Iowa City, IA local economy
76th
Iowa City, IA ranks in the 76th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
Business formation
New business applications or registrations was 1,890 in January 2025, up 9.6% from January 2024.
Building permits
Dwelling units authorized by permit was 59 in July 2026.
Employment
Payrolled or covered employment was 94,093 in January 2026.
New business applications or registrations was 1,890 in January 2025, up 9.6% from January 2024. Dwelling units authorized by permit was 59 in July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Iowa City, IA rank among United States metros?
- Iowa City, IA ranks in the 76th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
- What is the new business applications or registrations in Iowa City, IA?
- New business applications or registrations in Iowa City, IA was 1,890 in January 2025.
- What is the dwelling units authorized by permit in Iowa City, IA?
- Dwelling units authorized by permit in Iowa City, IA was 59 in July 2026.
- What is the payrolled or covered employment in Iowa City, IA?
- Payrolled or covered employment in Iowa City, IA was 94,093 in January 2026.
Nearby and related
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey (BPS), CBSA monthly
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), national all-industry
Method: 2026.09. Updated 2026-09-10. Coverage: 100% of weighted components available.
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Iowa City, IA local economy indicators. LocalEconomy.com. Retrieved 2026-10-09 from https://localeconomy.com/us/metro/iowa-city-ia/