Affordable Iowa City Storage Units

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Iowa City.

The county seat of Johnson County and Iowa's fifth-largest population center, Iowa City is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that around 77,000 people call home. Iowa City served as the capital of Iowa until 1857.

Iowa City routinely scores high marks for livability and has also been recognized as a Tree City USA for its efforts to cultivate more trees in its urban landscape. It's also a college town, and life in Iowa City tends to revolve around the academic calendar.

What to do in Iowa City, IA

Iowa City is a vibrant city with lots to see and do. You'll find amazing shopping and dining options lining Downtown's Pedestrian Mall, along with numerous galleries, museums, parks, and trails nearby. Some of the top attractions in Iowa City include:

• Festivals & Events - Iowa city hosts several festivals throughout the year, including Downtown Block Party in June, Taste of Iowa City Festival in August, and Northside Oktoberfest in October. On the Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the Friday Night Concert Series brings live music on select Friday nights in summer.
• Parks & Recreation - Iowa City is located along the Iowa River and is home to numerous parks and trails that offer opportunities for hiking and biking. Coralville Lake and Terry Trueblood Recreation Area are each a short drive away.
• Art & History - Several notable museums offer a glimpse into the past in Iowa City, including the Old Capitol Museum, which is housed in a grand building that was once the state capital, and the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. The Stanley Museum of Art, damaged during a flood in 2008, is scheduled to reopen in 2022.

Working in Iowa City, IA

Iowa City's job market leans more toward white-collar jobs than blue-collar. The most common occupations are related to educational services, health care, and social assistance, followed by accommodation, food service, and retail trade.

The largest employers in Iowa City are the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa Hospitals. Iowa City Community Schools, Veteran's Administration Hospital, and Mercy Hospital round out the top 5. The unemployment rate is well below the national average at 3.5%, and recent job growth has been positive.

Iowa City is also a highly educated city. A little over 59% of Iowa City residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, more than double the national average. Not only is the University of Iowa a major employer, but many graduates also choose to stay in Iowa City and start their careers here.

Iowa City, IA Neighborhoods

Although Iowa City is generally considered a small city, it spans an area of about 26 miles, and the Iowa City metropolitan statistical area is still larger. As such, it has numerous distinct neighborhoods. Some of the best and most popular places to live in Iowa City include:

• Longfellow/Creekside - The adjacent Longfellow and Creekside neighborhoods are located east of downtown Iowa City. These mostly residential neighborhoods comprise small to medium-sized single-family homes, mostly owner-occupied and built in the early 20th century or before. The average real estate value is about $275,000.
• Lucas Farms - With an average real estate value of around $225,000, Lucas Farms is an affordable neighborhood southeast of downtown. True to its name, it was made up of farmland when Iowa City was originally founded. Along with many homes that are 100-plus years old, the neighborhood has also seen more recent development and renewal.
• Northside/Goosetown - Encompassing a large area north of the city center, the Northside/Goosetown neighborhood has an average real estate value of $280,000. The neighborhood was settled in the mid-1800s by Bohemian immigrants, whose tendency to keep geese gave the area its nickname. Most of the homes here were built before 1940.

Iowa City, IA School District

Public schools in Iowa City are part of the Iowa City Community School District, which serves approximately 14,000 students over an area of 133 square miles, making it the 5th largest school district in the state. This district comprises 21 elementary schools, 3 junior high schools, four high schools, an alternative high school, and several preschool sites.

Iowa City is also home to the University of Iowa, and the college schedule is a huge part of life in the city. It's the oldest college in Iowa and has the second-largest undergraduate enrollment in the state. Kirkwood Community College also has a campus in Iowa City.

Moving to Iowa City, IA Resource Guide

If you plan on moving to Iowa City, chances are you're looking for more information on the transition. You'll find some great resources through Think Iowa City, an organization run by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department is also a great resource to learn more about parks, trails, outdoor events and activities in the city. Visit the official Iowa City government website for more useful information such as utilities, the local Police and Fire Department, and the Iowa City Public Library.

Iowa City, IA Housing

The overall cost of living in Iowa City is higher than most places in Iowa, but below average compared to the U.S. This is also true of real estate; the median home cost in Iowa City is $229,600. Rental rates in Iowa City are typically affordable, ranging from $735 per month for an average studio apartment to $1,032 for a two-bedroom apartment.