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The Cost of Living & Dying in Iowa: Cremation VS Traditional Burial [Gallery]
If you'd like to live a long life, there are many places to go. USA Facts says the state of Hawaii is #1 in life expectancy in the US, so you could go there to live long and prosper.
If you're looking outside the US, Statista says Monaco is the place to be for a long, long life. On average, people there live to 89-years-old!
Hawaii is costly to move to, and Monaco even more so. What if I told you that you could live long in Iowa? There is a town where they live quite long lives!
What Age Will Iowans Live to?
As of 2021, Iowa's life expectancy, 77.7 years, was slightly higher than the national average, which was 76.4 years of age. That number now is closer in the range of the national number, since the CDC bumped it up to 77.5 years.
There is one town where that number gets obliterated. For some reason, maybe it's the low level of stress, people there live to the average age of 92. That blows Monaco out of the water. Seriously, get a longer life, Monaco!
Read More: The Iowa Town Where People Live to 92!
What Happens When it All Ends
If you'd like to know what might happen in a few trillion years, watch this. Don't let it make you feel like your time here is short, because it is.
What is the Average Cost of a Funeral in Iowa?
But, life expectancy isn't the only important thing to consider when it comes time to say goodbye. Understanding the cost of a funeral is key.
The Iowa Funeral Directors Association says the average cost of a funeral in the state of Iowa is $13,125, and could include some or all of the services listed here:
- Professional services
- Embalming
- Cosmetizing the body
- Visitation/Viewing
- Holding the funeral at the funeral home
- Transfer of remains
- Hearse and service car/van
- Memorial
- Casket
- Vault
- Minister
- Sales Tax
- Flowers
- Death Certificates
- Obituary
Would You Prefer Burial or Cremation in Iowa?
In Iowa, if you're not interested in embalming, you don't have to, as long the body will be buried or cremated within 72 hours, says Nolo.com.
There are benefits to burial, says Fiore Funeral Home, but the younger generation is feeling a bit different.
- Permanent gravesite to visit
- The body is more respected
- Being alongside loved ones
Burial is a fine way to be placed to rest, but, according to Iowa City funeral director Dan Ciha, he's seen a rise in cremation and a decline of traditional burial.
The rate of cremation vs. traditional burial is almost 70%, and he says the shift is the younger generations, who he claims look at death in a slightly different way, including, but not limited to, religion.
Are There Other Ways to Bury Loved Ones in Iowa?
Yes, according to Nolo. They say burial on private property is allowed in Iowa. You would need to check the zoning laws for your specific town. They also suggest drawing a map of the property showing where the plot or cemetery is, and then filing it with the town so others will know the location in the future.
Can You Scatter Ashes in Iowa?
The State of Iowa says you can and can't scatter ashes. You can scatter ashes on private property in the state, as long as you have the owner's permission. You are not allowed to scatter cremated remains at any time on any public lands in Iowa.

Scattering the ashes at sea requires you to be at least three nautical miles from shore, says the EPA. If you'd like to know more about laws in Iowa regarding funerals and the like, look right here.
Let Me Show You the Door
It's never fun to lose a loved one. Recently, I was in Central City taking photos of the new fire department. Across the road, I saw a cemetery with a nice hill. Death scares me, but the memorials sometimes are quite nice.
It's a love-hate relationship. I love to take pictures of the memorials, but hate why they're there. Some of them are much too young. Look through the pictures of these headstones! Some are from the 1800s and look as if they were placed recently. Others? Not so much.
I don't know any of these people, but if you do, I'm sorry for your loss. No matter how we choose to honor the lives of our loved ones, it’s important to ensure that they are remembered with respect and care.
Mt. Clark Cemetery Central City, Iowa
Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe
Palisades-Kepler State Park December 30, 2024
Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe
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