Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Iowa instead of Rhode Island, you would:
Health
be 22.5% more likely to be obese
In Rhode Island, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 38.7% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 12.0% more money
Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in Iowa, the GDP per capita is $63,747 as of 2024.
be 25.0% less likely to be unemployed
In Rhode Island, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Iowa, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.
Safety
be 68.0% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Rhode Island has a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 277 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 29.4% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Rhode Island has a property crime rate of 1,102 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 1,427 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 46.9% less for a home
The median home value in Rhode Island is $368,800 as of 2023, compared to $195,900 in Iowa as of 2023.
pay 25.5% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Rhode Island is $1,273 as of 2023, while in Iowa, it is $949 as of 2023.
be 13.0% more likely to own your home
In Rhode Island, 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 71.5% as of 2023.
earn 15.3% less money
The median household income in Rhode Island is $86,372 as of 2023, while in Iowa, it is $73,147 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 5.7 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Rhode Island takes 25.5 minutes as of 2023. In Iowa, it takes 19.8 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 94.6% less densely populated
Rhode Island has a population density of 407.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 22.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 19.6% less likely to be food insecure
In Rhode Island, 9.2% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Iowa, that number is 7.4% as of 2021.
be 11.9% more likely to be uninsured
In Rhode Island, 4.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 4.7% as of 2023.
be 19.7% more likely to smoke
In Rhode Island, 13.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Iowa, that number is 16.4% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 1.9 years older on average
The median age in Rhode Island is 40.5 years as of 2023. In Iowa, the median age is 38.6 years as of 2023.
be 21.5% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Rhode Island, 26.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 20.4% as of 2023.
be 53.0% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Rhode Island, 6.6% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Iowa, that number is 3.1% 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), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
