← All comparisons
Alabama vs Iowa: taxes, cost of living, laws
Alabama
Moderate tax burden · COL index 87
Wins 3 categories
VS
Iowa
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 10 categories
Alabama's top income tax rate is 5% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%.
Taxes
5%
Income Tax (top rate)
3.8%
0.39%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.42%/yr
9.22%
Sales Tax (avg)
6.94%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income
Housing & Cost of Living
87
COL Index (100=avg)
88
$218K
Median Home Price
$215K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,050/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr
Crime & Safety
547
Violent Crime / 100K
284
2,247
Property Crime / 100K
1,626
194
Sex Offenders / 100K
213
89
Homeless / 100K
81
Healthcare
#41 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#21 of 50
73.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
78 yrs
11.2%
Uninsured Rate
5.8%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes
Education
#44 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#15 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes
Childcare
$820/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,100/mo
Utilities & Daily Costs
$155/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$135/mo
$410/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$440/mo
#25 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#8 of 50
Social Policy
F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+28.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+13.0
Category wins
3
Alabama
10
Iowa
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Is Alabama a good state to live in?
Where do the wealthy live in Iowa?
What is a livable salary in Iowa?
Why do people choose to live in Iowa?