Iowa is a great place to live. The cost of living is relatively low,and it isn't overcrowded like much of the east coast. The majority of the people are sensible, not holding too extreme of views on anything (with the exception of Iowa City, as much as I like the University of Iowa, it does attract a lot of wackos). I suppose it doesn't have that much for a tourist, but I don't consider that to be very important. Some people complain about the weather, but I actually enjoy having distinct seasons instead of having the same weather every day. 

UPDATE: 42 out of 50?! Iowa may not be for everyone, but that low of a ranking tells me that a lot of people who rated this have either haven't left their car while driving through on I-80, or haven't been to the state at all.

I wouldn't care to live there, but at least their courts favor equal rights for all citizens...

http://tinyurl.com/ccbqjh

yawn

I really enjoy Iowa, except for the blasted Quad Cities which drag the whole state down.  Other than that dive I love the people in the other cities.

There's nothing here!!!

Second state to make same sex marriage legal.  Go Hawkeye State!

Iowa has nice friendly hard-working dependable people in general. The only problem is that it doesn't have much to offer city or scenerywise.

We made the mistake of moving to Iowa a few years ago, because we believed all the LIES about the good educational system, and work ethics. In truth - Iowa is a horrible place. The people are stupid and lazy. Many kids are homeschooled and learn nothing. The people are unfriendly to outsiders. The houses go DOWN in value. We have nothing good to say about this state except that it is close to Minnesota. And, we moved away and are happily living in another state where people are normal and not inbred.

I can only speak of Des Moines, which is not an exciting city...but its actually a very prosperous place...and fairly expensive. Surprise? Go see for yourself. Lots of cranes in downtown....so you can easily find work in Des Moines.

Nice friendly, rich state.

Iowa has a few good qualities, but overall I'm not a big fan of the state. Being a 19 year resident myself, I speak from experience. Iowa has a good educational system, low crime rates, good drivers (ranked as one of the top 3 states), relatively nice people, and a strong focus on family life. Unfortunatly, living in Iowa is quite boring. The state is full of small towns with nothing to offer but a convenience store and a few boarded-up buildings (and crystal meth dealers, of course). If you took a trip through Iowa blindfolded, you wouldn't miss out on much, except miles and miles of endless cornfields. The state also lacks decent job opportunities, with a good share of the jobs being blue-collar and paying below-average wages (nursing wages rank 50th in the nation). This is one of the reasons why Iowa is having such a big problem keeping young people in the state after they graduate from high school or college. Iowa also experiences a harsh climate, with very hot summer days and bone-chilling winter weather. No wonder Iowa's population growth has been stagnating for so many years.

The people are not as friendly as I would have expected of Midwest America and the area around the Mississippi River is gorgeous. There are worse places you could be.

Possibly the most boring state in the US of A

Iowa has its shortcomings- but deserves a higher rating then given here.

This state has serious shortcomings but deserves an 'ok' rating. It has far to go- but is not too bad.

Iowa is not that bad for a state in the heartland- the people tend to be more open minded then other states nearby- sure the climate is a bit too harsh- and the topography is rather boring- however the state should not be rated this low.

Keep Driving until you hit Minnesota or Illinois, then keep going untill you get to Minneapolis or Chicago.

Actually a bit higher then a 2, but lower then a 3. Flat farmland for the most part with a cold climate. People are not too bad- a fair amount of progressives and populists. However it is not too diverse- and seems socially out fo touch-

Iowa is alright. Des Moines has a good economy, is cheap, but is very boring. Iowa City is very clean, has a beautiful mall and a nice downtown and deserves four stars. Ames is also a nice city, with very nice people. Council Bluffs, Iowa a suberb of Omaha is much nicer than the trash-filled boarded up city of Omaha. They also have a nice truckstop called Walcott Junction 50 miles away from the quad-cities. All and all, in okay state

I lived in Iowa for 15 years. Part of me wants to rate it a one, and part of me wants to rate it a five, so I'll just give it a three and call it even. It is extremely flat and can be as cold or hot as any place in the country on any given day. An old adage goes, If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. And that's not too far from the truth. It's an extremely humid state that gets plenty of rainfall and snow, but has its share of nice days too. It's an extremely rural state, although more people are flocking to the larger cities. But go on any given highway, you're bound to see some farmland soon. There are lots and lots of little farmtowns dotted all over the state, most of them have under 2,000 people. Des Moines is not a half bad city. It's pretty big (over 500,000 metro) and has plenty of things to do for the average tourist. The downtown area is a must-see - the skyline is better than many cities twice its size, and has an excellent skywalk system. Why not stay and watch an Iowa Cubs game - tickets are cheap and the game is just as fun to watch as a Major League game, or you could drive 2 hours east to Kinnick Stadium to watch the Hawks play football? It's not an entirely boring state, you just have to look harder to find things to do. Scenic Valley Tourist Railroad near Boone, RAGBRAI every August (The DM Register's Annual Great Bicycle Race Across Iowa), and the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is about as good as it gets for state fairs. There's more things to see and do, you just gotta look for them.

My family is from the Hawkeye State so I really can't bash it. The people there are friendly, family oriented and intelligent. Iowa has some of the best education of any state. It may not have any beautiful mountains or an ocean, but it has a simple midwest beauty. It's largest city Des Moines is no Chicago, Boston, New York or Philadelphia in terms of culture, but you might be surprised as to what it has to offer. Oh yeah you can't beat the Iowa corn and beef.

alright seriously IOWA is a great place, there are a lot of nice and intellegent people who work hard and can easily be trusted. There are also lakes, rivers and cities, stuff to do everywhere

I have driven through Iowa a lot, and it isnt the most exciting place in the world. I have family here, but outside of that, I dont EVER go to Iowa. Wonder why???

LOL I just came across this site and I figured my home state would be rated low.Agreed there is not much to do for the tourist. But if anyone has been here it is probably the most wholesome,decent place you will find anywhere in the world. A great place to raise kids. Surveys annually rate Iowa's schools the best in the country, the lowest crime rates in the country, lowest poverty rates. Go to any small town and you will find the most decent friendliest people in the country. Iowa also produces 10% of the countrys food for all the people who think food comes from a supermarket.

People ought to be thankful for all those boring cornfields. What else would they stuff their fat faces with? AND NO, I'M NOT FROM IOWA!!!

Too much corn has turned Iowans into unreasonable freaks.

Iowa is SOOOO boring! But, it's good if you are driving across it and you need a nap...don't worry, the corn fields won't keep you awake!

Lovely in a kind, quiet, peaceful way. You might have to drive a ways for nightlife, but the roads sure are good until you get there.