The 10 Worst Places To Live In Iowa For 2021

The 10 Worst Places To Live In Iowa For 2021

Let’s be honest here. Outside of a few metro areas, entertainment in Iowa is…lacking. But the people who live in Iowa seem to be okay with that. There are certain areas of the state that are a lot more boring than others. Centerville is one of those places.

Located in the southern part of the state, residents in this tiny town have a Walmart, but that’s just about it. For entertainment, they’d have to drive to nearby Ottumwa. Where it isn’t safe.

Besides the whole ‘boring’ factor, whatever economy Centerville has isn’t very robust with a 7.1% unemployment rate and a $34,805 median income.

Statistically, Ottumwa has a better crime rate, but it isn’t rosy there, either. Residents had a 1 in 24.3 chance of being the victim of a property crime. Which means lots of stolen laptops, cell phones and tractor tires. The odds are either you or someone you knew was robbed two years ago.

For Iowa, that’s not acceptable.

Other factors that make Ottumwa one of the worst places to live in the state are the poor state of affairs in its public schools and economic situation. Homes are some of the cheapest, and the unemployment rate is 12th highest in Iowa.

Ottumwa is located along the Des Moines River on Route 63 in the southern part of the state.

Osceola is located in the central part of Iowa, about 45 minutes south of Des Moines. Despite a robust local economy, crime and a weak school system make the community one of the worst places in Iowa to put down roots.

Osceola has a modest crime problem. The crime rate runs about 15% above the national average. Schools in the region also face their challenges, with a top score on Great Schools of just 6/10.

Still, there are benefits to life in Osceola. This home to the Lakeside Hotel & Casino offers some job opportunities. The unemployment rate sits at 2.6% and the median income hovers at $49,443.

Waterloo is by far, the largest place that’s lousy to live in the state of Iowa. In fact, it’s one of the largest cities in the Hawkeye State.

There’s a lot more entertainment in Waterloo than in the cities we mentioned above, so at least folks here can take their mind off of these statistics. Waterloo has the 16th highest unemployment rate in the state, and homes are valued far below the rest of the state average.

Plus, crime is sky high here, in comparison to the rest of Iowa. There were four murders here in 2020, and residents have a 1 in 40.4 chance of being robbed. Since the average person has 300 Facebook friends, if everyone you were friends with lived in Waterloo, 6 of them would have had something stolen from them last year.

Council Bluffs is built along the Missouri River in the far western part of the state. It sits across the water from Omaha, Nebraska. At 62,355 people, it ranks among the biggest cities in Iowa.

Unlike most of the cities on this list, Council Bluffs doesn’t suffer from major economic woes. In fact, with an unemployment rate of 4.3% and a median income of $53,524, the city has a strong commercial backbone.

However, issues with housing and education undercut this strength. At the same time, crime represents the core concern in Council Bluffs. The crime rate tracks at more than 160% above the national average.

For a town of just 10,513 residents, Fort Madison has a lot of problems. The economy wheezes along with an unemployment rate of 8.9%. The area’s housing and schools are substandard. Even the crime rate tops the national average.

Given these challenges, it’s no surprise Fort Madison wound up on this list. Still, there are benefits to living in this town, located in the far southeastern part of the state.

With a median home value of $81,600, it’s easy to find affordable housing. Meanwhile, built along the Mississippi River, the area comes with dramatic views and a sense of its pioneer past. Take a trip to Old Fort Madison for a taste of these early days.

Clinton sits in the east-central part of the state, across the Mississippi River from Illinois. In the second half of the 19th century, the railroad brought prosperity to the town. The 21st century has told a different story.

The unemployment rate stands at a reasonably healthy 5.7%, but few of the local gigs pay well. The median income sits at just $44,094 and the poverty rate comes in at 17.3%.

This unimpressive economy leads to issues with housing and education. At the same time, the local crime rate tracks at nearly 60% higher than the U.S. standard.

Des Moines holds a lot of distinctions in the state of Iowa. It’s the state capital. It also serves as the state’s largest metropolitan area. Unfortunately, bigger doesn’t always mean better. In this case, Iowa’s major urban area counts as the number 8 worst place to live in the state.

Safety represents the main concern. The local crime rate almost doubles the national average. There is also a lack of good-paying jobs, with 16.1% of the population making due below the poverty line.

There are benefits to living in the city. Life in Des Moines comes with plenty of amenities and a significant number of parks. You’ll also find attractions like the Science Center of Iowa.

Marshalltown’s original founder once called the area “the prettiest place in Iowa.” That might have been true in the 1850s. Nowadays, this town, located in the central part of the state, gets a different distinction: the number 9 worst spot in the state.

Marshalltown supports an uninspiring economy. The unemployment rate hovers at 5.4%, while the poverty rate comes in at 14.8%. Housing and safety are issues in the region. With a few exceptions, the local public schools also come up short.

Marshalltown has its claims to fame. Early baseball legend Cap Anson was born in the area. Also, the town boasts a house designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Robert H. Sunday House.

Fort Dodge sits in north-central Iowa. At 24,278 people, the community ranks as a small town in most other parts of the country. But in a largely rural part of Iowa, it counts as a major commercial and cultural center, complete with an art museum, the Blanden Memorial Art Museum.

Good-paying jobs are rare in the area. The unemployment rate comes in at a relatively low 4.9%. However, the median income stands around $40,000 and the poverty rate equals 16.0%. Meanwhile, crime and education present serious problems as well. The local schools rank only a 3/10 on Great Schools.