Research / Most affordable ZIP codes
Most affordable ZIP codes in Iowa
Ranked by the SkaldMaps Cost of Living Index, lowest first. 100 is about the national level; lower values indicate lower estimated costs.
How we rank lowest cost of living
The Cost of Living Index combines the local cost of everyday goods and services with the estimated cost of owning a typical listed home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. These measures are combined and compared with a national baseline.
100 is about the national level. Below 100, a homebuyer's money goes further; above 100, it goes less far.
It reflects homes for sale today, not what current owners pay, so it needs listing data: ZIPs without enough listings are not ranked. It does not include income, so a low index does not mean local wages cover local costs.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 301 Iowa ZIPs qualify.
Iowa ZIP codes ranked by lowest cost of living
1ZIP 50585Sioux Rapids
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 58.9
- ZIP population
- ~1k
- Avg. temperature
- 48°F
- Avg. commute
- 29 min
2ZIP 50456Manly
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 63.4
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 47°F
- Avg. commute
- 21 min
3ZIP 52802Davenport
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 65.4
- ZIP population
- ~9k
- Avg. temperature
- 52°F
- Avg. commute
- 25 min
4ZIP 52632Keokuk
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 65.5
- ZIP population
- ~12k
- Avg. temperature
- 53°F
- Avg. commute
- 16 min
5ZIP 52540Brighton
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 65.7
- ZIP population
- ~1k
- Avg. temperature
- 52°F
- Avg. commute
- 33 min
6ZIP 50423Britt
Iowa
- Cost of living index
- 65.8
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 47°F
- Avg. commute
- 18 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | Cost of living index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 50680 | Wellsburg | Grundy County | 65.8 |
| #8 | 51016 | Correctionville | Woodbury County | 66.0 |
| #9 | 50510 | Albert City | Buena Vista County | 66.1 |
| #10 | 50703 | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | 66.7 |
| #11 | 52320 | Olin | Jones County | 67.3 |
| #12 | 50627 | Eldora | Hardin County | 67.5 |
| #13 | 52732 | Clinton | Clinton County | 67.8 |
| #14 | 50669 | Grundy Center | Grundy County | 68.0 |
| #15 | 50106 | Gilman | Marshall County | 68.3 |
| #16 | 50662 | Oelwein | Fayette County | 68.3 |
| #17 | 50060 | Corydon | Wayne County | 68.7 |
| #18 | 50854 | Mount Ayr | Ringgold County | 68.7 |
| #19 | 50441 | Hampton | Franklin County | 68.9 |
| #20 | 51105 | Sioux City | Woodbury County | 68.9 |
| #21 | 52601 | Burlington | Des Moines County | 68.9 |
| #22 | 52501 | Ottumwa | Wapello County | 69.0 |
| #23 | 52627 | Fort Madison | Lee County | 69.2 |
| #24 | 51455 | Manning | Carroll County | 69.4 |
| #25 | 51601 | Shenandoah | Page County | 70.3 |
Rank Iowa by your own priorities
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More Iowa research
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- Iowa median ZIP
- 70.7
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Ranked by mean commute
- Iowa median ZIP
- 21.8 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 15.6 min to 28.0 min
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Ranked by healthcare access score
- Iowa median ZIP
- 91.2
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.2 to 99.0
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- Iowa median ZIP
- 88.4%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 82.2% to 94.1%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- Iowa median ZIP
- 49.9°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 47.6°F to 51.8°F