Livability Marshalltown, IA

Located in the middle of Iowa and with a population under 30,000, Marshalltown offers residents the best of small-town living. Thanks to its affordability, career opportunities, diversity, outdoor attractions, and arts and entertainment, the quality of life in the community is hard to beat.

Thinking about moving to Marshalltown? The good news is you can afford to live here. Marshalltown’s cost of living is even lower than the Iowa average. According to Best Places, Marshalltown’s cost of living comes in at 77% of the U.S. average. Marshalltown also has a plethora of career opportunities, where a host of big-name companies, including JBS, Emerson and RACOM, have major operations.

Over the past 20 years, Marshalltown’s agricultural roots have brought an influx of ethnically diverse residents to the area. The local Hispanic community makes up more than 30% of the population and roughly 50% of the students in Marshalltown schools are Hispanic, while another 10% are Southeast Asian origin. More than 30 languages are spoken in the schools.

Marshalltown also offers the full spectrum of outdoor options, including a wealth of standout trails, 20 parks and rec centers, hundreds of acres of parkland, and ready access to the Iowa River and watersports.