2023 Most Diverse Suburbs in Iowa

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I love how Coralville is building more homes and newer developments. I have been living here for over a year now and I am always seeing new business and restaurants to explore. With these new business comes more job opportunities in the area. More people are moving to Coralville to encourage growth. The area is very safe and I feel comfortable in my home. Commute time to the university of Iowa is around 12 minutes and there are multiple routes to take if traffic occurs. However, the water quality could use some upgrading. Overall the area is above market price due to the accessibility to the University and quality of lif.e... Read 50 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 22,226

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: There is definitely a lot of diversity in this town and opportunities for recreation. I enjoy that there is a pool and a soccer complex. It is a big volleyball and wrestling town if you enjoy that sort of thing.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• grade A

• Population 3,847

• City in Iowa

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  280 reviews

Current Resident: I love the city of Davenport, and I am still living here. I was raised in this city ever since I was born. Many restaurants are serving delicious food at an affordable price. Many small shops are worth going to as well. Davenport would also have an annual Mississippi Valley Fair! There would be concerts and a lot of fun activities. The Northpark Mall is a splendid place because there are many stores that I have went to and had a great experience! Some areas in Davenport have small businesses, and they would offer spectacular services. It is uncommon to witness a rude employee in Davenport. The only setback is that I wish there would be more sidewalks and areas for people to walk outside instead of driving a vehicle. Davenport is peaceful, so if you like places that are calm and quiet, then Davenport should be visited.... Read 280 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• Population 101,725

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.41 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: I was raised in Muscatine, IA and have attended school from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Muscatine school district. The City of Muscatine has a lot to offer families. Muscatine has a beautiful, historic downtown and a newly renovated river walk along side the Mississippi River. There is an bike route that runs from one end of town to the other that runs through parks, along the river and through some more remote areas outside of town. This bike path lets one experience views from within the city and in nature. The beautiful and elegant Merrill Hotel is an upscale hotel that has become a promising focal point of the downtown. There are coffee shops spread throughout the city to quench avid coffee drinkers appetites. The Palms Theatre houses 10 state of the art theatres. Muscatine has excellent sports programs at the city and school level with one of the best soccer stadiums in Iowa. Muscatine has many more positives than negatives. It could use more clothing stores.... Read 37 reviews

• grade B

• grade C+

• grade A minus

• Population 23,759

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  328 reviews

Niche User: Iowa City is a college town like no other! Due to its size, you feel like an individual within a community, rather than a number. The environment and its inhabitants are full of life, color, diversity, and unity. There is a sense that you belong, which is invaluable to anyone fresh out of high school. Great care and appreciation is given toward the city's students, artists, businesses, and general residents. There is always something going on, something to be a part of, and something to look forward to. Might I also add that there is not a more walkable city in all of Iowa?... Read 328 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 74,240

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy living in Saylorville as it is very close to two major towns and offers easy access to many different restaurants and shops. However, you do have to travel a bit if you want access to public parks that are not on elementary school grounds. Overall, I love it!... Read 15 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 2,916

• Suburb in Iowa

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  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• grade C

• grade B+

• Population 3,796

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  134 reviews

Current Resident: While being very close to the Jordan Creek Mall, lots of restaurants, fun activities, large retail stores, hotels and much more, West Des Moines is an amazing city. With short commute times and amazing people, West Des Moines is an excellent place to live or just to visit!... Read 134 reviews

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• Population 67,640

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  34 reviews

Former Resident: Johnston is a modern town. It is slightly more diverse than the average Iowa town. Nowadays, there are new and modern businesses coming to Johnston. There is a new, fancy city hall. The best part of Johnston is the modern, cool library. The library has new technology. The library has great programming for kids, teens, and adults.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A

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• grade B+

• Population 23,418

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet. Not much crime that I could see. People keep an eye on things in the neighborhood. Many residents will help out if you need something. Close to all the amenities and if not things are within 20 minutes. People are friendly and say hello when you walk by. Nice parks that are well maintained.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 7,184

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.7 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: It is exactly what one would expect from a smaller suburb of a medium city. There is a community presence, but the community itself is not overwhelmingly close-knit. There are two separate school districts in this suburb, and both are among the best in the state. All in all, a good place to live and you get exactly what you expect.... Read 10 reviews

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• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 5,208

• Suburb of Davenport, IA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Eldridge is a nice small town close to a bigger town, while still getting the small town feel. I feel very safe going anywhere here and neighbors are nice. I worked at local grocery store and were always seeing people you knew. The school district here is great along with the sports. I highly recommend as a town to start your family, very family friendly and easy to find friends. Overall Eldridge is a great town to live in with close proximity to the town of Davenport for more stores such as Target and restaurants like Texas Roadhouse. Close to Scott County Park which has a pool and lots of great trails to hike with friends and family.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 6,634

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: Clive is an excellent city to live in. Close to everything. The Waukee school district is amazing! Always growing and the teachers are great. Also, Mission Fitness is an excellent gym located minutes from Clive. Awesome classes for all ages and skill levels! The coaches are so motivating and push you to be your best self!... Read 42 reviews

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• Population 18,323

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  106 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy living in Urbandale as it is included in the Des Moines Metro area while also having the rare ability of incorporating the country into it. Well connected to the rest of the city via I-35/235 mixmaster. Commute times are far better than any other major U.S city. Very safe suburb, grew up running around with friends without parental oversight. many natural areas to explore like walnut creek and all of its many parks that encompass the overall greenbelt. (network of trails following walnut creek) many fond memories of fishing and always being outside with school friends. Housing market is in a boom which is good for residents moving in as their homes will surely rise in value. Rapid expansion overall, new homes being built everyday with accompanying infrastructure. Cost of living is much lower than many other U.S cities, our tax rates are at a steady 6.3% and have no intentions of changing at all. Urbandale is just slightly below the national average in cost of living... Read 106 reviews

