The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Iowa

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

1. 25Bloomfield, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 73% of Iowa towns

   2,682 people · Davis County · median home $132,000 · income $60,769 · Jan low 15°F · 24 in snow

2. 24Osage, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 75% of Iowa towns

   3,627 people · Mitchell County · median home $160,700 · income $68,730 · Jan low 6°F · 40 in snow

3. 23Keokuk, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 75% of Iowa towns

   9,900 people · Lee County · median home $104,300 · income $52,711 · Jan low 17°F · 22 in snow

4. 22Fairfax, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 79% of Iowa towns

   2,828 people · Linn County · median home $274,500 · income $114,375 · Jan low 11°F · 27 in snow

5. 21Monticello, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 80% of Iowa towns

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

6. 20Huxley, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 81% of Iowa towns

   4,244 people · Story County · median home $297,100 · income $112,094 · Jan low 10°F · 27 in snow

7. 19Perry, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 82% of Iowa towns

   7,836 people · Dallas County · median home $121,400 · income $68,910 · Jan low 10°F · 34 in snow

8. 18Iowa Falls, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 83% of Iowa towns

   5,106 people · Hardin County · median home $123,800 · income $50,417 · Jan low 8°F · 28 in snow

9. 17Glenwood, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Iowa towns

   5,073 people · Mills County · median home $206,200 · income $71,790 · Jan low 12°F · 24 in snow

10. 16Mount Pleasant, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Iowa towns

    9,274 people · Henry County · median home $160,900 · income $61,042 · Jan low 13°F · 25 in snow

11. 15Kalona, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

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

12. 14Hiawatha, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

    7,183 people · Linn County · median home $216,900 · income $66,270 · Jan low 13°F · 34 in snow

13. 13Webster City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

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

14. 12Washington, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Iowa towns

    7,352 people · Washington County · median home $152,300 · income $55,373 · Jan low 12°F · 25 in snow

15. 11Centerville, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns

    5,412 people · Appanoose County · median home $103,000 · income $46,563 · Jan low 12°F · 22 in snow

16. 10Nevada, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns

    6,925 people · Story County · median home $182,400 · income $75,094 · Jan low 10°F · 27 in snow

17. 9Grundy Center, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Iowa towns

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

18. 8Fairfield, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Iowa towns

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

19. 7Carlisle, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns

    4,160 people · Warren County · median home $234,300 · income $109,191 · Jan low 14°F · 37 in snow

20. 6Forest City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns

    4,285 people · Winnebago County · median home $143,500 · income $69,205 · Jan low 6°F · 41 in snow

21. 5Story City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns

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

22. 4Shenandoah, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns

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

23. 3Missouri Valley, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns

    2,678 people · Harrison County · median home $148,500 · income $71,818 · Jan low 10°F · 29 in snow

24. 2Carter Lake, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns

    3,791 people · Pottawattamie County · median home $169,400 · income $85,349 · Jan low 15°F · 27 in snow

25. 1Madrid, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Iowa towns

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

Price vs ranking

More Iowa rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
• 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

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio