What percentage of people rent in Iowa City, IA?

Name: Renters and owners in Iowa City, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

52.8% (±2.2 points) of the occupied homes in Iowa City, IA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 16,271 renting households against 14,545 that own their home.

In Iowa City, the share of households that rent went from 52.3% in 2015–2019 to 52.8% in 2020–2024 (+0.5 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 52.8% (±2.2 points)
Renting households: 16,271 (±822)
Median renter income: $34,479 (±$2,878)

Who rents and who owns in Iowa City

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Iowa City	Johnson County	Iowa	United States
Renter-occupied share	52.8% (±2.2 points)	40.6% (±1.3 points)	28.3% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	16,271 (±822)	25,736 (±899)	372,311 (±3,635)	45,017,354
Owning households	14,545 (±659)	37,605 (±831)	943,396 (±5,414)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.1 (±0.1)	2.0 (±0.1)	2.0 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.4 (±0.1)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$34,479 (±$2,878)	$39,683 (±$2,715)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$106,308 (±$6,925)	$112,216 (±$3,861)	$91,638 (±$512)	$100,009

In Iowa City, the renter share is higher than in Johnson County (40.6%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (28.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Johnson County, Iowa City ranks 1 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 7 of 943.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Iowa City has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	52.3% (±1.6 points)	52.8% (±2.2 points)	+0.5 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$967 (±$28)	$1,094 (±$41)	+13.1%	Down after inflation
Median household income	$49,075 (±$1,986)	$58,546 (±$3,038)	+19.3%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Iowa City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Iowa City
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Iowa City	—	52.8% (±2.2 points)	—
University Heights	1.4 mi	45.1% (±8.9 points)	Not measurably different
Coralville	4.5 mi	44.1% (±3.4 points)	Lower
Hills	6.8 mi	35.8% (±11.8 points)	Lower
Tiffin	7.2 mi	19.8% (±7.4 points)	Lower
North Liberty	7.4 mi	33.1% (±4.9 points)	Lower
West Branch	9.7 mi	17.8% (±5.4 points)	Lower
Solon	11 mi	20.8% (±6.7 points)	Lower
Riverside	12 mi	18.9% (±8.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Coralville, IA (44.1%), Hills, IA (35.8%), Tiffin, IA (19.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Johnson County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Iowa City	52.8% (±2.2 points)
2	University Heights	45.1% (±8.9 points)
3	Coralville	44.1% (±3.4 points)
4	Hills	35.8% (±11.8 points)
5	North Liberty	33.1% (±4.9 points)
6	Oxford	22.8% (±13.2 points)
7	Solon	20.8% (±6.7 points)

Showing 7 of 11 places in Johnson County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Iowa City

How many renters are there in Iowa City?

Iowa City has an estimated 16,271 (±822) renting households, 52.8% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Iowa City?

In Iowa City, the share of households that rent went from 52.3% in 2015–2019 to 52.8% in 2020–2024 (+0.5 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Iowa City?

A renting household in Iowa City has 2.1 people on average, against 2.4 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Iowa City?

The median renting household in Iowa City, IA has an income of $34,479 (±$2,878) a year, against $106,308 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Iowa City city, Iowa (place:38595, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.