Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Iowa instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
Health
be 12.5% more likely to be obese
In Pennsylvania, 34.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 38.7% of people as of 2022.
Economy
be 10.8% less likely to be unemployed
In Pennsylvania, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Iowa, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.
Housing & Income
pay 18.5% less for a home
The median home value in Pennsylvania is $240,500 as of 2023, compared to $195,900 in Iowa as of 2023.
pay 18.3% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Pennsylvania is $1,162 as of 2023, while in Iowa, it is $949 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 6.8 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Pennsylvania takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023. In Iowa, it takes 19.8 minutes as of 2023.
be 14.5% less likely to be uninsured
In Pennsylvania, 5.5% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 4.7% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 80.2% less densely populated
Pennsylvania has a population density of 112.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 22.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 20.4% less likely to be food insecure
In Pennsylvania, 9.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Iowa, that number is 7.4% as of 2021.
live among residents who are 2.3 years older on average
The median age in Pennsylvania is 40.9 years as of 2023. In Iowa, the median age is 38.6 years as of 2023.
be 15.7% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Pennsylvania, 24.2% 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: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey).
