Rankings
Where a Collection of Curious
Communities Rises to the Top
Our area consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play, and raise a family. The recognitions listed below are just a few of the accolades our destination has received in the last few years.
2026
- Paper Crane Ramen and Cocktail Lounge: Best of the Midwest, Midwest Living
- Iowa City: Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
- Hancher Auditorium: 2026 Top Music Venues, Billboard
- Royceann’s Soul Food: 20 Great Black-Owned Restaurants in the Midwest, Midwest Living
2025
- Iowa City: The places, the people that make this city LGBTQIA+ friendly, USA Today
- F.W. Kent Park: Best Places to Camp in the Midwest, The Dyrt
- University of Iowa: Awarded one of America’s Best Colleges, Money Magazine
- The Airliner: Top 10 college bars in the country, The Athletic
- Iowa City: Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
- Dave’s Fox Head Tavern: Best Dive Bar in Every US State, Tasting Table
- Herky on Parade: Arts, Culture & Heritage Award, Large Market, Iowa Travel Industry Partners
- Iowa City: Best Places to Retire, Forbes
- Gabe’s Iowa City: The 29 Best Bars in America in 2025, USA Today
- Iowa City: Best Midwest College Town Getaways, Midwest Living
2024
- Iowa City: Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
- Hawkeye Wave: Best College Sports Tradition, USA Today
- Iowa City: Let’s All Stop Underestimating Iowa, Thrillist
- Wilder: This Iowa City burger is one of the best in the state, Iowa Beef Council
- Iowa City: Best Place to Live for Families, Fortune
- Iowa City: #1, #3 and #10 Top high schools in the state, U.S. News & World Report
2023
- Iowa City: The Best College Towns in the Midwest, Condé Nast Traveler
- Iowa City: Top 20 Best Small Town to Retire, HGTV
- Prairie Lights Books & Cafe: Best Bookshop in the Midwest, Midwest Living
- Iowa City: Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
- Iowa City: SBA Small Business Community of the Year, US Small Business Administration Iowa Office
- Iowa City: Lesser-Known U.S. Destination to Add to Your 2024 Itineraries, Thrillist
2022
- Iowa City: Top 5 US Destination City for LGBTQ+ Travelers, GayTravel
- Iowa City #4: Best Cities For Working Parents, SmartAsset
- Iowa City #46: Best Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
2021
- Iowa City #58: Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., Livability
- Wilson’s Orchard and Farm #1: Best Places to Go Apple Picking in Every State, Reader’s Digest
- Iowa City #13: Most Livable College Towns, SmartAsset.com
- Iowa City #25 of Top Cities in the Midwest for startup businesses, MidwestStartups.com
- Iowa City #13: The 50 Happiest Cities in the United States, USA Today
Attractions
From legendary landmarks to quirky must-sees, our attractions aren’t just photo ops — they’re conversation starters. Go beyond the obvious and discover the places that make our communities unforgettable.
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Arts & Culture
Whether you’re hitting the trails, paddling peaceful waters, or chasing the perfect sunset, nature here doesn’t just surround you — it shapes your story. Let’s get outside and see where it takes you.
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Getting Here
Here, creativity lives on every stage, gallery wall, and page. With a pulse on the past and a passion for what’s next, our cultural scene will leave you inspired long after the final act.
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2020
- Iowa City #20 of Top 100 Places to Live, Livability
- Iowa City: The Nicest Place to Live in Iowa and one of 50 Nicest Places to Live in America, Reader’s Digest
- Iowa City: Gay Travel Approved, GayTravel.com
2019
- Iowa City #2 of Most Fitness-Friendly Places for 2020, Smart Asset
- Iowa City #19 of 100 Best Places to Live, Money
- North Liberty #36 of America’s 50 Best Cities to Live, USA Today
- Iowa City #3 of Top 20 Best US Cities for College Grads, Business Insider
- Iowa City #4 of Top 100 Places to Live, Livability
- Iowa City #3 of 10 Best Places to Get a Fresh Start, Livability
2018
- Iowa City #7 of Top 40 Cheap and Charming Places to Retire, MSN Money
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (UIHC) ranks among the top 100 employers (No. 23 for health systems) in Forbes‘ listing of Best Employers for Women
- Coralville one of the Top Ten Places to Live for Under $40,000 a Year by AARP Magazine
- University of Iowa among the nation’s Safest College Campuses by ADT
- Iowa City one of SecurityChoice.com‘s 100 Safest Places to Retire
- Iowa City #4 of Livability‘s Top 100 Places to Live
2017
- North Liberty #75 on Money Magazine‘s Best Places to Live 2017
- Iowa City one of the Midwest’s Best Budget Destinations on BudgetTravel.com
- Iowa City the #9 place to live in Iowa according to Niche
- North Liberty named a Playful City for the sixth time by Playful City USA
- Iowa City named #2 for the “Top 100 Best Places to Live 2017” by Livability outpacing more than 2,100 cities
- Iowa City ranked #4 by NBC’s Today Show for Best Place to Retire in the U.S.
- Iowa City #2 of Best 25 Cities for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur
- University of Iowa was tied for 82nd among national university rankings, tied for 33rd among public universities, and tied for 130th among global universities by U.S. News & World Report
- 16 University of Iowa graduate programs ranked among the top 25 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report; in graduate school rankings, Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine tied for 25th in the country for primary care and tied for 33rd in the country for research, its College of Public Health tied for 17th, its College of Pharmacy tied for 17th, its College of Law tied for 20th, and its Nursing School tied for 23rd
- Iowa City ranked #4 of 21 “Coolest cities in America” by Expedia Viewfinder
- Iowa City ranked #1 for Best Small Metro to live after College Graduation by America Institute for Economic Research
- Iowa City ranked #4 for Mid-Size City for Most Volunteers by Corporation for National and Community Service
- Iowa City ranked #5 for Best College Towns in America by Business Insider
Something to Post About
With so much to write home about, one hashtag wasn’t enough. Share your adventures in Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty with #thinkiowacity