Iowa vs Minnesota: taxes, cost of living, laws

Iowa

Moderate tax burden · COL index 88

Wins 10 categories

Minnesota

High tax burden · COL index 95

Wins 5 categories

Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs Minnesota's 1.02%. The median home in Minnesota costs $335K vs $215K in Iowa. Politically, Iowa voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Minnesota went Democratic (D+4.0).

Iowa

Minnesota

Taxes

3.8%

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

1.42%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.02%/yr

6.94%

Sales Tax (avg)

7.42%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$215K

Median Home Price

$335K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

284

Violent Crime / 100K

286

1,626

Property Crime / 100K

2,094

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

333

Homeless / 100K

159

Healthcare

#21 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#2 of 50

78 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.4 yrs

5.8%

Uninsured Rate

4.5%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#15 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#8 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,100/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,450/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$135/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$140/mo

$440/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$500/mo

#8 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#7 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+13.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+4.0

Category wins

Iowa

Minnesota

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →