Iowa City city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Iowa City city is a mid-sized community located in Iowa, within Johnson County. The total population is 75,264. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Iowa City city is 26.3 years. This is 32% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Iowa City city is $57,533. This is 21% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 139% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $273,600. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 46.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Iowa City city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.3% vs 3.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.8% vs 2.4%).

Education

60.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Iowa City city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 97% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.8%. Notably, 29.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Iowa City city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.