Top 10 Worst Places To Live In Iowa In 2025

Top 10 Worst Places to Live In Iowa . Top 10 Worst Cities In Iowa to Live, Raise a Family, Job or Retire. Top 10 Worst Towns in Iowa. Top 10 Worst Villages in Iowa. If you’re thinking about a move to Iowa, here are the places you should avoid to live, retire or raise a family. 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Iowa You Should Never Move To. Top 10 Worst Cities To Live In North Carolina. 10 Places in Iowa You Should NEVER Move To.

Top 10 Worst Places To Live In Iowa

1. Iowa City
2. Maquoketa
3. Keokuk
4. Ottumwa
5. Centerville
6. Osceola
7. Waterloo
8. Fort Madison
9. Council Bluffs
10. Clinton

1. Iowa City

Iowa City is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 75849 residents. Iowa City ranks 25th in unemployment, 1st in poverty and 23rd in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The poverty rate of Iowa City is 27.3%, which is 95% higher than national average. The typical household in Iowa City earns $48148 a year, which is 28.67% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 51.9% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

Not only are incomes low in the town, but it also has a high cost of living, meaning a dollar does not go as far as it might elsewhere.

Population : 75849
Unemployment Rate : 4.7%
Poverty : 27.3%
Median Home Value : $223900
Median Home Income : $48148
Overall Score : 8/10

2. Maquoketa

Maquoketa is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 5990 residents. Maquoketa ranks 1st in unemployment, 6th in poverty and 24th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The poverty rate of Maquoketa is 21.6%, which is 54.29% higher than national average. The typical household in Maquoketa earns $48164 a year, which is 28.65% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 5 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 12 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 51% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Maquoketa remained 10%, which is 112.77% higher than national rate.

Population : 5990
Unemployment Rate : 10%
Poverty : 21.6%
Median Home Value : $91100
Median Home Income : $48164
Overall Score : 5/10

3. Keokuk

Keokuk is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 10225 residents. Keokuk ranks 1st in overall crime, 4th in violent crime and 1st in property crime in the state. City also ranks 8th in unemployment, 11th in poverty and 8th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The overall crime rate in city is 206.47% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 123.56% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 222.9% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 114 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 16 chance of being victim of property crime.

The poverty rate of Keokuk is 18.8%, which is 34.29% higher than national average. The typical household in Keokuk earns $43304 a year, which is 35.85% lower than national average.

The unemployment rate of Keokuk remained 7.4%, which is 57.45% higher than national rate.


Population : 10225
Unemployment Rate : 7.4%
Poverty : 18.8%
Median Home Value : $75400
Median Home Income : $43304
Overall Score : 4/10

4. Ottumwa

Ottumwa is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 24505 residents. Ottumwa ranks 3rd in overall crime, 1st in violent crime and 4th in property crime in the state. City also ranks 21st in unemployment, 13th in poverty and 5th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The overall crime rate in city is 106.87% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 144.02% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 99.51% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 107 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 26 chance of being victim of property crime.

The poverty rate of Ottumwa is 18.1%, which is 29.29% higher than national average. The typical household in Ottumwa earns $42418 a year, which is 37.16% lower than national average.

The unemployment rate of Ottumwa remained 5.1%, which is 8.51% higher than national rate.

Population : 24505
Unemployment Rate : 5.1%
Poverty : 18.1%
Median Home Value : $75800
Median Home Income : $42418
Overall Score : 4/10

5. Centerville

Centerville is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 5433 residents. Centerville ranks 6th in unemployment, 3rd in poverty and 1st in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The poverty rate of Centerville is 26.5%, which is 89.29% higher than national average. The typical household in Centerville earns $32689 a year, which is 51.57% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 67.5% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Centerville remained 7.8%, which is 65.96% higher than national rate.

Population : 5433
Unemployment Rate : 7.8%
Poverty : 26.5%
Median Home Value : $73000
Median Home Income : $32689
Overall Score : 4/10

6. Osceola

Osceola is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 5160 residents. Osceola ranks 51st in unemployment, 5th in poverty and 37th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The poverty rate of Osceola is 22.7%, which is 62.14% higher than national average. The typical household in Osceola earns $50696 a year, which is 24.89% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 49.2% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

Population : 5160
Unemployment Rate : 1.2%
Poverty : 22.7%
Median Home Value : $90600
Median Home Income : $50696
Overall Score : 5/10

7. Waterloo

Waterloo is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 67671 residents. Waterloo ranks 11th in unemployment, 14th in poverty and 20th in lowest median income in the Iowa. City also ranks 16th in overall crime, 11th in violent crime and 17th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Waterloo is 17.5%, which is 25% higher than national average. The typical household in Waterloo earns $46942 a year, which is 30.46% lower than national average.

The unemployment rate of Waterloo remained 6.7%, which is 42.55% higher than national rate.

The overall crime rate in city is 35.55% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 60.7% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 30.57% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 162 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 39 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 67671
Unemployment Rate : 6.7%
Poverty : 17.5%
Median Home Value : $117000
Median Home Income : $46942
Overall Score : 5/10

8. Fort Madison

Fort Madison is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 10407 residents. Fort Madison ranks 10th in unemployment, 24th in poverty and 11th in lowest median income in the Iowa. City also ranks 18th in overall crime, 10th in violent crime and 19th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Fort Madison is 14.8%, which is 5.71% higher than national average. The typical household in Fort Madison earns $44334 a year, which is 34.32% lower than national average.

The unemployment rate of Fort Madison remained 6.8%, which is 44.68% higher than national rate.

The overall crime rate in city is 25.31% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 61.11% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 18.22% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 163 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 44 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 10407
Unemployment Rate : 6.8%
Poverty : 14.8%
Median Home Value : $81200
Median Home Income : $44334
Overall Score : 5/10

9. Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 62376 residents. Council Bluffs ranks 2nd in overall crime, 3rd in violent crime and 2nd in property crime in the state. City also ranks 23rd in unemployment, 38th in poverty and 47th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The overall crime rate in city is 143.5% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 138.07% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 144.58% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 109 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 21 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 62376
Unemployment Rate : 4.9%
Poverty : 12.2%
Median Home Value : $122400
Median Home Income : $53449
Overall Score : 5/10

10. Clinton

Clinton is a city in Iowa State in USA with a population of 25290 residents. Clinton ranks 20th in unemployment, 12th in poverty and 16th in lowest median income in the Iowa.

The poverty rate of Clinton is 18.4%, which is 31.43% higher than national average. The typical household in Clinton earns $46066 a year, which is 31.75% lower than national average.

The unemployment rate of Clinton remained 5.2%, which is 10.64% higher than national rate.

Population : 25290
Unemployment Rate : 5.2%
Poverty : 18.4%
Median Home Value : $100800
Median Home Income : $46066
Overall Score : 5/10

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