Below Average CostSafer than AverageIowa City Comm School District
Iowa City Downtown June 2021 (cropped) · Stevat20 / CC BY-SA 4.0Stanley Museum of Art, Burlington Street and Museum Drive, Iowa City, IA · w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0Englert Civic Theatre, Iowa City (28271374787) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States / CC BY 2.0Old Iowa State House, University of Iowa, Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 2- 54369096796 (cropped) · w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0
Iowa City is a mid-sized city of 74,878 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,879
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Iowa City stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Iowa City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Iowa City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.8
Iowa City's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Iowa City costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Iowa City, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$256,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,077
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,879
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Iowa City's violent crime rate is 321.3 per 100,000 residents
— 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
321.3 /100k
Property Crime
1673.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Iowa City is served primarily by Iowa City Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Iowa City, IA
National Avg
School District
Iowa City Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
20
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
59.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Iowa City sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 85.8°F in July,
with 35.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Iowa City's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Iowa City roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $256,600 and median rent is $1,077/month.
Iowa City's violent crime rate is 321.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1673.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Iowa City are operated by Iowa City Comm School District.
The district has 20 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 59.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Iowa City, IA has a population of 74,878, a median household income of $54,879, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Iowa City averages 30.9°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.7 inches
with about 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Iowa City, IA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 52245, 52246, 52240, 52242.
The population of Iowa City, Iowa is 74,878 with a median age of 26.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Iowa City: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $256,600, median household income $54,879, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Iowa City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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