Iowa City at a Glance
Literary but laid-back, sporty yet sophisticated, Iowa City is the Hawkeye State’s quirky academic heart. This college town in southeastern Iowa once served as the state capital, and although it’s nestled between rolling, grassy hills and endless acres of corn, its rich history and bright future make it a standout in many ways.
One of the biggest reasons people are choosing to move to Iowa City is the lifestyle. IC’s walkable streets and charming, 19th-century homes may have small-town vibes, but this isn’t a place with a small-town mindset. Innovative businesses, an ever-growing food scene and boundary-pushing artists and writers keep the cultural pot stirred in this corner of the state. The Quad Cities and Des Moines are just a couple of hours’ drive, Chicago is only three and a half, and St. Louis is a mere four and a half hours south, so it’s easy to access bigger urban scenes when you need a break from the pastoral.
But if you’re serious about moving to Iowa City, the most important question to ask yourself is: Do you look good in black and gold? If not, you might want to move to a different Big Ten city, because Iowa City is, by and large, the University of Iowa. 75,678 people now call Iowa City home, and roughly 100% are Hawkeyes fans. But everyone knows that it’s not just football, basketball and Caitlin Clark that put this college on the map. This storied institution is famous for, well, stories — and poetry and essays, too — thanks to the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the first program of its kind in the nation. With an exceptional hospital system, wonderful museums and many remarkable academic programs, there are hundreds of reasons to take pride in this hometown school.
Iowa City has grown steadily over the past decade, so if you’re making a career move to Iowa City, it’s good to know that the workforce and job market are expanding. While the University of Iowa is the area’s largest employer, it’s not the only game in town. Major corporations from Kraft Heinz to Proctor & Gamble have operations here, and educational testing giant ACT is even headquartered in the city. Although real estate prices in Iowa City are higher than in many in the state, they’re lower than the national average, making it possible to break into the housing market even on a young family’s budget.
If you think Iowa City sounds like the right move for your family, get an in-depth look at the city below, where we’ll discuss home values, job opportunities, the cost of living and the best ways to have fun in this Iowa college town.
Living in Iowa City: Understanding the Cost of Living
If you’re moving from out of state, the cost of living in Iowa City may feel remarkably affordable. The median home value is $273,600, which looks enticing compared to the national average of $303,400. But Iowa’s statewide housing average hasn’t even cracked the $200,000 mark yet, so moving to Iowa City may be more burdensome for in-state movers. Iowa City is, in fact, more expensive than most of the major cities in the Hawkeye State. Home values in Davenport and Sioux City averaged only $163,000 between 2019 and 2023, and Cedar Rapids and Des Moines averaged $177,000 and $184,000, respectively. Ames and Bettendorf are IC’s closest competitors, with the former averaging $263,800 and the latter $295,600.
Renters — of which there are many in this college town — fare far better than their national counterparts when it comes to paying the landlord. The average Iowa Citizen shells out $1,094/month compared to $1,348/month nationally.
Whether you’re buying or leasing, you’ll find a wide range of housing types, from cozy, carpeted 1970s apartments to 19th-century Victorian homes with wood floors and tons of natural light.
The real stinger in this city is income levels. Iowa City’s median household income — $57,533 — is $20,000 below the national average and the lowest among all the major cities in the state. This has contributed to its high poverty rate, which is now above 26%.
Job Opportunities in Iowa City
When you live in Hawkeye central within the Hawkeye State, it should come as no surprise that the University of Iowa is Iowa City’s biggest employer. Between faculty and staff at the university and the hospitals and clinics of Iowa Health Care, UI employs roughly 30,000 individuals in the region. Living in one of the epicenters of higher education in the state has its perks, but there are plenty of job opportunities outside academia, from engineering to biotechnology to finance.
In addition to being a research hub, Iowa City is also home to several major corporate headquarters and operations. ACT — one of the dreaded college entrance exams — is based in Iowa City proper, but there’s unfortunately little proof that living closer to the company’s HQ improves scores on the standardized test. Procter & Gamble maintains plants for their beauty and oral care products in the city, so your teeth will practically floss themselves! Nearby Cedar Rapids is an important industrial hub where you’ll find Collins Aerospace, Cargill, ADM and Kraft Heinz, along with the area airport. Insurance giant Geico and appliance powerhouse Whirlpool have operations within driving distance of Iowa City.
The unemployment rate in IC has remained enviably low over the past six months, sitting at 2.8% in February 2025, more than a point below the national average. Most industries in the city remained in the black between 2024 and 2025, from the government, which employs a whopping 44,600 individuals, to trade, transportation and utilities (15,900 workers); education and health services (10,600 workers); and leisure and hospitality (10,200 workers).
Wondering if Iowa City is a good place for you to make a career move? Learn more about the top job industries in the area.
