Iowa City vs Pueblo
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $247,200 in Pueblo and $285,900 in Iowa City.
- Pueblo has the warmer winter: January highs of 48°F vs 31°F.
- Pueblo has more scorching days: 72 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 19.
- Iowa City is growing faster: +1.9% since 2020 vs -1.3%.
Side by side
| Iowa City, IA | Pueblo, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 76,229 | 110,404 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.9% | -1.3% |
| People per square mile | 2,959 | 1,950 |
| Median age | 26.2 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61% | 24% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $58,546 | $56,664 |
| Median home value | $285,900 | $247,200 |
| Home value to income | 4.9× | 4.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,094 | $1,082 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.5 | 91.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 84.0 | 71.3 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,600 | $68,800 |
| Homeowners | 47% | 61% |
| Top state income tax | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.94% | 7.89% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.3 | 19.4 |
| Work from home | 12% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 6% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.6% | 5% |
| Poverty rate | 26.3% | 17.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 31° / 15° | 48° / 15° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 93° / 61° |
| Precipitation per year | 36 in | 12 in |
| Snowfall per year | 28 in | 28 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 19 | 72 |
| Nights below freezing | 135 | 165 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.4 | 82.5 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | 73% |
| Home prices, past year | +3% | -2.9% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +33.9% | +21.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Iowa City: May and July to October. Pueblo: May and September.
Full monthly tables: Iowa City weather by month and Pueblo weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,600 in Iowa City and $68,800 in Pueblo. Moving from Iowa City to Pueblo, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.