“It can feel urban or suburban depending on the neighborhood and will appeal to those from all walks of life, from creatives to sports junkies,” Fortune writes.

“The University of Iowa, located at the city center, is proof of this. It houses Kinnick Stadium, where fans can watch their beloved Hawkeyes. It’s also home to the famous Writers’ Workshop, one of the most esteemed creative writing programs in the country, producing numerous Pulitzer Prize winners. Given its many bookshops, literary events and festivals, and an Iowa Avenue literary walk honoring notable authors associated with the program or the state, Iowa City understandably became a Unesco City of Literature in 2008.”