Iowa City, IA vs Ithaca, NY
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Iowa City
73.8
#673 nationally
Ithaca leads in crime level (5.4 vs 8.8). Ithaca leads in walk score (72 vs 45). Iowa City leads in median household income ($54,879 vs $45,468).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Iowa City, IA | Ithaca, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,678 | 32,724 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $305,824 | $0 |
| Median Household Income | $54,879 | $45,468 |
| Average Commute | 17.7 min | 18.4 min |
| Walk Score | 45 | 72 |
| Crime Level | 8.8 | 5.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 117 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.1 | D+50.6 |
C
73.8 Score
Iowa City, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$305,824
Population
75,678
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
45
Midwest
View Iowa City, IA →
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Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →