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).
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Category wins
10
Iowa
5
Minnesota
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The city offers exceptional outdoor recreation with over 200 parks and 22 lakes, a strong job market with 15 Fortune 500 companies, and vibrant cultural scene. However, you'll need to prepare for harsh winters and higher living costs that are about 7% above the national average.