• grade A

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• grade B+

• Population 45,037

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.48 out of 5  144 reviews

Current Resident: I like the small town feeling with access to a big city, Omaha. There’s neighborhoods that are new and some that are old but much of Coumcil Bluffs is unknown to people in Omaha. There are great restaurants, museums, and parks!... Read 144 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Population 62,617

• Suburb of Davenport, IA

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  76 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in the city of Bettendorf for 13 years now, and I believe it's one of the safest cities in the area. Everyone in my neighborhood is very The city does a great job at quick renovations. New houses are being built all the time, forming a bigger, welcoming community. Luckily, the area of Bettendorf I live in is quite close to the Davenport district, giving me more access to schools around both Bettendorf and Davenport. One of my favorite parts about the the city is the amount of food options we have. If you want to grab a bite with friends or family, there are plenty of fast food options and restaurants to choose from, all with fairly fast service. With the amount of shops and stores around here, they're always looking for new hires, making it easy to find a job, especially for young students trying to get an early start on working experience! I highly recommend Bettendorf for families of all sizes and ages, and I'm sure you'll find a community that you feel belonged to.... Read 76 reviews

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• Population 38,631

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  52 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Waukee, Iowa for four years now! It is truly one of the best neighborhoods in this world! Everyone around here are good friends no matter if you are poor, different race, go to a private school, are part of a different religion, and more! There is a reason why Waukee's growth rate has increased by 74% since 2010! People love it here and there are so many opportunities everywhere! Waukee is the fastest growing city in the entire state of Iowa! You feel safe and protected where ever you are. Whether that be at school, at the park, at home, or maybe just hanging out with some friends! Waukee is a suburb of Iowa's capital, Des Moines. It's about a 20 minute drive to Des Moines which makes the commute time pretty good! There are some many things you can do in Waukee! I love Waukee and will continue to for as long as I live here!... Read 52 reviews

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• Population 23,441

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I love the small town vibe of North Liberty. There are also lots to things to do in town if you look in the right spots or can get out of town. Something to keep in mind is that this is a family town so the night scene is lacking. It is easy to get out of town if you have modes of transportation, but the bus to Coralville/Iowa City only goes through town once a day, and not on weekends . People here are very friendly, and there are also some excellent restaurants in the area if you're willing to look as well. Despite the town getting big (and fast), it still maintains its own little charm.... Read 50 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 19,976

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Pleasant Hill is basically like living in a small town, with all the perks of living in the city right next door. We know our neighbors. We have neighborhoods to walk through that are nice, etc. But it is still next to the city and crime is still an issue. Make sure to lock those doors!... Read 38 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 10,203

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 2.88 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful Mississippi River Front, over 4.5M put into for walking and biking path, gorgeous Marina updates happening in 2021, Municipal Baseball Stadium with Prospect League, Municipal 50m swimming pool, expanding skate board park, Rotary Park, Pickle Ball and Sand Volleyball with a marvelous RV Park and Boat Ramp for River access. FREEDOM Rock and WWI Crunelle Statue. Two wonderful downtowns, $255M in Capital Investment with over 150 jobs added in 2020...and more in 2021. New County facility next to Historical Court House, all schools have been renovated with the High School starting a 60M full renovation in 2021-24. Grant programs that have seen nuisance properties reduced by over 60% in last four years. Five housing sub-divisions building homes, new apartments complex opening in April 2021, two major downtown apartments buildings to be renovated, over 83 businesses in the 5th Ave S. Downtown, Rail Road Quiet Zones. Over 500 acres of Parks and things to do with a Riverview!... Read 42 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade B

• Population 24,651

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: Tiffin was great place full of wander and excitement, there was lots to do there and the people there are so kind to and really like to welcome any newcomers to the community, make them feel at home.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 4,482

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: For being a small town, there are lots of opportunities in the community. There is a strong sense of togetherness about the people and everyone in the community is very welcoming and caring.... Read 8 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade B

• Population 5,332

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.64 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: Washington has always been a great community and over the past few years seems to be getting even better! There has been a lot of progress made and more to come. Our schools are fantastic, our downtown square is one of, if not the nicest in the state, and we are in the process of building a new YMCA/Wellness park to name a few great things. If we could get some new housing and some more high quality employers to move to town Washington would really take off!... Read 14 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade B

• Population 7,314

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Monticello is a very home-like town with excellent community members. There is no doubt that the town is a small town, but this town makes the best of this. I have grown up here and I have loved it every step of the way. There are many local businesses that thrive, all school levels, and most importantly it hosts the best fair in Iowa. Monticello has been on the board for sports, mainly cross country and dance, and has been to state in numerous activities. Everyone here knows everyone, and we are all willing to help each other when needed.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 3,994

• Suburb of Cedar Rapids, IA

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  Rating 3.68 out of 5  110 reviews

Current Resident: Marion is a small but growing town just outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It seems that multiple times a month there are activities like art fairs and parades happening uptown, seemingly always without issue due to safety measures. The town offers two school districts of which are both quite diverse. There is a wide variety of jobs available whether it be for a teen searching for their first job or a person in search of their professional workplace. Marion is definitely more on the quiet side but this does not change the neat features of the town like city parks or the Marion Public Library. There is something for everyone if they search for it.... Read 110 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 41,023