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

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

1. 25Bloomfield, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 73% 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 families than 76% 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 →

2. 24Osage, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 75% of Iowa towns

   Osage is a city of 3,627 people in Mitchell County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Iowa towns and hipper than 97% of Iowa towns.

   3,627 people · Mitchell County · median home $160,700 · income $68,730 · Jan low 6°F · 40 in snow

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

3. 23Keokuk, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 75% of Iowa towns

   Keokuk is a city of 9,900 people in Lee County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Iowa towns and more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns.

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

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

4. 22Fairfax, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 79% of Iowa towns

   Fairfax is a city of 2,828 people in Linn County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 87% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 82% of Iowa towns.

   2,828 people · Linn County · median home $274,500 · income $114,375 · Jan low 11°F · 27 in snow

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

5. 21Monticello, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 80% 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 →

6. 20Huxley, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 81% 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 better for families 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 →

7. 19Perry, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 82% of Iowa towns

   Perry is a city of 7,836 people in Dallas County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 97% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 92% of Iowa towns.

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

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

8. 18Iowa Falls, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 83% of Iowa towns

   Iowa Falls is a city of 5,106 people in Hardin County, Iowa. It also ranks better for cycling than 91% of Iowa towns and better transit than 79% of Iowa towns.

   5,106 people · Hardin County · median home $123,800 · income $50,417 · Jan low 8°F · 28 in snow

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

9. 17Glenwood, Iowa

   Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Iowa towns

   

   Glenwood is a city of 5,073 people in Mills County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 91% of Iowa towns and hipper than 84% of Iowa towns.

   5,073 people · Mills County · median home $206,200 · income $71,790 · Jan low 12°F · 24 in snow

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

10. 16Mount Pleasant, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Iowa towns

    Mount Pleasant is a city of 9,274 people in Henry County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 96% of Iowa towns and more of a college town than 94% of Iowa towns.

    9,274 people · Henry County · median home $160,900 · income $61,042 · Jan low 13°F · 25 in snow

    Full Mount Pleasant, Iowa profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Kalona, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

    Kalona is a city of 2,630 people in Washington County, Iowa. It also ranks better transit than 81% of Iowa towns and more upscale than 78% 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 →

12. 14Hiawatha, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

    Hiawatha is a city of 7,183 people in Linn County, Iowa. It also ranks more vibrant than 98% of Iowa towns and better for young professionals than 93% of Iowa towns.

    7,183 people · Linn County · median home $216,900 · income $66,270 · Jan low 13°F · 34 in snow

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

13. 13Webster City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns

    Webster City is a city of 7,825 people in Hamilton County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 86% of Iowa towns and hipper than 82% 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 →

14. 12Washington, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Iowa towns

    Washington is a city of 7,352 people in Washington County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 94% of Iowa towns and better transit than 94% of Iowa towns.

    7,352 people · Washington County · median home $152,300 · income $55,373 · Jan low 12°F · 25 in snow

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

15. 11Centerville, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns

    Centerville is a city of 5,412 people in Appanoose County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 90% of Iowa towns and hipper than 90% of Iowa towns.

    5,412 people · Appanoose County · median home $103,000 · income $46,563 · Jan low 12°F · 22 in snow

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

16. 10Nevada, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns

    Nevada is a city of 6,925 people in Story County, Iowa. It also ranks hipper than 91% of Iowa towns and better transit than 83% of Iowa towns.

    6,925 people · Story County · median home $182,400 · income $75,094 · Jan low 10°F · 27 in snow

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

17. 9Grundy Center, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Iowa towns

    Grundy Center is a city of 2,796 people in Grundy County, Iowa. It also ranks better for families than 88% 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 →

18. 8Fairfield, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 93% 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 →

19. 7Carlisle, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns

    Carlisle is a city of 4,160 people in Warren County, Iowa. It also ranks more upscale than 85% of Iowa towns and more of a college town than 75% of Iowa towns.

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

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

20. 6Forest City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns

    Forest City is a city of 4,285 people in Winnebago County, Iowa. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of Iowa towns and better transit than 97% of Iowa towns.

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

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

21. 5Story City, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns

    Story City is a city of 3,352 people in Story County, Iowa. It also ranks easier by car than 94% of Iowa towns and hipper than 93% 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 →

22. 4Shenandoah, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% 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 hipper than 93% 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 →

23. 3Missouri Valley, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns

    Missouri Valley is a city of 2,678 people in Harrison County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 93% of Iowa towns and better transit than 89% of Iowa towns.

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

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

24. 2Carter Lake, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns

    Carter Lake is a city of 3,791 people in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It also ranks more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns and more vibrant than 96% of Iowa towns.

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

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

25. 1Madrid, Iowa

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Iowa towns

    Madrid is a city of 2,802 people in Boone County, Iowa. It also ranks better for retirees than 86% 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 →

Price vs ranking

More Iowa rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
• 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

Same ranking, other places

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• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
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• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
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• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio