Retiring in Iowa City, IA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

83°/15°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$304,054

Housing (Typical Value)

Is Iowa City Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 75,264, Iowa City offers a smaller-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Mild summers
Lower housing costs
Moderate city size
Low hurricane risk
Low wildfire risk
Low earthquake risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Elevated tornado risk

Potential advantages. The average June through August high is 83°F. The typical home value is $304,054, 18% below the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $1,094 per month, 22% below the $1,400 per month US median. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to hurricane, wildfire and earthquake.

Potential tradeoffs. FEMA and NOAA assign an elevated risk designation to tornado.

RetireHere is designed to turn these facts into a personal comparison. Set your own priorities for climate, housing, safety, healthcare and other factors, then compare Iowa City with other cities using the same criteria.

See How Iowa City Fits Your Priorities

Set your preferences and compare Iowa City with thousands of other places.

Start Comparing

Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)83°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)15°F

Annual snowfall27.5"

Annual precipitation38.5"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$304,05418% below the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,094/mo22% below the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Crime dataNot available for this city

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalMercy Hospital (1.1 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessStrong (521 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index10.3/20 (Below Average)

Population & City Size

Population75,264Classified as a smaller city

Elevation657 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively Moderate

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneVery Low

WildfireRelatively Low

EarthquakeVery Low

Ice stormsRelatively Moderate

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

Related City Profiles to Consider

Find places like Iowa City that better match your priorities

Set your own filters for climate, healthcare, safety and more, then see exactly which of RetireHere's cities fit best.

Start Comparing