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Iowa City, IA

Census place 1938595 · pop 75,752

D52/ 100
😐 Meh
D−
in IA
📍 Iowa ranks #11 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.4% · top 4%
🚽 Inequality0.53 · bottom 5%
💡 Did you know?

Home of the University of Iowa and its famed Writers' Workshop, and the first U.S. UNESCO City of Literature.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.69% property · US 0.99%6.94% sales · US 7.00%3.80% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.535

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.53 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poverty rate26.3%7

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

26.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership47.2%11

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

47.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access86.1%16

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

86.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property-tax burden1.69%18

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.69% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Poor mental health19.1%20

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$58,54626

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$58,546 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Violent crime rate325/100k32

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

325 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Population growth (5yr)+1.1%37

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property crime rate1686/100k37

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1686 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10038

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

93/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$285,90049

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$285,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult smoking11.9%64

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

11.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults7.7%69

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity31.3%70

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

31.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity20.0%78

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

20.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Rent$1,323/mo81

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,323/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time17 min89

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Bachelor's degree or higher60.5%91

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

60.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.4%96

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Iowa City, IA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Iowa City scores 52/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is income inequality. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Iowa City, IA?
Iowa City reports 325 violent crimes per 100k and 1686 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Iowa City, IA expensive to live in?
Iowa City has a median home value of $285,900 and typical rent around $1,323/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Iowa City, IA?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.53) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Iowa City, IA best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home of the University of Iowa and its famed Writers' Workshop, and the first U.S. UNESCO City of Literature.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.