Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Bettendorf, IA

    Is Bettendorf a good place to live?

    Watch Bettendorf

    Bettendorf ranks #3 of 19 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (71/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $295,600
    +8.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,148
    per month
    Household income
    $102,917
    median
    Unemployment
    2.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Bettendorf

    The median home value in Bettendorf is $295,600 and median rent is $1,148 a month, against a median household income of $102,917. Homes cost about 2.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Bettendorf crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Bettendorf, IA

    Bettendorf has about 39,297 residents, 2.0% unemployment and 30% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Bettendorf with

    Bettendorf vs Des MoinesBettendorf vs Cedar RapidsBettendorf vs DavenportBettendorf vs Sioux CityBettendorf vs Iowa CityBettendorf vs AnkenyBettendorf vs West Des MoinesBettendorf vs Waterloo

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report