Population 82,670 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Iowa City
Household size in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Iowa City are small: just 2.32 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has crept up from 2.25 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.3 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 32.3, Iowa City is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has crept up from 31.7 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only three are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Iowa City: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Iowa City has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Iowa cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Iowa City
Renters in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.1% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Iowa City than nationally: 49.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.7 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Iowa city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Iowa City as nationally: 9.5%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Iowa City is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $771 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $882 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $980 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,206 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$434 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Iowa City pays $1,206 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Iowa as a whole ($1,020). Rents are up $434 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Iowa City
Bachelor's degrees in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.8% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Iowa City is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (58.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Iowa city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.0% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Iowa City: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Iowa City
| Period | Iowa City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Iowa City is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (3.7%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Iowa City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 2.32 | 32.3 | 6.3% | 49.1% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,206 | 58.7% | 95.3% | 5.1% |
| University Heights | 2.46 | 27.8 | 1.3% | 48.7% | 15.2% | 1966 | $1,546 | 85.5% | 98.7% | 1.0% |
| Coralville | 2.28 | 35.9 | 6.4% | 45.1% | 6.1% | 1994 | $1,153 | 56.5% | 95.8% | 2.1% |
| Hills | 2.18 | 38.7 | 8.9% | 39.7% | 5.3% | 1971 | $1,134 | 26.1% | 95.4% | 2.9% |
| Morse | 2.44 | 57.2 | 5.7% | 9.7% | 8.5% | 1986 | $1,255 | 57.2% | 98.8% | 6.6% |
| North Liberty | 2.62 | 34.8 | 8.4% | 31.0% | 6.0% | 2003 | $1,252 | 54.8% | 98.1% | 2.6% |
| Tiffin | 2.38 | 32.7 | 7.0% | 17.4% | 0.6% | 2011 | $1,200 | 59.8% | 100.0% | 0.5% |
| Oasis | 2.24 | 51.5 | 8.8% | 19.4% | 9.0% | 1970 | $1,180 | 36.1% | 96.9% | 1.8% |
| Downey | 2.49 | 48.6 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 1978 | $1,076 | 27.3% | 98.4% | 7.4% |
| West Branch | 2.42 | 42.2 | 10.0% | 16.8% | 8.1% | 1987 | $1,041 | 32.3% | 96.5% | 3.1% |
| Solon | 2.66 | 42.9 | 11.0% | 12.4% | 6.0% | 1994 | $1,170 | 49.8% | 97.7% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: St. Cloud, FL · Springfield, MO · Springfield, MA · Springfield, IL · South Jordan, UT · Smyrna, GA · St. Augustine, FL · South Bend, IN · South Hill, WA · Springfield, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Iowa City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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