Census ACS · #256 MSA
Iowa City Metro Area
The Iowa City, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has 177,420 residents. The median household income is $74,142 and the median home value is $280,400.
177,420
Population
150
People / sq mi
$74,142
Median Income
$280,400
Median Home Value
The Iowa City CBSA covers 1,182 sq mi of land at 150.1 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 79.4% |
| Black or African American | 6.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.3% |
Economy & Income
$74,142
Median Household Income
$43,808
Per Capita Income
6.1%
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Iowa City metro's price level is 91.5 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 8.5% lower the US average. The local median income of $74,142 has the buying power of $81,022 in average-priced US metros.
91.5
Price Level (US = 100)
$81,022
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$74,142
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$280,400
Median Home Value
$1,077
Median Rent
60.5%
Homeownership
Education
95.8%
High School+
50.3%
Bachelor's+
Commute
3.7%
Drive Alone
12.1%
Work From Home
20.2 min
Avg Commute
29.6%
Foreign Born
Iowa City spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Iowa
Largest counties in Iowa
Part of Iowa
Other metros
Metro areas in Iowa
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Iowa City, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 177,420 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #256 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Iowa City metro area is $74,142, with a per capita income of $43,808.
The Iowa City, Ia CBSA spans the state of Iowa.
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More from Iowa
Data for the Iowa City, Ia CBSA (26980) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Educational attainment is the headline number in Iowa City: 50.3% of adults 25 and older have a four-year degree. Iowa City is a metro area in IA with a population of 177,420.
The typical household earns $74,142 a year, below the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 6.1%, below the national 12.4%. The median home value is $280,400, with typical rent around $1,077.
Iowa City is among the best-educated US metro areas: 50.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national 35.0%.
The education numbers are the throughline: a college-heavy population in Iowa City usually coincides with higher incomes and a workforce concentrated in professional and information industries.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.