Iowa City – A Literary and Creative Heart of the Midwest
Home to the oldest writing program in the country (est. 1936), Iowa City is synonymous with great literature. Legendary authors from Kurt Vonnegut to Jane Smiley to Rita Dove, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, got their start in these hallowed halls, while today’s rising stars are honing their craft with well-laureled authors in the classrooms of the Dey House — the handsome clapboard home that has housed the Iowa Writers’ Workshop since 1997.
With so many famous novelists, poets and memoirists based here, it’s no wonder that IC was named a UNESCO City of Literature — an international accolade that only a handful of cities have earned.
The University of Iowa isn’t just known for writing, either. As the flagship state university, UI is well-respected across many academic fields, from astrophysics to hydro science and speech pathology. Iowa is ranked among the top 100 national universities by U.S. News & World Report, and it ranks among the top 50 public schools in the U.S.
Even secondary schooling is a stand-out in Iowa City. 97% of residents have graduated from high school and 61% have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher — the second-highest rates in the state behind Ames, where Iowa State University is located.
Recreational Fun and Cultural Events: Making the Most of Iowa City
In a city as literary as this one, you’d rightfully expect it to be crawling with bookworms. Prairie Lights, the city’s most famous bookstore, hosts readings each week, so it’s easy to get your favorite books signed and to keep up with the latest trends in literature. But don’t overlook the word-nerdiness of the Haunted Bookshop, now. This used-book purveyor specializes in all things previously loved and is presided over by two resident felines, Aeschylus and Sophocles. Remember to pet your four-legged bookseller.
But not everything is geeky in Iowa City (alas?). The Hawkeyes bring Big Ten sports to this town of 76,000, and the spotlight on the University has never shone brighter, thanks to basketball rockstar Caitlin Clark. This Iowa alum now plays for the Indiana Fever, and she was named the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Nearby Coralville is home to the area’s ECHL team, the Iowa Heartlanders, so pro hockey fans won’t always have to make the trek into Chicago to see action on the ice. The Xtream Arena is also part of the new Iowa River Landing entertainment district, where you’ll find cool restaurants and boutiques as well as a five-acre wetland park and the Antique Car Museum of Iowa.
Eating is a sport that most college students have mastered, and downtown Iowa City has become a true culinary destination. Anchored by the “Ped Mall,” this walkable district is filled with coffee shops, bars and bistros, some of which cater to the late-night crowd and many promise (and deliver) a cure for the common hangover. Marco’s Grilled Cheese got its start as a humble dining cart back in the day, but this house of carbs is now fully bona fide brick-and-mortar. And it was founded by two Iowa alumni!
The best breakfast-all-day is still the Hamburg Inn #2 — a beloved diner on Linn St. that also makes eat-your-heart-out pie shakes — that’s right — a milkshake whipped up with an entire slice of pie. Writers’ Workshoppers haunt two aged holes in the wall — fiction writers penning novels (or just pining for classmates) at George’s and poets fueling their inner fire at the Fox Head. Mainstays like The Sanctuary — the unofficial PhD bar on Gilbert St. — and The Mill — a cozy but divey joint with reliably good spaghetti, literary readings and music — have faded into Iowa City oblivion, but in the hearts of their former patrons, their flame still burns bright.
If you’re looking for an over-25 crowd — and there is no shame in that! — elegant establishments like Plated Table and Orchard Green show off the city’s fancy side, while Trumpet Blossom pairs innovative vegan fare with live music.
Every year, Iowa City brings stellar events to the city that infuse the college town with new energy. Spring brings one of the year’s biggest annual happenings— the Mission Creek Festival. This three-day, music-meets-literature meet-up draws huge crowds and even bigger headliners, which have included Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth fame, Neko Case and Raekwon, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. In the summertime, residents look forward to the Iowa City Jazz Festival, which started way back in 1991, and returns this July with a star-studded lineup. The Iowa Arts Festival showcases exceptional visual works alongside a diverse array of performances, from silk aerialists to Irish river dancing and high school mariachi bands.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have no shortage of fun in this hilly, rural-adjacent area. Cyclists will already be familiar with Ragbrai, the annual cross-state ride that’s now in its 52nd year. Emphatically non-competitive, even newbies will find this recreational ride welcoming and fun. If you don’t want to travel across the state, explore the nearer reaches of the region on the Iowa River Corridor Trail, which is also a favorite of runners. Landlocked and longing for a day at the beach? Sugar Bottom Recreation Area puts you on the sandy banks of Coralville Lake in the Iowa River Valley.
Boating and paddle-boarding are popular activities in the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, located just east of the Johnson County Fairgrounds, and Hickory Hill Park can’t be beat for a casual walk or a family picnic.
Moving to Iowa City Soon? Prepare for Your Move to Iowa City with Mayflower®
If you’ve decided Iowa City is the right place for you, Mayflower will get you there. Since 1927, we have prided ourselves on being America’s Most Trusted Mover, and in that time, we have helped nearly millions of families move across the country.
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