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METRO AREA

Iowa City Metro

Iowa City, IA · 2 counties · 182,711 residents (2025 est.) · 1,181.825 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#22Most educatedof 92551.5%#46Youngest by median ageof 92532.2
The short version

Iowa City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,025. Population has grown 36% since 2000. 52% 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 $295,418. At a median age of 32.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
179,200
+36%since 2000
from 131,676 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
152 / sq mi
+36%since 2000
from 111 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.2
+7%since 2000
from 30.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:182,711 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
109K128K147K167K186K1990201020202024Iowa City
2024179K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,025
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,910 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,369
+105%since 2000
from $21,592 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.1%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
+6%since 2010
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$295,418
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $117,499 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,091
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 59.6% in 2000
38.8% rent
Vacancy rate
7.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.9%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+34%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Iowa City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90%(118,457)
Black2.4%(3,206)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(3,345)
Asian3.5%(4,608)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.3%(26,703)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.6%(137,199)
Black6.8%(12,166)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(12,303)
Asian5%(8,906)
Other4.8%(8,626)
Diversity Score50%(89,537)
Segregation Score27.8%(49,872)
Diversity Score
50
+146%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
−3%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.5%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 42.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.9%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 91.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+71%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 67.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.2%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 72.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.0%
−22.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
9.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−44.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 7.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.1%
−86.9 ptssince 2013
from 92.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.1%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 84.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 87.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Iowa CityCENTRAL76,229
What's inside

2 component counties

Johnson CountyCENTRAL160,044Washington County22,667
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Iowa City

Eau Claire
Pop 176,647
Oshkosh
Pop 174,218
Dover
Pop 194,786
La Crosse
Pop 171,182
Places similar to Iowa City
Head to head

Compare Iowa City side by side

IOWA CITY VS
Eau Claire
Income$74,597−1%
Home value$259,809−12%
Population176,647−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
Oshkosh
Income$74,925same
Home value$225,800−24%
Population174,218−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
Dover
Income$74,477−1%
Home value$316,600+7%
Population194,786+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555−2%
Home value$248,970−16%
Population171,182−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Iowa City, IA?

Iowa City, IA has about 179,200 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Iowa City, IA earns about $75,025 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Iowa City, IA expensive?

In Iowa City, IA, the median home is worth about $295,418, and the typical rent is about $1,091 a month.

How educated are people in Iowa City, IA?

About 51.5% of adults age 25 and over in Iowa City, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Iowa City, IA?

About 16.0% of people in Iowa City, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Iowa City, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Iowa City, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 63,469 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →