University Heights, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, University Heights, Iowa had a total population of 1,384, the 229th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $111,406, which is 48% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 48% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Iowa.
- 87.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.1%.
University Heights Quick Facts
How University Heights Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,232 | 1,384 | +12.3% |
| Median household income | $105,172 | $111,406 | +5.9% |
| Median home value | $393,200 | $429,900 | +9.3% |
How University Heights Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
University Heights Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Johnson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 75,752 | $58,546 | 26.3% | $285,900 |
| Coralville | 23,234 | $69,144 | 13.0% | $298,500 |
| North Liberty | 21,125 | $102,102 | 6.1% | $303,800 |
| Tiffin | 5,737 | $100,952 | 7.6% | $338,500 |
| Solon | 3,152 | $113,295 | 3.2% | $309,400 |
| West Branch | 2,594 | $92,209 | 6.4% | $216,100 |
| Lone Tree | 1,218 | $90,625 | 4.9% | $179,800 |
| Swisher | 1,182 | $100,577 | 6.9% | $260,300 |
| Hills | 974 | $83,333 | 8.4% | $240,200 |
| Oxford | 779 | $82,639 | 3.3% | $215,200 |
Cities Similar to University Heights
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert | 1,381 | $122,656 | $274,600 | 44.3% | 3.4% |
| Palo | 1,438 | $106,375 | $282,400 | 27.2% | 5.5% |
| Slater | 1,401 | $97,500 | $232,800 | 36.5% | 3.8% |
| Walford | 1,329 | $128,750 | $303,000 | 34.2% | 1.1% |
| Dike | 1,365 | $91,146 | $247,800 | 42.5% | 5.4% |
Population Overview
University Heights is a small community located in Iowa, within Johnson County. The total population is 1,384. It ranks as the 229th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in University Heights is 27.6 years. This is 28% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in University Heights is $111,406. This is 48% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 38% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 69% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $429,900. Housing costs are 107% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 54.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in University Heights is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.4%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.3% vs 2.5%).
Education
87.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places University Heights in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 177% higher than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.5%. Notably, 51.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for University Heights, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of University Heights, Iowa?
University Heights, Iowa has a population of 1,384 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in University Heights, IA?
The median household income in University Heights is $111,406, which is 38% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in University Heights, IA?
The poverty rate in University Heights is 14.4%. This means approximately 200 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of University Heights, Iowa?
University Heights's population is 84.6% White, 1.7% Black, 5.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in University Heights, IA?
The median home value in University Heights is $429,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x.
How educated is University Heights, Iowa?
87.1% of adults (25+) in University Heights hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 51.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.