Johnson County · Iowa City · population 76,710
Where Iowa City stands
At or near all-time high. home values up 4.8% in the last year. rents up 5.7% in the last year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 18.9 price-to-rent ratio, Iowa City is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Iowa City has held up across the cycle: home values at $301,504 with +5.1% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Iowa City's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Iowa City
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, with an estimated population of 76,710. The population grew 0.6% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Iowa City is $301,504 as of 2026-04, up 4.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Iowa City average $1,330 per month, up 5.7% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Iowa City (Wikipedia)
Iowa City is the largest city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 74,828 at the 2020 census, making it the state's fifth-most populous city. The Iowa City metropolitan area, which encompasses Johnson and Washington counties, has a population of over 171,000. The metro area is also a part of a combined statistical area with the Cedar Rapids metro area known as the Iowa City–Cedar Rapids region; collectively, this region has a population of nearly 500,000.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Things to see in Iowa City(Local landmarks)
- Oakland Cemetery contains graves of notable locals as well as the "Black Angel" statue.
- Plum Grove Historic House was the residence of Robert Lucas, the first territorial governor of Iowa, and the novelist Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd.
- Prospect Hill
Extracted from the Wikipedia article. Names linked in the source — open the city’s Wikipedia page for details.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Johnson County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Johnson County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Neighborhoods of Iowa City
25 tracked · ranked by median home valueSee the full neighborhood ranking →
Cities like Iowa City
Run the numbers for Iowa City
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Iowa City listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Hills Bank purchasing former ACT campus buildingsKCRG · 1d ago
- Central Iowa city makes Best Places to Live list. What sets it apart?The Des Moines Register · 1d ago
- Iowa City pool closed indefinitely after valve breaksKWWL · 2d ago
- Governor candidate Rob Sand holds health care roundtable discussion in Iowa CityKGAN · 1d ago
- Hills Bank buying part of former ACT campus in Iowa Citythegazette.com · 2d ago
- Central Iowa city ranks #4 in the country for Best Places to LiveRadio Iowa · 1d ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Iowa City area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Iowa City
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.