Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of Iowa, you would:
Health
live 4.7 years less
In Iowa, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In West Virginia, that number is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020.
be 30.3% more likely to have diabetes
In Iowa, 9.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 26.5% less money
Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in West Virginia, the GDP per capita is $46,834 as of 2024.
be 33.3% more likely to be unemployed
In Iowa, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In West Virginia, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
be 55.2% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Iowa, 10.5% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 16.1% 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 West Virginia, that number is 1,198 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 20.6% less for a home
The median home value in Iowa is $195,900 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 10.4% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Iowa is $949 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
earn 20.8% less money
The median household income in Iowa is $73,147 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $57,917 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
live among residents who are 4.1 years older on average
The median age in Iowa is 38.6 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
commute 6.8 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Iowa takes 19.8 minutes as of 2023. In West Virginia, it takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 29.8% more likely to be uninsured
In Iowa, 4.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
be 28.7% more likely to smoke
In Iowa, 16.4% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
be 20.1% more likely to be physically inactive
In Iowa, 24.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 29.9% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 27.9% more densely populated
Iowa has a population density of 22.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 18.1% less 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 West Virginia, that number is 16.7% as of 2023.
be 74.2% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Iowa, 3.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
be 59.5% more likely to be food insecure
In Iowa, 7.4% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In West Virginia, that number is 11.8% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, 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.
