Iowa is 75 percent vowels, 100 percent awesome, and 110 percent the best place to raise a family in the country.
According to HomeSnacks, the Hawkeye State is one of the top ten best states in the country to raise a family, and we couldn’t agree more. The state has some of the safest, most friendly places in the Midwest to call home. And that’s why we set out to determine the most family friendly places in Iowa to call home for 2026. With many cities in Iowa experiencing exponential growth, it’s no wonder that the state is starting to move away from the agriculture stigma into the venture capital game. And, folks, that’s great news for families just starting out, for families needing a change, and for everyone’s overall bottom line.
Incidentally, Iowa is the 26th biggest state, but the 33rd least populous state. We think that’s all the more reason to raise your family in this flyover state: there’s plenty of room for your kids to run and there’s plenty of opportunity to make a difference. And if you want boatloads of good, wholesome, family friendly fun at your fingertips, Iowa is your state. Heck, you can take your family to play in Cedar Rapids’ Palisades-Kepler State Park and Iowa City’s Devonian Fossil Gorge all in the same weekend.
So, have we piqued your interest? If so, keep reading to see how we determined the most family friendly places to live in Iowa.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
How did we determine Iowa’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in the Hawkeye State with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 35 family friendly Iowa places that any family would be lucky to call home.
But, there can only be one number one best place to raise your family in Iowa, and that would be Johnston.
To see how your favorite place in Iowa compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Iowa and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Iowa
- Cheapest Places To Live In Iowa
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Iowa For 2026
/10
Population: 24,384
Median Income: $106,551
Average Home Price: $394,440
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 38.2%
More on Johnston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,720
Median Income: $84,111
Average Home Price: $351,501
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 24.8%
More on Pella: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,494
Median Income: $80,284
Average Home Price: $271,473
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 62
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 29.2%
More on Waverly: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,183
Median Income: $102,722
Average Home Price: $332,836
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 38.3%
More on Norwalk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,012
Median Income: $132,121
Average Home Price: $425,730
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 33
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 37.7%
More on Clive: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,504
Median Income: $64,004
Average Home Price: $186,482
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 28.9%
More on Oskaloosa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 46,595
Median Income: $112,795
Average Home Price: $349,851
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 42
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 34.7%
More on Urbandale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 29,236
Median Income: $101,029
Average Home Price: $338,880
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 38.2%
More on Waukee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 72,615
Median Income: $108,198
Average Home Price: $338,168
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 37.1%
More on Ankeny: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,044
Median Income: $75,453
Average Home Price: $309,171
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Des Moines
Households with kids: 30.6%
More on Indianola: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Iowa anyways?
To give you the places in Iowa that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Iowa, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Iowa, that meant a total of 35 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Iowa.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Iowa
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Iowa ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Iowa are Johnston, Pella, Waverly, Norwalk, Clive, Oskaloosa, Urbandale, Waukee, Ankeny, and Indianola.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Iowa according to the data:
- Davenport
- Burlington
- Fort Dodge
For more Iowa reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Iowa
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnston, IA | 24,384 | $106,551 | $394,440 | 39 |
| 2 | Pella, IA | 10,720 | $84,111 | $351,501 | 40 |
| 3 | Waverly, IA | 10,494 | $80,284 | $271,473 | 38 |
| 4 | Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | $102,722 | $332,836 | 32 |
| 5 | Clive, IA | 19,012 | $132,121 | $425,730 | 56 |
| 6 | Oskaloosa, IA | 11,504 | $64,004 | $186,482 | 67 |
| 7 | Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | $112,795 | $349,851 | 34 |
| 8 | Waukee, IA | 29,236 | $101,029 | $338,880 | 48 |
| 9 | Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | $108,198 | $338,168 | 58 |
| 10 | Indianola, IA | 16,044 | $75,453 | $309,171 | 54 |