Downtown Iowa City

Iowa City, IA

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Downtown Iowa City - Iowa City, IA

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A college town with a fun side

Walkable Bicycle-Friendly University Hawkeyes Football Historic Shops Restaurants

The sprawling University of Iowa spills across the Iowa River and into Downtown Iowa City: the Main Library, the Engineering Library, the English-Philosophy Building, the College of Education, and the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History are all in the Downtown neighborhood. As a result, Downtown Iowa City is filled with students in backpacks walking to class. This is most definitely Hawkeye country, and the neighborhood is covered in black and gold. During college football season, you'll find many residents heading across the river to Kinnick Stadium to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

With its wide sidewalks, outdoor cafes, and numerous bicycles parked in bike racks, Downtown Iowa City is a great place to live, often topping "best" lists for livability and as one of the nation's best college towns. Shops and restaurants fill the historic architecture, and cobblestone streets add an old-world elegance to the district. The Pedestrian Mall's outdoor planters, brightly-painted benches, public artwork, and fountains add to the charm. Residents of this fun-loving college town "dress" the trees -- you'll find colorful sweaters adorning the trunks in winter months, giving the neighborhood a fanciful, artistic appearance.

Rent Trends

As of January 2025, the average apartment rent in Downtown Iowa City is $1,044 for a studio, $1,263 for one bedroom, $1,626 for two bedrooms, and $1,952 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Downtown Iowa City has increased by 1.7% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 534 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,044/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 593 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,263/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 703 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,626/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,166 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,952/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

86

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

51

Good Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.

83

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • UI Museum of Natural History
  • Iowa Children's Museum
  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
  • MacBride Nature Recreation Area

Airports

  • The Eastern Iowa

Top Apartments in Downtown Iowa City

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