Living in Iowa City, IA
College town in Iowa
Iowa City is a college town in Iowa, home to about 75,000 people, with 411,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Iowa City a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $293k and rents for $1,590 a month
- Strong healthcare: 6 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.6× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Mild summers: highs around 84°F
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Higher taxes: about $1,192 state income tax per resident, 1.74% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Iowa City ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Iowa City: common questions
What is the cost of living in Iowa City?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $293k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,590 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 92, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Iowa City?
Iowa collects about $1,192 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.74% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Iowa City safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.6× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Iowa City?
Iowa City has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.
Does Iowa City get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from tornadoes, flooding and cold waves: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.67 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Iowa City?
The nearest major airport is DSM, about 110 mi away.
How Iowa City scores
Each bar compares Iowa City with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Iowa City right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.