New Mexico
Moderate tax burden · COL index 91
Wins 3 categories
Iowa
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 9 categories
New Mexico's top income tax rate is 5.9% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs New Mexico's 0.55%. The median home in New Mexico costs $330K vs $215K in Iowa. Politically, Iowa voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while New Mexico went Democratic (D+10.0).
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Category wins
3
New Mexico
9
Iowa
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Why are people moving away from New Mexico?
Are people leaving or moving to Iowa?
Iowa is among the top states people are leaving, according to new migration data from Atlas Van Lines. Why it matters: High outbound rates can shrink Iowa's future workforce and tax base, straining economic growth and local services.
Is moving to New Mexico a good idea?
Is Iowa the best state to live in?