Rankings
The Iowa City Area Development Group serves the communities of Iowa City, Coralville, Kalona, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin, Tipton, the Amana Colonies, West Branch, West Liberty, and Johnson County.
Combined, this region has been recognized annually as one of the most livable areas in the nation and frequently receives high community rankings.
Area Rankings 2018
Iowa City ranked #1 for Best College Town in America by reviews.org
Johnson Country ranked the #1 Most Educated County in Iowa by msn.com
Iowa ranked #1 Best State in America by US News.
Iowa City earned the top score on the Human Rights Campaigns’ 2018 national report for municipal support of LGBTQ rights.
Iowa ranked #3 in 4-year college graduation rate by US News.
Area Rankings 2017
Iowa ranked #6 for Best State to Live In by USNews.com
Iowa City ranked #4 “Coolest Towns 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
Iowa ranked #1 in the Country for Corporate Access to Renewable Energey by Clean Edge
Area Rankings 2016
Fifteen UI Health Care specialties at the hospital ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” edition for 2015-16, July 2016
Iowa City ranked #2 Least-Stressed City in the U.S. by SmartAsset
Iowa City is ranked the #3 best place to live in America by Outside MagazineIowa City ranked #4 Best City for Working Women by Fiscal Times
Iowa City ranked #5 Healthiest City in America by 24/7 Wall Street
Iowa City ranked #9 Best Place to Live in America by Livability.com
Iowa City ranked as an Age-friendly city by New York Times
Iowa City ranked in the Top 100 best small city in America by WalletHub
Iowa City is ranked in top 25% of U.S. cities in support of LGBTQ population – Human Rights Campaign’s 2016 Municipality Equality Index
Iowa is ranked #2 Lowest Cost of Doing Business by CNBC
Iowa is ranked #3 as Most Kid-Friendly State by Annie E. Casey Foundation
Iowa is ranked #4 Best State for Young People by MoneyRates.com
Iowa is ranked #6 Best Workforce Quality by Chief Executive
Iowa is ranked #7 Happiest State by WalletHub
Iowa is ranked #8 for Most Economic Development Projects per capita in 2015 by Site Selection
Iowa is ranked #9 Best State for Business, by CNBC
Iowa is ranked #9 for Best Quality of Life by CNBC
Iowa is ranked #10 in Prosperity Cup by Site Selection
Area Rankings 2015
Iowa City ranked #7 for “Top 10 College Town You’ll Never Want to Leave”, collegemagazine.com, October 2015
Iowa City, ranked #1 for “The Least-Stressed Cities in America, smartasset.com, August 2015
Iowa City, voted #3 “Top Places To Live In America”, outsideonline.com, August 2015
North Liberty has been named one of the most playful cities in the country, Kaboom.org, June 2015
Iowa City, #8 “Top 30 Small Cities”, Area Development Magazine, June 2015
Iowa City, #21 “Best Small Cities in America 2015,” NerdWallet.com, June 2015
Coralville, “Top 100 Best Small Towns 2015,” Livability.com, June 2015
Iowa City, #1 “Best Cities For College Grads in 2015,” Huffingtonpost.com, May 2015
Iowa City MSA, Ranked #1 in Employment Destinations Index, AIER, May 2015
Iowa City MSA, Fastest Growing Iowa Metro and Top 100 Fastest Growing Metros 2010-2014, US Census, April 2015
Iowa City MSA, #38, “Economic Strength Rankings,” (out of 381 US Metros), POLICOM, March 2015
Iowa City, #4, “Best College Towns,” American Institute for Economic Research, February 2015
Iowa City #5, “Best-Performing Cities (Small Cities),” Milken Institute, January 2015
Iowa City #6, “Easiest Cities to Find a Job,” ZipRecruiter.com, January 2015
Four cities (Marengo, North Liberty, Tipton and Hiawatha) in Iowa’s Creative Corridor among “30 Safest Cities in Iowa,” SafeWise.com, January 2015
Iowa City #6, “The 10 Smartest Cities in America,” MarketWatch, January 2015
Area Rankings 2014
Iowa City #2, “Best Cities for Successful Aging (Small Cities),” Milken Institute, November 2014
Iowa City #4, “20 Best College Towns,” Business Insider, October 2014
Iowa City “Winner – Best Place for an Encore Career” on “Best Places to Retire,” Money, October 2014
Iowa City #10 on “Top Places to Live 2014: Best Places to Walk and Bike,” Money, September 2014
Iowa City #12 on “Top Places to Live 2014: Youngest Places,” Money, September 2014
Iowa City #10 on “Top 100 Places to Live 2015,” Livability.com, September 2014
Nine UI Health Care specialties at the hospital ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” edition for 2014-15, July 2014
Iowa City listed among “15 Cities for Creative 20-Somethings That Aren’t New York or Los Angeles,” .Mic, July 2014
Iowa City MSA ranked #37 overall and #12 among “Small Cities” as a Leading Location for Economic Growth, Area Development Magazine, June 2014
