Dubuque

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Dubuque, IA

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A large suburb on the Mississippi River with big-city attractions

Suburban Riverfront Affordable Nightlife

A sprawling suburb on the Mississippi River, Dubuque sits on the Iowa state line nearing Wisconsin. Dubuque is home to major attractions like the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Aside from the city’s tourist hotspots and riverside views, Dubuque also features a vibrant nightlife scene with several casinos, restaurants, and bars near the riverfront. Several universities, both public and private, call Dubuque home, including Clarke University and the University of Dubuque. Apartments, houses, condos, and townhomes available for rent in the city are very affordable, making it a great place for renters on a budget interested in natural beauty and entertainment options.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Dubuque, IA is $431 for a studio, $769 for one bedroom, $1,025 for two bedrooms, and $1,152 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Dubuque has increased by 1.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$769/month
502 Sq Ft
House
$1,477/month
1,247 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Dubuque, IA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Dubuque, IA is 9.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Dubuque is 29.7% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $431 - $1,152. You can expect to pay 0.9% less for groceries, 4.4% less for utilities, and 1.2% more for transportation.

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Transportation

51

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

23

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

39

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Bryant Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

314 Students

9
out of 10

Eisenhower Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

566 Students

7
out of 10

Carver Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

535 Students

7
out of 10

Table Mound Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

415 Students

7
out of 10

Sageville Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

293 Students

7
out of 10

Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,093 Students

5
out of 10

George Washington Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

624 Students

4
out of 10

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

459 Students

2
out of 10

Hempstead High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,584 Students

4
out of 10

Dubuque Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,435 Students

4
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Heitkamp Memorial Planetarium
  • Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
  • Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
  • Sundown Mountain Resort
  • Mines of Spain Recreation Area & EB Lyons Interpretive Center

Top Apartments in Dubuque

Houses for Rent in Dubuque

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.