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Living in
Iowa City.
About
Life in Iowa City
If you're considering Iowa City, understand that the University of Iowa presence shapes everything—from the median age of 27 to the seasonal population swings to the cultural programming. The economy is diversified beyond campus: the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is the state's only comprehensive tertiary care center, and ACT Inc. employs 1,200 people at its global headquarters. The job market is solid with unemployment at 2.7%, and median rent around $1,094 monthly is reasonable, though median home values at $285,900 have climbed significantly.
Iowa City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Foreign-Born
12.2%
Broadband Internet
86.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.2% foreign-born, most often from Sudan
Who lives in Iowa City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Iowa City, the largest foreign-born group is from Sudan (11.4%), and 5.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.3%
of residents
65 and Older
12.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.6%
of households
Married Couples
32.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Iowa City
In Iowa City, rent runs 13% above the IA average, and home values are 37% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,838
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $300,467 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below IA average
Unemployment in Iowa City
Unemployment in Iowa City is 0.8 percentage points lower than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Iowa City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.3 min avg
How Iowa City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Iowa City, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
Small hub801k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Iowa City runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
256.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,605.6
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Iowa City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Johnson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Johnson County, which includes Iowa City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 14 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Johnson County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Johnson County, which includes Iowa City, is typically good — 256 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
256
per year
Moderate Days
105
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Johnson County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Iowa City has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.7"
Annual Snowfall
27.5"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
135
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 1.04" |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 1.21" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.21" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.76" |
| May | 73°F | 52°F | 4.48" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 5.29" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.91" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.94" |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.24" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 2.98" |
| Nov | 49°F | 30°F | 2.17" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.45" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.7/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Iowa City
Iowa City has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.7 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.7 / 5
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Iowa City
Iowa City's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 60.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
60.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Iowa City
Public · 4-year · 22,264 students · in-state tuition $11,622 · 73% graduate · median earnings $70,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Iowa City
Iowa City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayEffigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Iowa City
Iowa City Public Library
123 S Linn St, Iowa City
Cities Near Iowa City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Iowa City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Iowa City FAQ
Is Iowa City, Iowa affordable?⌄
Iowa City's median rent is $1,094/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,546/year. Median home value is $285,900.
Is Iowa City, Iowa safe?⌄
Iowa City's violent crime rate was 257 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1606 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Iowa City, Iowa?⌄
Iowa City has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Iowa City, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Iowa City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,094/month and median household income is $58,546/year. The median home value is $285,900. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Iowa City, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Iowa City is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from