Building Net Worth in Iowa
Net worth is the single most comprehensive measure of financial health โ it captures everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). In Iowa, with a cost of living index of 89.8 and a median home price of $228K, housing is typically the dominant asset for middle-income households.
The price-to-income ratio in Iowa is 3.0ร โ meaning the median home costs 3.0 years of the median household's gross income. This is a manageable ratio suggesting homeownership is accessible for median-income households with disciplined saving.
Net Worth Targets by Age in Iowa
| Age | Benchmark (ร income) | At $76K/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1ร annual income | $75,501 |
| 40 | 3ร annual income | $226,503 |
| 50 | 6ร annual income | $453,006 |
| 60 | 8ร annual income | $604,008 |
| 67 (retirement) | 10ร annual income | $755,010 |
Targets apply to investable assets (retirement accounts + savings), not including home equity.
Iowa vs. National Wealth Context
| Metric | Iowa | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,501 | $74,580 |
| Median Home Price | $228,000 | $420,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 89.8 | 100 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.0ร | 5.6ร |
| National Median Net Worth | โ | $192,700 |