There's no doubt Iowa is a great place to raise a family. It's the Midwest through and through. We certainly have our own unique sensibilities, such as "Iowa Nice", but at the end of the day, the Midwest, in general, is just a great place to grow up. Maybe I'm a tad biased since I'm a Midwesterner, but I'd wager you'd agree since you likely are, too.

But if we just focus on our slice of heaven (or is it "Iowa"?), what are the best counties to raise a family in Iowa?

The best of our 99 counties

With so many counties, 99 to be exact, what are the top ones in the Hawkeye State to raise a family in? I'll tell you, the study, done by Stacker, is a bit subjective. Here are the key metrics they dug into for answers:

  • Cost of living
  • Schools
  • Health care
  • Recreation
  • Weather

I find the weather category to be an odd one. After all, it's Iowa. The same type of weather is possible across the whole state. In any event, those are the categories.

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Let's jump in, the top counties in Iowa to raise a family in are below! See if you agree, or or if you feel the list missed the mark in any way.

The county I live in is absent from the list. Yes, I think it's a wonderful place to raise a family. So, alas, no list is perfect.

Top counties in Iowa to raise a family

See our list:

LOOK: Best counties to raise a family in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Iowa.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

What were Iowans doing 150 years ago? Glad you asked, because we have some answers!

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