The 10 Best Small Towns In Iowa For 2026


The best small towns in Iowa are Solon and University Heights for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Iowa. Best sururbs in Iowa. Best counties in Iowa.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Hawkeye State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Iowa based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Iowa ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Iowa For 2026

  1. Solon
  2. University Heights
  3. Ely
  4. Atkins
  5. Gilbert
  6. Walford
  7. Denver
  8. Treynor
  9. Peosta
  10. Le Claire
  11. Fairfax
  12. Bellevue
  13. Mount Vernon
  14. Kalona
  15. Slater

Best Small Towns To Live In Iowa Map

What’s the best small town in Iowa? Solon is the best small town in Iowa based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Solon, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Hawkeye State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Iowa For 2026

1. Solon

Solon, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,152
Median Income: $113,295 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $445,624 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

2. University Heights

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,384
Median Income: $111,406 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $478,645 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

3. Ely

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,186
Median Income: $105,882 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $361,122 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

4. Atkins

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,225
Median Income: $112,138 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $359,939 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

5. Gilbert

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,381
Median Income: $122,656 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $330,955 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

6. Walford

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,329
Median Income: $128,750 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $320,892 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

7. Denver

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,379
Median Income: $92,000 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $304,736 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

8. Treynor

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,126
Median Income: $121,696 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $341,766 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

9. Peosta

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,040
Median Income: $120,833 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $429,927 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

10. Le Claire

Le Claire, IA

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,735
Median Income: $104,844 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $378,377 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

11. Fairfax

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,900
Median Income: $114,375 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $302,193 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

12. Bellevue

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,259
Median Income: $79,417 (61st Best)
Median Home Value: $306,706 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

13. Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, IA

Source: Wikipedia User ArtisticAbode | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,513
Median Income: $112,656 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $339,886 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

14. Kalona

Kalona, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,692
Median Income: $80,129 (60th Best)
Median Home Value: $312,790 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%

15. Slater

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,401
Median Income: $97,500 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $286,205 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Iowa

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Iowa possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 194 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 194, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Iowa. Top of that list — Solon.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Iowa.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Iowa are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Iowa are Solon, University Heights, Ely, Atkins, Gilbert, Walford, Denver, Treynor, Peosta, and Le Claire.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Iowa:

