| Measure | Iowa CityIowa, United States Remove Iowa City | Rochester (MN)Minnesota, United States Remove Rochester (MN) |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 5.9 | 5.6 |
| Connector Score | 5.7 | 5.5 |
| Safety | 8.1 | 8.1 |
| Affordability | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Transportation | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Walkability | 7.0 | 4.6 |
| Things to do | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Food & dining | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Places to stay | 5.5 | 5.9 |
| Nature & outdoors | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Scenic value | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Family friendliness | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 7.1 | 5.6 |
| Nightlife | 6.8 | 4.1 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 6.2 | 6.5 |
| Road-trip convenience | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Train-trip convenience | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $98 | $104 |
| Mid-range | $150 | $162 |
| Luxury | $256 | $276 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 95 | 100 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,150 | $1,300 |
| Median home price | $285,900 | $310,500 |
| Population | 76K | 124K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Airport | Drive Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Iowa City | — | 4 h 1 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | — | — |
| Known for | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Nightlife, Live music, Pro sports, Shopping | Lakes & rivers, Historic sites, Live music, Shopping |
| When to go | — | — |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.