Median Age
30 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 30% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
13%
Iowa City, IA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,040
Population
77,206
Renter Mix
54% Rent
This charming riverside community is a true college town in every sense
Affordable
•
College Town
•
Bicycle-Friendly
Iowa City is a growing community on the banks of the Iowa River. The student body at the University of Iowa makes up a significant portion of the local population, and Hawkeye spirit runs deep both on and off campus — expect to see black and gold everywhere, especially on game days. Iowa City's historic downtown sits right across the river from the university and hosts a wide assortment of storefront shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and performance venues.
History buffs will appreciate the beautifully preserved architecture and the museums in and around the Old Capitol building. As you get farther from the river, the landscape takes on a more suburban feel, with charming single-family homes and a quieter environment than you'd find closer to campus. Coral Ridge Mall in nearby Coralville is one of the larger shopping destinations in the region, drawing visitors from across eastern Iowa. A short drive up Interstate 380 will take you to the sprawling Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, a gorgeous nature preserve perfect for camping, boating, and hiking.
Iowa City is also home to the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop and holds a UNESCO City of Literature designation, reflecting a strong literary and arts culture that extends well beyond campus.
Explore the City
University of Iowa students walk in front of the Old Capitol Museum at the center of campus.
The University of Iowa's homecoming parade draws hundreds of locals every year.
Houses in Iowa City are located on peaceful streets.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$60,194
Average: $84,978
Education
34,889
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
41,860
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Iowa City has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
54%
Non-Renters
46%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
38%
Other Education
62%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Iowa City, IA is $1,133 for a studio, $1,040 for one bedroom, $1,281 for two bedrooms, and $1,701 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Iowa City has increased by 0.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,040/month
633 Sq Ft
House
$1,730/month
1,199 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,312/month
884 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Iowa City, IA is 7.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Iowa City is 21.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,040 - $1,700. You can expect to pay 2.8% less for groceries, 14.0% less for utilities, and 4.4% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Iowa City, IA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
50
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
223 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
391 Students
Bohumil Shimek Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
214 Students
Public
Grades K-5
385 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
345 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
812 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,599 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,503 Students
Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School
Public
Grades 9-12
164 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- UI Museum of Natural History
- Iowa Children's Museum
- MacBride Nature Recreation Area
Airports
- The Eastern Iowa
Top Apartments in Iowa City
Houses for Rent in Iowa City
Property Management Companies in Iowa City, IA
Barker Apartments
-
11
Communities
-
2,308
Units
-
4
Cities
6 Communities in Iowa City
The Tailwind Group
-
23
Communities
-
6,918
Units
-
17
Cities
2 Communities in Iowa City
Haverkamp Group
-
20
Communities
-
4,282
Units
-
9
Cities
2 Communities in Iowa City
High Properties
-
11
Communities
-
1,115
Units
-
4
Cities
2 Communities in Iowa City
Greystar
-
3,525
Communities
-
969,267
Units
-
898
Cities
1 Community in Iowa City
Monarch Investment and Management Group
-
321
Communities
-
78,198
Units
-
146
Cities
1 Community in Iowa City
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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.