The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Iowa

Ranked by home value ÷ income among 99 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Iowa. #1 is Tama, IA (homes cost 1.6× income).

1. 25Missouri Valley, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

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

2. 24Madrid, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

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

3. 23Carlisle, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

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

4. 22Forest City, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

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

5. 21Hampton, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

   4,337 people · Franklin County · median home $99,400 · income $47,088 · Jan low 8°F · 29 in snow

6. 20Osceola, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

   5,415 people · Clarke County · median home $146,300 · income $68,284 · Jan low 11°F · 28 in snow

7. 19Oelwein, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.1× income

   5,920 people · Fayette County · median home $96,300 · income $46,653 · Jan low 9°F · 39 in snow

8. 18Hudson, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.0× income

   2,546 people · Black Hawk County · median home $242,700 · income $120,481 · Jan low 11°F · 39 in snow

9. 17Emmetsburg, Iowa

   Homes cost 2.0× income

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

10. 16Carter Lake, Iowa

    Homes cost 2.0× income

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

11. 15Shenandoah, Iowa

    Homes cost 2.0× income

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

12. 14Red Oak, Iowa

    Homes cost 2.0× income

    5,596 people · Montgomery County · median home $99,700 · income $50,109 · Jan low 13°F · 27 in snow

13. 13Webster City, Iowa

    Homes cost 2.0× income

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

14. 12Keokuk, Iowa

    Homes cost 2.0× income

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

15. 11Cresco, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.9× income

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

16. 10Estherville, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.9× income

    5,904 people · Emmet County · median home $101,400 · income $54,124 · Jan low 5°F · 40 in snow

17. 9Charles City, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.9× income

    7,396 people · Floyd County · median home $115,400 · income $59,180 · Jan low 9°F · 38 in snow

18. 8Hawarden, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.8× income

    2,700 people · Sioux County · median home $136,300 · income $74,167 · Jan low 7°F · 31 in snow

19. 7Clarion, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.8× income

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

20. 6Albia, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.8× income

    3,721 people · Monroe County · median home $130,300 · income $70,455 · Jan low 13°F · 30 in snow

21. 5Perry, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.8× income

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

22. 4Eldora, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.7× income

    2,663 people · Hardin County · median home $133,000 · income $77,188 · Jan low 8°F · 33 in snow

23. 3Eagle Grove, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.7× income

    3,601 people · Wright County · median home $104,600 · income $63,125 · Jan low 6°F · 33 in snow

24. 2Chariton, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.7× income

    4,193 people · Lucas County · median home $81,900 · income $46,979 · Jan low 11°F · 24 in snow

25. 1Tama, Iowa

    Homes cost 1.6× income

    3,130 people · Tama County · median home $106,800 · income $68,661 · Jan low 9°F · 33 in snow

More Iowa rankings

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