The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa

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

1. 25New Hampton, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 69% of Iowa towns

   New Hampton is a city of 3,494 people in Chickasaw County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 95% of Iowa towns and more walkable than 83% of Iowa towns.

   3,494 people · Chickasaw County · median home $167,700 · income $62,870 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

   Full New Hampton, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Shenandoah, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 71% of Iowa towns

   Shenandoah is a city of 4,925 people in Page County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns and 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

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

3. 23Orange City, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 72% of Iowa towns

   Orange City is a city of 6,267 people in Sioux County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 97% of Iowa towns.

   6,267 people · Sioux County · median home $264,000 · income $82,122 · Jan low 9°F · 27 in snow

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

4. 22Grinnell, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 73% of Iowa towns

   Grinnell is a city of 9,564 people in Poweshiek County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of Iowa towns and hipper than 99% of Iowa towns.

   9,564 people · Poweshiek County · median home $209,500 · income $65,320 · Jan low 10°F · 31 in snow

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

5. 21Kalona, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns

   Kalona is a city of 2,630 people in Washington County, Iowa. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns and better transit than 81% of Iowa towns.

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

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

6. 20Emmetsburg, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns

   Emmetsburg is a city of 3,706 people in Palo Alto County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns and more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns.

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

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

7. 19Webster City, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns

   Webster City is a city of 7,825 people in Hamilton County, Iowa. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns and more walkable than 86% of Iowa towns.

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

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

8. 18Waukon, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

   Waukon is a city of 3,827 people in Allamakee County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns and hipper than 94% of Iowa towns.

   3,827 people · Allamakee County · median home $147,200 · income $60,269 · Jan low 8°F · 36 in snow

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

9. 17Vinton, Iowa

   Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

   Vinton is a city of 4,938 people in Benton County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns and better transit than 93% of Iowa towns.

   4,938 people · Benton County · median home $152,300 · income $66,495 · Jan low 8°F · 34 in snow

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

10. 16Independence, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns

    Independence is a city of 6,064 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 89% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 84% of Iowa towns.

    6,064 people · Buchanan County · median home $165,300 · income $73,806 · Jan low 8°F · 34 in snow

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

11. 15Harlan, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns

    Harlan is a city of 4,893 people in Shelby County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 76% of Iowa towns.

    4,893 people · Shelby County · median home $152,500 · income $57,488 · Jan low 10°F · 31 in snow

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

12. 14Cherokee, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 81% of Iowa towns

    Cherokee is a city of 5,199 people in Cherokee County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 88% of Iowa towns and better transit than 86% of Iowa towns.

    5,199 people · Cherokee County · median home $136,700 · income $61,750 · Jan low 7°F · 38 in snow

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

13. 13Monticello, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 84% of Iowa towns

    Monticello is a city of 4,040 people in Jones County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 92% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 89% of Iowa towns.

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

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

14. 12Spirit Lake, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns

    

    Spirit Lake is a city of 5,439 people in Dickinson County, Iowa. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 91% of Iowa towns.

    5,439 people · Dickinson County · median home $215,100 · income $65,720 · Jan low 7°F · 42 in snow

    Full Spirit Lake, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Madrid, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 86% 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 more upscale than 81% 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 →

16. 10Cresco, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns

    Cresco is a city of 3,888 people in Howard County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Iowa towns and better transit than 97% of Iowa towns.

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

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

17. 9Grundy Center, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 87% 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 families than 88% 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 →

18. 8Story City, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 92% of Iowa towns

    Story City is a city of 3,352 people in Story County, Iowa. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns and easier by car than 94% of Iowa towns.

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

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

19. 7Solon, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 94% 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 →

20. 6Fairfield, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns

    Fairfield is a city of 9,416 people in Jefferson County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 100% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 99% of Iowa towns.

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

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

21. 5Garner, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns

    Garner is a city of 3,065 people in Hancock County, Iowa. It also ranks quieter than 91% of Iowa towns.

    3,065 people · Hancock County · median home $186,300 · income $70,726 · Jan low 6°F · 40 in snow

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

22. 4Milford, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 97% of Iowa towns

    Milford is a city of 3,321 people in Dickinson County, Iowa. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Iowa towns and better for cycling than 88% of Iowa towns.

    3,321 people · Dickinson County · median home $218,400 · income $63,369 · Jan low 8°F · 38 in snow

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

23. 3Algona, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 97% of Iowa towns

    Algona is a city of 5,487 people in Kossuth County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 83% of Iowa towns.

    5,487 people · Kossuth County · median home $160,800 · income $56,040 · Jan low 6°F · 36 in snow

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

24. 2Clarion, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns

    Clarion is a city of 2,810 people in Wright County, Iowa. It also ranks quieter than 85% of Iowa towns and hipper than 83% of Iowa towns.

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

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

25. 1Decorah, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 100% of Iowa towns

    Decorah is a city of 7,587 people in Winneshiek County, Iowa. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Iowa towns and hipper than 99% of Iowa towns.

    7,587 people · Winneshiek County · median home $244,500 · income $64,366 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

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

Price vs ranking

More Iowa rankings

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

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio