock County · median home $186,300 · income $70,726 · Jan low 6°F · 40 in snow

22. 4Milford, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 97% of Iowa towns

    3,321 people · Dickinson County · median home $218,400 · income $63,369 · Jan low 8°F · 38 in snow

23. 3Algona, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 97% of Iowa towns

    5,487 people · Kossuth County · median home $160,800 · income $56,040 · Jan low 6°F · 36 in snow

24. 2Clarion, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns

    2,810 people · Wright County · median home $116,200 · income $64,625 · Jan low 6°F · 31 in snow

25. 1Decorah, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 100% of Iowa towns

    7,587 people · Winneshiek County · median home $244,500 · income $64,366 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

Price vs ranking

More Iowa rankings

• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Iowa
• The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in Iowa
• 25 Small Towns in Iowa With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Iowa With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Iowa
• 25 Small Towns in Iowa With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Iowa

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio