What it's like to live in Coralville
Coralville is a small city in Iowa with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Coralville deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Coralville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Coralville
Based on Coralville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,114
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,280 a year
- 53% of Coralville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,850
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,057/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,057 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $298,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $298,500 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Johnson County is 2.7%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Johnson County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 44% below US
185 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1874/100k · Coralville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 56% above US
56% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (13 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Coralville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,057/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Coralville
All Iowa guides →Moving to North Liberty →
3 mi away · pop. 21,125
Rent $1,246/mo · Income $102,102
Compare with Coralville →Moving to Iowa City →
5 mi away · pop. 75,752
Rent $1,094/mo · Income $58,546
Compare with Coralville →Not sure Coralville is the one?
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