Iowa City, IA vs San Marcos, TX
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
San Marcos
70.5
#1100 nationally
Iowa City leads in average commute (17.7 min vs 23.7 min). Iowa City leads in median household income ($54,879 vs $47,394). Iowa City leads in walk score (45 vs 39).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Iowa City, IA | San Marcos, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#673) | 70.5 (#1100) |
| Population | 75,678 | 71,569 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $305,824 | $310,480 |
| Median Household Income | $54,879 | $47,394 |
| Average Commute | 17.7 min | 23.7 min |
| Walk Score | 45 | 39 |
| Crime Level | 8.8 | 9.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 100 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.1 | D+5.6 |
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 →
C-
70.5 Score
San Marcos, TX
Texas community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$310,480
Population
71,569
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
39
Southwest
View San Marcos, TX →
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