Neighborhoods in Iowa City have so much to offer when it comes to quality of life. There is something for everyone whether that be an apartment in the heart of downtown or a quiet family home near the river. It is hard to go wrong when it comes to living in a bustling city like Iowa City.
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Neighborhoods In Iowa City
Iowa City neighborhoods can be divided into two overarching sectors: the East and West. Both have their pros and cons.
The East is ideal for people looking to be especially close to the University of Iowa’s campus and downtown. It makes it easy to get involved with all of the events that Iowa City hosts throughout the year.
The West is ideal for a quieter setting but has the perk of easier access to stadiums and the hospital. The West Side is also considered a quieter part of the city since it has fewer bars and is somewhat separated from downtown Iowa City by the river.
The highest-value homes and apartments are located around the river. On the East side, this would be on the edge of campus and the heart of downtown. The West Side is the area surrounding the U-Iowa Hospitals and Hancher Auditorium.
Best Neighborhoods to Live In Iowa City: East Side
On the East Side, if you’re looking for a luxury apartment places like The Nest and Rise are considered to be some of the best in town.
The Nest is in the heart of downtown near the PedMall which is where many restaurants, bars, and shops are located. This is also where many festivals and other events are held.
Rise Apartments are more of a walk, however, they are still downtown. This is ideal if you want to be close to the action, but want a quieter environment when you go to bed in the evening. Rise also has more luxury outdoor amenities than The Nest.
Goosetown and Northside
Goosetown and the Northside are by far the most popular neighborhoods on the East Side. They span the majority of downtown and are where most students or those who work in and around the university choose to live.
Goosetown homes tend to be modest family-style homes. They have somewhat larger lots, which can lead to nice space for tailgate season and other events.
The Northside is more apartment and shared home focus as it has a large shopping and restaurant district. This is where most of the bars and things to do are. This neighborhood, along with Goosetown, borders the University of Iowa Campus.
Horace Mann Elementary is the only school located in this neighborhood. The school serves 237 students. They rank in the bottom 50% of test scores in Iowa and have a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, which is lower than the rest of Iowa.
Grocery stores that fall in this neighborhood only include a singular store: John’s Grocery. This is more for smaller items, but there is a Target about a five-minute walk to the South. There is also a Walmart and Aldi on the other side of the city, which is about a 15-minute drive.
College Hill
College Hill is another densely populated neighborhood. This is due to the fact that it is in the heart of downtown. It starts on Gilbert St. and extends farther South. If you’re looking to be in the middle of everything, this is exactly where you want to be located.
Grocery includes the New Pioneer Food Co-Op and Iowa City’s Farmer’s Market. Both of these stores serve a large downtown population, but like Goosetown and the Northside, Walmart, and Aldi are a short drive away.
There are no schools in this area, but it is easily connected to the University of Iowa and many of the Iowa City K-12 schools provide bussing to this location.
Morningside-Glendale
The Morningside-Glendale neighborhood is located even further East of College Hill. This is the ideal location for families moving to Iowa City. There are several family properties, and this neighborhood is situated in a decent spot to transition from Grade School to High School.
The closest grocery store is located on First Avenue. It is a Hy-Vee. There are also alternative options relatively close. There are two Walmarts relatively equidistant from the area. One in Coralville and the other in Iowa City.
Schools include the Iowa City High School and the Regina Catholic Education.
Iowa City High is in the top ten for best public schools in Iowa. It has high rankings academically and athletically and is a great fit for many high school students in the area.
Regina Catholic Education Center is also a great fit for families who want to integrate religion into their education. They have access to good academics, teachers, and high-level courses. They also pride themselves on creating a strong community.
Best Neighborhoods to Live In Iowa City: West Side
On the West Side, there are several neighborhoods that could suit anyone’s fancy. There are a few that are the most popular or sought-after.
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The Peninsula
The first is the Peninsula. This is one of the best neighborhoods in Iowa City. The homes look like they could come straight from the beach. They are perfect for families of all sizes. The neighborhood is relatively tranquil. The only drawback for some is that there are smaller yards.
The Peninsula does not have any grocery stores or schools in its area, but there are grocery stores close by on the East Side. Schools are also easily accessible as there are many elementary schools in neighborhoods across the river like Goosetown.
Manville Heights
Another amazing neighborhood in Iowa City is Manville Heights. This is arguably the most popular neighborhood on the west side due to its easy access to campus, downtown, and the Coralville strip.
Having access to Downtown and Coralville easily makes it impossible to run out of things to do. Many students who major in sports, medicine, theatre, or the arts enjoy living here due to the West Side being where most of their classes are.
This is also a great place to live if you work for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Both the main hospital and the VA Hospital are in the neighborhood.
In terms of schools, the neighborhood has one. It is Lincoln Elementary. This school is great for academics. The children score in the 90th percentile for math, reading, and science. Parents of students at the school say that the teachers are incredibly helpful and nice. They also note the wide range of after-school activities for their children.
For groceries, anything downtown is a short drive away. There is also the Aldi, Walmart, and Hy-Vee located on Highway 1. All are easy to get to, and have anything that a family might need.
Melrose
Melrose is the third most popular neighborhood on the West Side. These homes are located on Melrose Avenue. Similar to Manville, this Iowa City neighborhood is close to campus, downtown, and the Coralville strip. The difference is that Melrose is the place to be if you love your Hawkeye sports. This neighborhood is closer to Kinnick Stadium and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That being said, this is a big draw for many students who love to be a part of the game, pre-game, and post-game activities.
Melrose also feeds into the University of Iowa Hospitals and clinics. This district is ideal if you work with the University of Iowa at all. It is an easy drive to the east side of campus and an easy commute to any campus building.
Unlike Manville Heights, there are no schools in the neighborhood, but Lincoln Elementary is right next door and there are plenty of other schools in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Grocery is the same as in Manville Heights; there is access to any of the stores on Highway 1 and anything downtown is a short drive away.
Making Your Decision
Whatever your needs, we hope this guide helped you find the best neighborhoods to live in in Iowa City. There are so many to choose from, and many didn’t make the final cut. Knowing where you want to move is a crucial part of the moving process, so be sure to do as much research as possible! Iowa City or even Iowa may just be the right fit for you!
Maura De Cicco attends the University of Iowa as a Journalism and Anthropology student. She plans to pursue a strategic communications track when it comes to writing, and an archaeology track when it comes to Anthropology.
