Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Iowa

Best Places to Live in Iowa

Every Iowa county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Lucas County leads at 78/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Iowa ranks #29 for homesteading and #29 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Iowa

    How Iowa treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 99 Iowa counties, ranked

    1. 1Lucas County78
    2. 2Jefferson County77
    3. 3Wayne County76
    4. 4Davis County74
    5. 5Van Buren County74
    6. 6Appanoose County74
    7. 7Decatur County73
    8. 8Monroe County72
    9. 9Union County72
    10. 10Allamakee County72
    11. 11Lee County72
    12. 12Ringgold County70
    13. 13Clayton County70
    14. 14Dubuque County69
    15. 15Des Moines County69
    16. 16Keokuk County67
    17. 17Henry County66
    18. 18Winneshiek County66
    19. 19Marion County66
    20. 20Wapello County66
    21. 21Madison County64
    22. 22Washington County64
    23. 23Jones County64
    24. 24Jackson County63
    25. 25Guthrie County63
    26. 26Taylor County63
    27. 27Louisa County63
    28. 28Clarke County62
    29. 29Mahaska County61
    30. 30Fayette County61
    31. 31Harrison County60
    32. 32Monona County60
    33. 33Howard County60
    34. 34O'Brien County60
    35. 35Muscatine County59
    36. 36Warren County59
    37. 37Tama County58
    38. 38Dallas County58
    39. 39Black Hawk County57
    40. 40Mills County56
    41. 41Chickasaw County56
    42. 42Kossuth County56
    43. 43Linn County55
    44. 44Delaware County55
    45. 45Palo Alto County55
    46. 46Adair County55
    47. 47Page County54
    48. 48Iowa County54
    49. 49Buena Vista County54
    50. 50Buchanan County53
    51. 51Boone County53
    52. 52Greene County53
    53. 53Sac County52
    54. 54Dickinson County52
    55. 55Ida County52
    56. 56Bremer County52
    57. 57Floyd County52
    58. 58Cass County52
    59. 59Johnson County52
    60. 60Benton County52
    61. 61Story County52
    62. 62Humboldt County51
    63. 63Shelby County51
    64. 64Fremont County51
    65. 65Franklin County51
    66. 66Scott County51
    67. 67Webster County51
    68. 68Mitchell County51
    69. 69Poweshiek County51
    70. 70Hardin County51
    71. 71Pocahontas County50
    72. 72Crawford County50
    73. 73Clay County50
    74. 74Pottawattamie County50
    75. 75Grundy County50
    76. 76Clinton County50
    77. 77Polk County50
    78. 78Montgomery County50
    79. 79Emmet County50
    80. 80Audubon County50
    81. 81Cerro Gordo County49
    82. 82Butler County49
    83. 83Adams County49
    84. 84Worth County48
    85. 85Cherokee County48
    86. 86Wright County48
    87. 87Marshall County47
    88. 88Jasper County46
    89. 89Lyon County46
    90. 90Hamilton County46
    91. 91Cedar County46
    92. 92Woodbury County45
    93. 93Osceola County44
    94. 94Winnebago County43
    95. 95Hancock County43
    96. 96Plymouth County43
    97. 97Calhoun County42
    98. 98Sioux County41
    99. 99Carroll County41

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