Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of Iowa, you would:
Health
live 1.5 years longer
In Iowa, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Massachusetts, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 25.6% less likely to be obese
In Iowa, 38.7% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 28.8% of people as of 2022.
be 11.1% less likely to have diabetes
In Iowa, 9.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 8.8% as of 2022.
Economy
make 37.9% more money
Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in Massachusetts, the GDP per capita is $87,892 as of 2024.
be 42.4% more likely to be unemployed
In Iowa, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Massachusetts, that number is 4.7% as of 2025.
Safety
be 24.5% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Iowa has a property crime rate of 1,427 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 1,077 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 10.9% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Iowa has a violent crime rate of 277 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 308 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 38.5% more money
The median household income in Iowa is $73,147 as of 2023, while in Massachusetts, it is $101,341 as of 2023.
pay 2.7 times more for a home
The median home value in Iowa is $195,900 as of 2023, compared to $525,800 in Massachusetts as of 2023.
pay 77.8% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Iowa is $949 as of 2023, while in Massachusetts, it is $1,687 as of 2023.
be 12.4% less likely to own your home
In Iowa, 71.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 62.6% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 44.7% less likely to be uninsured
In Iowa, 4.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 2.6% as of 2023.
be 25.6% less likely to smoke
In Iowa, 16.4% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 12.2% as of 2022.
be 14.5% less likely to be physically inactive
In Iowa, 24.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 21.3% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 1.4 years older on average
The median age in Iowa is 38.6 years as of 2023. In Massachusetts, the median age is 40.0 years as of 2023.
be 57.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Iowa, 20.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 32.2% as of 2023.
be 2.5 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Iowa, 3.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 7.9% as of 2023.
commute 9.5 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Iowa takes 19.8 minutes as of 2023. In Massachusetts, it takes 29.3 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 15.7 times more densely populated
Iowa has a population density of 22.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 348.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
