A website that showcases small to mid-sized cities has ranked three Iowa cities on its list of Top 100 Best Places to Live. Livability.com included Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines in its newest ranking.
The website’s list for 2026 focused on housing and the cost of living in each city. Only cities with a median home value under $500,000 were included. It also analyzed average rent and home prices relative to local incomes.
Livability.com examines “affordability, cultural amenities, talent attraction and more, celebrating the accomplishments of cities through various rankings,” according to a news release.
Here’s why the website recognized these cities in Iowa as best places to live.
Why is Iowa City ranked as Top 100 Best Places to Live?
Livability.com ranked Iowa City No. 31 on the list. Iowa City was also featured on its 2025 list, where it placed No. 38.
“The phenomenon of ‘Iowa Nice’ is alive and well in Iowa City. The community of just under 78,000 is tight-knit, and the Hawkeye spirit is alive and well,” the website said.
The ranking also highlighted Iowa City’s art scene and highly ranked medical care. With regards to affordability, it notes that the median home value in Iowa City is $294,270 and the average household income is $58,893.
Iowa City’s “LivScore” was 722, up from its score of 709 in 2025.
Why is Cedar Rapids ranked as Top 100 Best Places to Live?
Livability.com ranked Cedar Rapids 33rd on the list. Cedar Rapids was also featured on their 2025 list at No. 29.
The website highlights how Cedar Rapids “has scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index scorecard numerous times.”
As for the business side, the website highlights how businesses in Cedar Rapids thrive and calls it an excellent place for young professionals to launch their careers.
“The city is known for being the largest corn processor in the United States and the entire world. It also has a reputation as one of the leading manufacturing regions in the country and one of the leading bio-processing and food ingredient centers in all of North America,” the website said.
The median home value in Cedar Rapids is $199,181, and the average household income is $69,896, the website said.
Cedar Rapids’ LivScore was 719, up one point from its score of 718 in 2025.
Why is Des Moines ranked as Top 100 Best Places to Live?
Livability.com ranked Des Moines 93 on the list. Iowa’s captial city did not make the list in 2025.
Highlights from Livability.com include Des Moines’ art scene, a “collaborative, inspiring business climate” and the city’s strong job market.
“Finance and insurance, advanced manufacturing and technology are the largest industries in Des Moines. There are plenty of startups around town, and the city is known for its insurance agent market,” the website said.
The median home value in Des Moines is $211,651 and the average household income is $66,188.
Livability.com also noted how varied Des Moines’ neighborhoods are, offering a little something for everyone. It also gave a nod to the hundreds of outdoor trails in Des Moines.
The city’s LivScore was 647.
How did Livability.com make its Best Places to Live list?
Livability.com partnered with the data experts at Applied Geographic Solutions to analyze more than 2,000 U.S. cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000. The ranking is curated using nearly 100 data points across eight broad categories:
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 3 Iowa cities rank in the top 100 best places to live, a new list says
Reporting by Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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