Relocation profile · Federal data
Dubuque, IA
LiveAbility 62.1/100 places Dubuque #33 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 87.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,077
- 2BR rent / mo
- $61,930
- Median salary
- 62.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Dubuque ranks #33 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (62.1/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.
- #33
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 3,241,488
- metro-area population
- 238
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,326
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (24/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Dubuque ranks #33 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 87.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,077/mo, median salary $61,930; LiveAbility Score 62.1/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.
Signature: LiveAbility 62.1/100 places Dubuque #33 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 87.3 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,077/mo.
LiveAbility 62.1/100 puts Dubuque in the top third (#33 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Dubuque area is 51,410.
Dubuque vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
62 Top 9% higher than 91% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Dubuque housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Dubuque MSA; housing RPP 64.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,077/mo.
Dubuque wages and employment
Dubuque posts 51,410 total employment with median salary $61,930 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,670 |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,960 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,680 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,470 |
| Registered Nurses | $76,790 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Dubuque area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Dubuque area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Dubuque's composite Life Score is 62.4/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Dubuque ranks #33 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 62.1/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Dubuque - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
90 /100
- Housing
Housing
86 /100
- Safety
Safety
72 /100
- Schools
Schools
55 /100
- Job market
Job market
42 /100
- Climate 35
Climate
35 /100
- Low hazard 24
Low hazard
24 /100
What this shows Dubuque's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 24/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Dubuque to
Metros near Dubuque on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Dubuque on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Dubuque cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Dubuque wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Dubuque?
Dubuque runs a $61,930 median salary at a 87.3 cost index, ranking #33 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Dubuque's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Dubuque head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Dubuque
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.