The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in Iowa

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

1. 18Eldridge, Iowa

   Better for families than 60% of Iowa towns

   Eldridge is a city of 6,726 people in Scott County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 87% of Iowa towns.

   6,726 people · Scott County · median home $350,500 · income $106,316 · Jan low 13°F · 33 in snow

   Full Eldridge, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 17Madrid, Iowa

   Better for families than 67% of Iowa towns

   Madrid is a city of 2,802 people in Boone County, Iowa. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Iowa towns and 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

   Full Madrid, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 16West Branch, Iowa

   Better for families than 68% of Iowa towns

   West Branch is a city of 2,509 people in Cedar County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 84% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 77% of Iowa towns.

   2,509 people · Cedar County · median home $216,100 · income $92,209 · Jan low 12°F · 28 in snow

   Full West Branch, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 15Rock Valley, Iowa

   Better for families than 72% of Iowa towns

   Rock Valley is a city of 4,059 people in Sioux County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Iowa towns and more of a college town than 96% of Iowa towns.

   4,059 people · Sioux County · median home $231,200 · income $76,250 · Jan low 9°F · 34 in snow

   Full Rock Valley, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 14Bloomfield, Iowa

   Better for families than 76% of Iowa towns

   

   Bloomfield is a city of 2,682 people in Davis County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 78% of Iowa towns and 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

   Full Bloomfield, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 13Park View, Iowa

   Better for families than 76% of Iowa towns

   Park View is a community of 2,709 people in Scott County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 89% of Iowa towns.

   2,709 people · Scott County · median home $276,000 · income $113,409 · Jan low 13°F · 29 in snow

   Full Park View, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 12Asbury, Iowa

   Better for families than 80% of Iowa towns

   Asbury is a city of 5,943 people in Dubuque County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 82% of Iowa towns.

   5,943 people · Dubuque County · median home $339,000 · income $124,957 · Jan low 10°F · 36 in snow

   Full Asbury, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 11Robins, Iowa

   Better for families than 81% of Iowa towns

   Robins is a city of 3,353 people in Linn County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of Iowa towns and more upscale than 98% of Iowa towns.

   3,353 people · Linn County · median home $413,400 · income $122,262 · Jan low 13°F · 34 in snow

   Full Robins, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 10Rock Rapids, Iowa

   Better for families than 82% of Iowa towns

   Rock Rapids is a city of 2,611 people in Lyon County, Iowa. It also ranks easier by car than 71% of Iowa towns.

   2,611 people · Lyon County · median home $206,700 · income $63,942 · Jan low 6°F · 35 in snow

   Full Rock Rapids, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 9Solon, Iowa

    Better for families than 84% of Iowa towns

    Solon is a city of 3,018 people in Johnson County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 95% of Iowa towns.

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

    Full Solon, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 8Dyersville, Iowa

    Better for families than 85% of Iowa towns

    Dyersville is a city of 4,477 people in Dubuque County, Iowa. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 80% of Iowa towns.

    4,477 people · Dubuque County · median home $234,100 · income $83,559 · Jan low 11°F · 35 in snow

    Full Dyersville, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 7Huxley, Iowa

    Better for families than 86% of Iowa towns

    Huxley is a city of 4,244 people in Story County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 86% of Iowa towns.

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

    Full Huxley, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 6Grundy Center, Iowa

    Better for families than 88% of Iowa towns

    Grundy Center is a city of 2,796 people in Grundy County, Iowa. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Iowa towns and 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

    Full Grundy Center, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 5Jesup, Iowa

    Better for families than 89% of Iowa towns

    Jesup is a city of 2,508 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Iowa towns and better transit than 76% of Iowa towns.

    2,508 people · Buchanan County · median home $190,200 · income $89,408 · Jan low 8°F · 36 in snow

    Full Jesup, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 4Polk City, Iowa

    Better for families than 93% of Iowa towns

    Polk City is a city of 5,543 people in Polk County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 84% of Iowa towns.

    5,543 people · Polk County · median home $414,800 · income $164,389 · Jan low 13°F · 38 in snow

    Full Polk City, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 3Bondurant, Iowa

    Better for families than 93% of Iowa towns

    Bondurant is a city of 7,365 people in Polk County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 88% of Iowa towns.

    7,365 people · Polk County · median home $318,800 · income $135,674 · Jan low 12°F · 31 in snow

    Full Bondurant, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 2Center Point, Iowa

    Better for families than 94% of Iowa towns

    Center Point is a city of 2,579 people in Linn County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 86% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 80% of Iowa towns.

    2,579 people · Linn County · median home $212,400 · income $95,192 · Jan low 8°F · 33 in snow

    Full Center Point, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 1Hudson, Iowa

    Better for families than 97% of Iowa towns

    Hudson is a city of 2,546 people in Black Hawk County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Iowa towns and more upscale than 95% of Iowa towns.

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

    Full Hudson, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Iowa rankings

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