Moving to Iowa City
What you need to know before relocating to Iowa City, Iowa. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Iowa City a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Iowa City compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,072/mo) is below the national average; low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market; violent crime rate (280/100k) is well below the national average.
Iowa City at a Glance
Cost of Living in Iowa City
The median rent in Iowa City is $1,072/month, while the median home value is $298,700. With a median household income of $71,905, residents spend roughly 18% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Iowa City metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Iowa City has a median household income of $71,905, which is 4% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Iowa City
The violent crime rate in Iowa City is 280 per 100,000 residents, which is 26% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1441 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Iowa
Iowa has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,021/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
35% of Iowa adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Iowa has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.3% uninsured rate, and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Iowa is 78.0 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Iowa City
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,072/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market
- ✓Violent crime rate (280/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 92%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.3%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (85966 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iowa City a good place to live?⌄
Iowa City, Iowa has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,072/mo) is below the national average and low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Iowa City?⌄
The median rent in Iowa City is $1,072/month and the median home value is $298,700. The median household income is $71,905. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Iowa City safe?⌄
Iowa City has a violent crime rate of 280 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Iowa City?⌄
Iowa City has an unemployment rate of 2.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $71,905.