- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 14,563
- Median household income: $87,810
- Median home value: $228,700
- Top places to live: Glenwood (B), Oak Township (B+), Plattville Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,582
- Median household income: $64,837
- Median home value: $184,200
- Top places to live: Grinnell (A-), Malcom (B+), Washington Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,380
- Median household income: $76,875
- Median home value: $142,300
- Top places to live: Silver Lake Township (B+), Bristol Township (B+), Fertile Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 10,254
- Median household income: $63,190
- Median home value: $109,900
- Top places to live: Red Oak (C+), Scott Township (B), Stanton (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 15,168
- Median household income: $57,752
- Median home value: $120,000
- Top places to live: Shenandoah (B), Clarinda (B-), Washington Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,352
- Median household income: $83,617
- Median home value: $180,500
- Top places to live: Grundy Center (A-), Grant Township (A-), Dike (A-)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,901
- Median household income: $67,279
- Median home value: $109,700
- Top places to live: Platte Township (B+), Bedford Township (B), Lenox (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 12,817
- Median household income: $64,033
- Median home value: $109,800
- Top places to live: Clarion (B+), Eagle Grove (B-), Grant Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 11,587
- Median household income: $64,478
- Median home value: $145,100
- Top places to live: Cherokee (B-), Pitcher Township (B+), Pilot Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 16,446
- Median household income: $64,082
- Median home value: $171,500
- Top places to live: Spencer (B-), Meadow Township (B+), Peterson Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 16,729
- Median household income: $64,906
- Median home value: $113,000
- Top places to live: Iowa Falls (B), Union Township (B+), Sherman Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,459
- Median household income: $67,336
- Median home value: $133,900
- Top places to live: Cresco (B), Protivin (A-), New Oregon Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,646
- Median household income: $79,981
- Median home value: $163,900
- Top places to live: Seely Township (B), Stuart Township (B), Valley Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 6,944
- Median household income: $62,841
- Median home value: $108,800
- Top places to live: Douglas Township (B+), Griggs Township (B), Holstein (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,118
- Median household income: $83,343
- Median home value: $207,200
- Top places to live: Waverly (A), Washington Township (A), Warren Township (A)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 14,610
- Median household income: $65,656
- Median home value: $135,100
- Top places to live: Algona (B), Harrison Township (B+), Swea City (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,236
- Median household income: $60,183
- Median home value: $118,800
- Top places to live: Chequest Township (B-), Bonaparte Township (B-), Des Moines Township (B-)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,977
- Median household income: $63,648
- Median home value: $118,500
- Top places to live: Hampton (B), Osceola Township (B+), Marion Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,648
- Median household income: $63,719
- Median home value: $132,300
- Top places to live: Logan Township (A), Center Township (A-), Forest Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 10,718
- Median household income: $70,212
- Median home value: $129,300
- Top places to live: Forest City (A-), Garner (B+), Amsterdam Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,858
- Median household income: $66,875
- Median home value: $114,400
- Top places to live: Twin Lakes Township (B+), Manson (B), Lincoln Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 9,759
- Median household income: $70,991
- Median home value: $138,400
- Top places to live: Wall Lake Township (B+), Eureka Township (B+), Schaller (B)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 42,785
- Median household income: $65,537
- Median home value: $154,100
- Top places to live: Clear Lake (B+), Mason City (B), Lake Township (A)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 17,844
- Median household income: $74,570
- Median home value: $251,600
- Top places to live: Spirit Lake (A-), Milford (B-), Wahpeton (B+)

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,676
- Median household income: $56,824
- Median home value: $161,200
- Top places to live: Fairfield (A-), Center Township (B+), Maharishi Vedic City (B)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.