Iowa State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

The population is over 3 million, and most residents live in the cities. That said, farms still populate the land; there are about 80,000 of them in the entire region. The area may be small, but it offers a good population density for families seeking a new home.

The economy is one of the best for doing business, and not just in terms of agriculture. Many people work in the manufacturing or finance sectors, and government jobs are also popular. Some national services operate out of here, such as the American Medical Association and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

This region is one of the top places to live in the country, particularly Des Moines. While the home value is slightly higher than the IA average, the commutes are short, and there is less crime. There are over 1.2 million homes here, and the average city property value is between $115,000 and $230,000.

The Iowa unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is very good compared to the entire country. Also, the percentage of people without a job has been steadily decreasing. Again, agricultural jobs are plummeting thanks to rural flight. The unemployment rate in IA decreased by 0.2% at the beginning of 2021.

With the IA sales tax of 6% and adding property tax of 1.50%, it can be challenging for more impoverished communities to achieve decent living conditions. The poorest places in the region are Keokuk, Centerville, and Maquoketa. Ethnic minorities are the most likely to struggle to make ends meet.

Over a quarter of the residents have a Bachelor's degree or higher. There are 60 colleges and universities here, including Iowa State University, one of three public institutions. The number of college-educated people is less than the national average and many other states, perhaps due to the focus on agriculture.

Nearly 10% of residents don’t have insurance, which is bad news, especially in a country like the U.S. Some of the best hospitals here are in Iowa City and Des Moines. Over 720,000 people are on Medicaid, including over 230,000 children. The leading causes of death in IA are heart disease, cancer, and Chronic Lower Respiratory

According to the census statistics, this region is considered one of the safest places to live in the U.S. Murders are markedly lower here than elsewhere in the country. The most common incidents are property crime and larceny-theft. The murder rate is 1.9 per 100,000 residents, which is good compared to the national figures.

Given its wide expanses of land, some might think this area would have a higher environmental rating. Perhaps due to rural flight and more manufacturing jobs, this region ranks #36 in terms of clean air, drinking water, and pesticide use. Despite its agricultural roots, IA underperforms in terms of air and water quality compared to other states.

The area is a poor performer in terms of road conditions and infrastructure. Tax dollars should go towards restructuring the highways and stabilizing bridges, nearly a fifth of which are deficient. The mean travel time to work is 19.4 minutes, which is one of the best out of all the states.