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CITY

Iowa City

Iowa · 76,229 residents (2025 est.) · 25.763 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#188Youngest by median ageof 6,82626.2
The short version

Iowa City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,546. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $285,900. At a median age of 26.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
75,752
+22%since 2000
from 62,220 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,940 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 2,415 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
26.2
+3%since 2000
from 25.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:76,229 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
58K63K68K73K77K1990201020202024Iowa City
202476K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,546
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,977 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,842
+87%since 2000
from $20,269 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.6%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.526
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.525 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$285,900
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,094
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 46.5% in 2000
52.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
59.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.9
+41%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Iowa City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.8%(53,405)
Black3.7%(2,272)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(1,833)
Asian5.6%(3,492)
Other0%
Diversity Score28.5%(17,732)
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.4%(53,334)
Black9.4%(7,093)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(6,104)
Asian7.1%(5,365)
Other5.1%(3,856)
Diversity Score60.2%(45,587)
Diversity Score
60
+111%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
60.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 55.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 94.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
29.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 27.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.3 min
+69%since 2000
from 10.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
56.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
6.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.2%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
14.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.9%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
12.2%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−45.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2012
from 7.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−87.1 ptssince 2013
from 91.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2017
from 85.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
81.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 82.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Iowa City to nearby cities

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IOWA CITY VS
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IOWA CITY VS
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IOWA CITY VS
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Home value$241,700−15%
Population42,732−44%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Iowa City, Iowa?

Iowa City, Iowa has about 75,752 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Iowa City, Iowa?

The typical household in Iowa City, Iowa earns about $58,546 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Iowa City, Iowa expensive?

In Iowa City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $285,900, and the typical rent is about $1,094 a month.

How educated are people in Iowa City, Iowa?

About 60.5% of adults age 25 and over in Iowa City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Iowa City, Iowa?

About 26.3% of people in Iowa City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Iowa City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Iowa City, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,014 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →