What it's like to live in North Liberty
North Liberty is a small city in Iowa with rent below the national average, county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above 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. North Liberty deals with cold, harsh winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Cold, harsh winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How North Liberty compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Liberty
Based on North Liberty's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,492
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,840 a year
- 37% of North Liberty renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,380
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,246/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,246 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $303,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $303,800 · 37% 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▼ 70% below US
99 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 350/100k · North Liberty Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% 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▲ 51% above US
55% 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
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (14 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Liberty's strongest points are rent below the national average and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,246/mo) equals 15% 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 doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near North Liberty
All Iowa guides →Moving to Coralville →
3 mi away · pop. 23,234
Rent $1,057/mo · Income $69,144
Compare with North Liberty →Moving to Iowa City →
7 mi away · pop. 75,752
Rent $1,094/mo · Income $58,546
Compare with North Liberty →Moving to Cedar Rapids →
16 mi away · pop. 137,264
Rent $967/mo · Income $70,424
Compare with North Liberty →Not sure North Liberty is the one?
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