Best Retirement Counties in Iowa
This ranking highlights the strongest county retirement options in Iowa using RetireScorecard's overall framework.
Top places to start with
#1 Johnson County, Iowa
A strong county choice for retirees who want healthcare access and a university-linked services base.
#2 Polk County, Iowa
A practical county option for retirees who want metro convenience and broad everyday services.
#3 Story County, Iowa
A calmer lower-scale county path for retirees who want value and strong livability.
How to use this page
Use this as a narrower entry point than the full state page. Start with the top places here, then open the county, metro, and compare pages that match the tradeoffs you care about most.