Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Iowa instead of Montana, you would:
Health
be 21.7% more likely to be obese
In Montana, 31.8% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 38.7% of people as of 2022.
be 25.3% more likely to have diabetes
In Montana, 7.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 9.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 20.4% more money
Montana has a GDP per capita of $52,945 as of 2024, while in Iowa, the GDP per capita is $63,747 as of 2024.
be 10.8% less likely to be unemployed
In Montana, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Iowa, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.
Safety
be 36.6% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Montana has a violent crime rate of 437 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 277 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 21.4% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Montana has a property crime rate of 1,815 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 1,427 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 42.1% less for a home
The median home value in Montana is $338,100 as of 2023, compared to $195,900 in Iowa as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 41.2% less likely to be uninsured
In Montana, 8.0% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 4.7% as of 2023.
be 3.1 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Montana, 1.0% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 3.1% as of 2023.
be 20.3% more likely to be physically inactive
In Montana, 20.7% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 24.9% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 1.6 years older on average
The median age in Montana is 40.2 years as of 2023. In Iowa, the median age is 38.6 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 7.4 times more densely populated
Montana has a population density of 3.0 people per sq km as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 22.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 12.1% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Montana, 23.2% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 20.4% 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.