  1. Walnut
  2. Hampton
  3. Tama

For more Iowa reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Iowa

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Solon, IA 3,152 $113,295 0.9%
2 University Heights, IA 1,384 $111,406 1.1%
3 Ely, IA 2,186 $105,882 1.5%
4 Atkins, IA 2,225 $112,138 2.5%
5 Gilbert, IA 1,381 $122,656 4.1%
6 Walford, IA 1,329 $128,750 2.8%
7 Denver, IA 2,379 $92,000 2.0%
8 Treynor, IA 1,126 $121,696 4.9%
9 Peosta, IA 2,040 $120,833 4.1%
10 Le Claire, IA 4,735 $104,844 1.8%
11 Fairfax, IA 2,900 $114,375 1.8%
12 Bellevue, IA 2,259 $79,417 1.8%
13 Mount Vernon, IA 4,513 $112,656 4.2%
14 Kalona, IA 2,692 $80,129 0.4%
15 Slater, IA 1,401 $97,500 1.1%
16 Granger, IA 1,979 $112,404 2.1%
17 Huxley, IA 4,544 $112,094 1.3%
18 Dike, IA 1,365 $91,146 1.5%
19 Moville, IA 1,670 $96,016 2.4%
20 Earlham, IA 1,528 $115,086 4.2%
21 Alton, IA 1,459 $98,036 2.5%
22 Wilton, IA 2,920 $76,648 0.6%
23 Roland, IA 1,559 $79,028 0.9%
24 Logan, IA 1,392 $84,833 1.1%
25 Durant, IA 1,946 $81,625 0.3%
26 Center Point, IA 2,562 $95,192 1.0%
27 Van Meter, IA 1,628 $135,139 1.9%
28 Fruitland, IA 1,049 $103,424 0.9%
29 Sully, IA 1,022 $90,189 4.4%
30 State Center, IA 1,412 $83,942 2.0%
31 Epworth, IA 1,894 $84,271 2.4%
32 Park View, IA 2,437 $113,409 3.0%
33 Hull, IA 2,317 $72,344 2.3%
34 Robins, IA 3,332 $122,262 8.0%
35 Hudson, IA 2,699 $120,481 4.5%
36 St. Ansgar, IA 1,206 $76,458 2.8%
37 Neola, IA 1,116 $73,306 0.2%
38 Saylorville, IA 3,366 $117,821 11.4%
39 Story City, IA 3,398 $96,605 3.5%
40 Swisher, IA 1,182 $100,577 1.4%
41 Lisbon, IA 1,714 $93,906 1.9%
42 Conrad, IA 1,191 $73,292 1.3%
43 Urbana, IA 1,639 $115,655 1.9%
44 Mediapolis, IA 1,928 $75,543 1.9%
45 Lansing, IA 1,115 $65,625 1.7%
46 Aplington, IA 1,111 $74,773 0.9%
47 Cascade, IA 2,375 $69,688 1.3%
48 Winthrop, IA 1,040 $69,792 1.9%
49 Prairie City, IA 1,711 $78,295 6.4%
50 Springville, IA 1,172 $92,656 5.2%
51 Malvern, IA 1,323 $84,223 1.0%
52 West Branch, IA 2,594 $92,209 0.8%
53 Palo, IA 1,438 $106,375 1.9%
54 Farley, IA 1,889 $97,143 4.9%
55 Jesup, IA 2,561 $89,408 5.2%
56 Madrid, IA 2,808 $89,844 1.7%
57 Holstein, IA 1,600 $64,115 0.7%
58 Dyersville, IA 4,423 $83,559 3.2%
59 Osage, IA 3,561 $68,730 1.8%
60 Williamsburg, IA 3,360 $58,059 2.0%
61 Parkersburg, IA 1,766 $75,885 4.9%
62 Remsen, IA 1,823 $91,477 5.6%
63 Elkader, IA 1,293 $62,857 0.0%
64 Dallas Center, IA 2,161 $95,854 0.5%
65 Rock Valley, IA 4,059 $76,250 0.4%
66 Tripoli, IA 1,156 $78,324 3.1%
67 Marcus, IA 1,180 $77,981 2.1%
68 Carlisle, IA 4,255 $109,191 6.1%
69 Fairbank, IA 1,275 $89,712 1.4%
70 Central City, IA 1,356 $85,400 4.1%
71 Reinbeck, IA 1,715 $86,797 3.4%
72 Milford, IA 3,311 $63,369 4.2%
73 Wellman, IA 1,454 $57,560 0.6%
74 Garner, IA 3,049 $70,726 1.9%
75 Kingsley, IA 1,472 $72,841 0.5%
76 De Soto, IA 1,041 $97,109 3.2%
77 Waukon, IA 3,792 $60,269 3.0%
78 Vinton, IA 4,948 $66,495 2.5%
79 Greenfield, IA 1,894 $56,607 0.3%
80 Graettinger, IA 1,096 $82,417 0.6%
81 Pleasantville, IA 1,899 $67,614 2.1%
82 Eddyville, IA 1,163 $61,480 0.4%
83 Larchwood, IA 1,136 $67,188 1.8%
84 Britt, IA 1,882 $72,943 2.4%
85 Lone Tree, IA 1,218 $90,625 2.7%
86 New London, IA 2,338 $77,560 2.6%
87 Traer, IA 1,519 $76,406 3.5%
88 Nora Springs, IA 1,363 $78,594 0.6%
89 Lake Park, IA 1,184 $74,500 1.6%
90 Harlan, IA 4,891 $57,488 4.8%
91 Monticello, IA 4,071 $70,015 0.8%
92 West Liberty, IA 3,776 $69,345 2.0%
93 Colfax, IA 2,210 $79,318 4.0%
94 Avoca, IA 1,444 $73,056 1.3%
95 Glidden, IA 1,169 $68,333 3.0%
96 Manning, IA 1,533 $72,831 0.7%
97 Monona, IA 1,531 $74,286 0.9%
98 Walcott, IA 1,725 $78,580 3.6%
99 Cresco, IA 3,908 $60,608 1.2%
100 La Porte City, IA 2,071 $70,500 1.8%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns