Dubuque is a historic city with a lively downtown and quiet neighborhoods.
Dubuque is right along the Mississippi River.
Dubuque is right along the Mississippi River.
The quiet city of Dubuque is full of historic buildings.
Explore the murals in Dubuque.

Dubuque, IA

Area Guide

Avg Rent

$841

Population

59,090

Renter Mix

38% Rent

A large suburb on the Mississippi River with big-city attractions

Suburban Riverfront Affordable

A sprawling suburb on the Mississippi River, Dubuque sits on the Iowa state line nearing Wisconsin. Dubuque is home to major attractions like the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Aside from the city’s tourist hotspots and riverside views, Dubuque also features a vibrant nightlife scene with several casinos, restaurants, and bars near the riverfront. Several universities, both public and private, call Dubuque home, including Clarke University and the University of Dubuque. Apartments, houses, condos, and townhomes available for rent in the city are very affordable, making it a great place for renters on a budget interested in natural beauty and entertainment options.

Explore the City

Explore the murals in Dubuque.

The quiet city of Dubuque is full of historic buildings.

Dubuque is right along the Mississippi River.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$66,771

Average: $82,954

Education

16,935

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

30,295

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

39 Years

Largest Age Group

20-29 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

23%

Over 65

21%

Housing Distribution

Dubuque has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
38%
Non-Renters
62%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
23%
Other Education
77%

Rent Trends

As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Dubuque, IA is $434 for a studio, $841 for one bedroom, $1,127 for two bedrooms, and $1,267 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Dubuque has increased by 0.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$841/month
547 Sq Ft
House
$1,482/month
888 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,612/month
1,410 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Dubuque, IA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Dubuque, IA is 9.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Dubuque is 29.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $434 - $1,267. You can expect to pay 2.1% less for groceries, 2.0% less for utilities, and 3.7% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

20 / 100

Very Drivable

Drivability

80 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

John Kennedy Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

541 Students

Carver Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

535 Students

Bryant Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

314 Students

Hoover Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

303 Students

Eisenhower Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

566 Students

Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,093 Students

George Washington Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

624 Students

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

459 Students

Hempstead High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,584 Students

Dubuque Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,435 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Heitkamp Memorial Planetarium
  • Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
  • Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
  • Sundown Mountain Resort
  • Mines of Spain Recreation Area & EB Lyons Interpretive Center

Top Apartments in Dubuque

Houses for Rent in Dubuque

Property Management Companies in Dubuque, IA

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.