About the Iowa City Area

The Iowa City Area Development Group serves the communities of Iowa City, Coralville, Kalona, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin, Tipton, the Amana Colonies, and Johnson County.

Combined, this region has been recognized annually as one of the most livable areas in the nation.

Area Rankings 2013

  • Johnson County is a "top 50 healthiest county" for kids, U.S. News & World Report, June 2013
  • The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital ranked in seven specialty categories, U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings, June 2013
  • Iowa City is a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community, League of American Bicyclists, May 2013
  • Five high schools in Iowa's Creative Corridor among 10 Best in Iowa, U.S. News and World Report, April 2013

Area Rankings 2012

  • Iowa City #3 (mid-sized metros) in Volunteer Hours per Resident, Volunteering and Civic Life in America, November 2012
  • Iowa City #7, "Top 10 Metros for Low Unemployment," 24/7 Wall Street, November 2012
  • For the 2012-2013 school year, Iowa City placed #4 in the ranking of the best college towns (populations under 250,000) in the country for college students, and ranked as the #4 overall college destination of all 227 MSAs assessed in the American Institute for Economic Research “College Destinations Index” (AIER CDI), October 2012
  • The University of Iowa ranked 28th among the nation's best public universities, U.S. News & World Report, September 2012
  • Iowa City #3, "Top City for a Salary Increase," Yahoo! Finance, September 2012
  • Johnson County #20 "Where the Jobs Are" on CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" list, August 2012
  • Iowa City ranks in the Top 100 "Best Places to Live," CNN Money Magazine, August 2012
  • Iowa City #21 "Where Homes are Affordable" on CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" list, August 2012
  • Iowa City #2 "Best Cities for Successful Aging" (Small Metros), Milken Institute, July 2012
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics ranked top hospital in Iowa; 9 UIHC programs rated among the best in the US, US News and World Report, July 2012
  • Iowa City ranked #26 (Top 50 Small Communities) in Area Development's "2012 Leading Locations Report" (June 2012)
  • Iowa City West (highest ranked Iowa school) and Iowa City High ranked among the best high schools in Iowa by Newsweek (May 2012)
  • Iowa City #10 on "10 Best Cities for Singles" as ranked by Kiplinger (April 2012)
  • Johnson County is ranked third nationally in the "Fourth Economy Index" (April 2012)
  • The Iowa City Public Library is #5 on the "Top 10 Libraries for Children" list compiled by Livability.com (January 2012)
  • Included in the Top 25 "Best Places to Retire and Work" list (unranked) compiled by Forbes (January 2012)
  • University of Iowa is recognized several times in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 edition of Top Online Education Programs (January 2012)
  • "Top City for Starting Over in 2012," TheStreet.com (January 2012)

Area Rankings 2011

  • No. 8 in the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities Index, "Where America’s Jobs Are Created and Sustained," December 2011
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics named a 2011-12 Consumer Choice Award by the National Research Corporation, November 2011 
  • #5 on the "Top 10 Cities for Book Lovers" list compiled by Livability.com, September 2011
  • The University of Iowa ranks 28th among the nation's best public universities, U.S.News & World Report, September 2011
  • North Liberty is recognized by CNN Money Magazine as a "Top 100 Small Town in America," August 2011
  • Iowa City ranks 3rd for volunteer rate (mid-size cities) - "Volunteering in America," Corporation for National & Community Service, August 2011
  • The University of Iowa has been designated a "Best Buy" in the Fiske Guide to Colleges and the UI is the only Big Ten school on the list, August 2011 
  • UI Hospitals and Clincs placed among the top hospitals in nine of 16 specialties, U.S.News and World Report, July 2011 
  • UI Hospital one of nation's "Most Wired" (recognized for heath information technology), Hospitals and Health Networks Magazine, July 2011
  • No. 13 Best Cities for Business and Careers (smaller metros), Forbes, July 2011
  • Iowa City's West High named best high school in Iowa, Newsweek, June 2011 
  • U.S.News ranks 24 UI programs among top 10 in nation among public universities, March 2011 
  • The University of Iowa is among the top 100 best values in higher education, according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, January 2011

Area Rankings 2010

  • No. 9 in the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities Index, "Where America’s Jobs Are Created and Sustained," October 2010 
  • Iowa City was one of only 16 U.S. metros surpassing July peak employment totals from the previous five years, Garner Economics September 2010 
  • Johnson County is among the Top 25 counties on CNN/Money Magazine's "Where the Jobs Are 2010," with over 22% growth the past decade, July 2010 
  • Iowa City is among the Top 100 Small Cities on CNN/Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live 2010," July 2010 
  • Iowa City ranks 2nd out of 75 mid-size cities for volunteer rate - "Volunteering in America," Corporation for National & Community Service, June 2010 
  • No. 10, "Best Cities for College Grads," Richard Florida (author of the Creative Class), May 2010 
  • Forbes has ranked Iowa City number 2 on its most recent "Best Places for Business and Careers" list (smaller metros), April 2010 
  • "Healthiest Town in the United States," Men's Journal, February 2010 
  • "Top Towns for Jobs," MSN CareerBuilder, January 2010