Moving to Iowa
Iowa, otherwise known as ‘The Hawkeye State’, is a amazing state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to IA, we have compiled a detailed list of some important facts and useful tidbits to help make your move an easy transition.
Geography
Located in the West North Central Region of the country, Iowa is bordered by Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. With a total land area of over 56,271.55 Square Miles, it comes in as the 24th smallest state.
Population
Currently, the population of IA is 3,134,693 making it the 20th least populated state in the union and the 16th least densely populated. The state capital, Des Moines, has a population of 194311. which is the 18th largest capital in the country.
Other Populous Iowa Cities are:
| US Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Des Moines | 215,472 |
| 207 | Cedar Rapids | 131,127 |
| 296 | Davenport | 102,612 |
Notable Iowans
Iowa is home to various famous and some infamous citizens such as, Bess Streeter Aldrich a prominent author is from Cedar Falls and Bix Beiderbecke a prominent jazz musician is from Davenport. Others include people like Norman Borlaug a plant pathologist geneticist and Donald L Campbell a inventor .
Climate
Iowa’s location in the interior of North America and the lack of mountains to the north or south exposes the state to incursions of bitterly cold air masses from the Arctic, as well as warm and humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, its climate is characterized by large ranges in temperature with cold winters and warm, humid summers.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Iowa have risen approximately 1°F. Temperatures in the 2000s have been higher than any other historical period with the exception of the 1930s “Dust Bowl” era. The warming is due to increases in nighttime minimum temperatures while daytime maximum temperatures have not changed. Increases in humidity may be one cause of this asymmetric warming between night and day. The year 2012 was the hottest on record with an average annual temperature of 52.1°F, 4.6°F above the long-term average. This warming has been concentrated in the winter and spring while summers have not warmed substantially in the state, a feature characteristic of much of the Midwest. This is reflected in a below average occurrence of very hot days and no overall trend in warm nights. The winter warming trend is reflected in a below average number of very cold nights over the past two decades.
Crime Statistics
Safety and security should always be an important factor when moving to a new location. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it drastically affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Iowa’s violent crime rate is 27 per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 209per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 248.7.
Iowa ranks #34 in the US for violent crime and #35 for property crime.
Schools & Education
Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Iowa’s educational system.
Overall Grade: C
Iowa spends on average $12689.00 per pupil, which is greater than the national average ($11,900). IA ranks #17 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While IA ranks #17 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 90.80%%.
Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Iowa ranks #16 with over 48.50% of children attending a early educational program.
Taxes
The current income tax rate for Iowa is 5.42% which ranks 23rd favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. IA’s rate is $35.04 which ranks 35th in the US.
Currently, IA sales tax is $21.86 for which it comes in as 21st compared to other states.
Sports
Unfortunately Iowa does’nt have any major league teams.
Utility Companies
Before you move to Iowa, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in IA.
Other Resources
For more information about moving to Iowa, visit their website at http://www.iowa.gov/