CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Iowa City Metro

Iowa City, IA · 2 counties · 131,676 residents · 1,181.825 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Iowa City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $39,910. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $117,499. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 35.2
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
131,676
+14%since 1990
from 115,731 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+14%since 1990
from 98 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
30.0
+5%since 1990
from 28.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
109K128K147K167K186K1990201020202024Iowa City
2024179K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,910
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $27,516 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,592
+58%since 1990
from $13,651 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
13.8%
−2.0 ptssince 1990
from 15.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$117,499
+26%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $70,872 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$542
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $393 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
59.6%
+3.7 ptssince 1990
from 55.9% in 1990
40.4% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+14%since 1990
from 2.6 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Iowa City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(109,255)
Black1.8%(2,086)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(1,342)
Asian3.3%(3,786)
Diversity Score15.9%(18,456)
2000
White, non-Hispanic90%(118,457)
Black2.4%(3,206)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(3,345)
Asian3.5%(4,608)
Diversity Score20.3%(26,703)
Diversity Score
20
+27%since 1990
from 16 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.7%
+4.2 ptssince 1990
from 38.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
91.9%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 88.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
18.8%
+1.8 ptssince 1990
from 17.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.6 min
−38%since 1990
from 18.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+87%
Home value$259,809+121%
Population176,647−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
Oshkosh
Income$74,925+88%
Home value$225,800+92%
Population174,218−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
Dover
Income$74,477+87%
Home value$316,600+169%
Population194,786+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IOWA CITY VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555+84%
Home value$248,970+112%
Population171,182−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Iowa City, IA?

Iowa City, IA has about 131,676 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Iowa City, IA earns about $39,910 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 $117,499, and the typical rent is about $542 a month.

How educated are people in Iowa City, IA?

About 42.7% 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 13.8% 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 15,945 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Iowa City with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →