Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Iowa City? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Iowa City:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Iowa City?
The short-term rental market in Iowa City shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $2,261 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $3,823 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $6,720+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,238
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Iowa City
The market in Iowa City shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 44% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 68% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 84%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 25%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Iowa City
Daily rates in Iowa City vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $131 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $255 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $424+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $82
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Iowa City
Peak Season (August, June, May)
- Revenue peaks at $3904.11 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 62.06%
- Daily rates average $244.29
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $3230.94 per month
- Occupancy maintains 46.97%
- Daily rates hold at $209.27
Low Season (February, December, January)
- Revenue drops to $1877.29 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 34.39%
- Daily rates adjust to $189.47
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Iowa City in 2025?
Yes! Iowa City demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 47% and strong monthly revenue averaging $3231 and The market's 124 active listings indicate growing demand with plenty of opportunity for new properties. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Iowa City
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Iowa City | The vibrant heart of Iowa City, known for its rich cultural offerings, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. Ideal for visitors attending University of Iowa events, cultural festivals, and nightlife. | University of Iowa, Iowa Avenue, Dolliver Park, The Englert Theatre, Pedestrian Mall, Iowa City Farmers Market |
| Northside District | A historic neighborhood filled with charm, featuring unique shops, coffee houses, and local eateries. Close to the university, making it appealing for students and academics. | Pinter's Gardens and Pumpkin Patch, Northside Marketplace, Prairie Lights Bookstore, The Iowa City Public Library, Local Breweries, Historic Residences |
| The Heights | A residential area with beautiful views and proximity to parks, appealing for families and longer stays. Great for those looking for peaceful retreats close to urban amenities. | Upper City Park, City Park, Iowa City Recreation Center, Nature trails, Scenic views of the city |
| Eastside Iowa City | Offers a mix of residential and commercial spaces, popular with families and students. It provides access to various parks and is near the Oakhill Jackson neighborhood. | Iowa City Bike Trails, Oakhill Jackson Historic District, Oakhill Park, Meadowlark Park, Nearby Grocery Stores |
| University Heights | Next to the University of Iowa, this area attracts students, faculty, and visitors to the campus. Opportunities here for short and long-term rentals focused on the university community. | Dahl’s Restaurant and Catering, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Cedar Rapids Bike Paths, University Athletic events |
| West Branch | A small town near Iowa City rich in history, great for guests interested in local culture, outdoor activities, and the historic Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch State Park, Historical Buildings, Local Festivals |
| Coralville | Just north of Iowa City, offering shopping, entertainment, and restaurants. Ideal for visitors to Iowa City looking for a quieter suburban experience with easy access to the city. | Coral Ridge Mall, Iowa River Landing, Snyder Park, Coralville Lake |
| Pine Village | A sought-after residential neighborhood with plenty of green space, ideal for families visiting Iowa City. Attractive for longer-term stays and peaceful retreats. | Local Parks, Community Events, Peaceful Neighborhood Walks |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Iowa City?
We recommend checking directly with Iowa City's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (0% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Iowa City
Hutchinson Family Home Weekend Rentals
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Willow Creek Weekend Rental
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
In town private retreat
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Ideal Gathering Place: Parks, UI, & Kinnick Nearby
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Home in Iowa City
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Walk to Iowa football, graduation, campus & more!
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Iowa City
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alisha | 2 | $199,432 | 62 | 4.84/5.0 |
| Brian And Erin | 1 | $176,014 | 28 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Ross | 4 | $171,507 | 188 | 4.93/5.0 |
| Holly | 1 | $166,496 | 21 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Nick | 3 | $159,316 | 200 | 4.94/5.0 |
| Kathy | 1 | $141,133 | 27 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Lama | 3 | $117,434 | 264 | 4.93/5.0 |
| Jackson | 1 | $108,085 | 4 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Staci | 6 | $103,532 | 1226 | 4.83/5.0 |
| Julie | 3 | $92,182 | 351 | 4.98/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Iowa City
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (85.5%), with house and apartment & condo properties comprising 92.7% of inventory
- Untapped potential in others, boutique & hotels segments (7.2% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 124 properties in Iowa City shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 27.4% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 52.4% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (27.4%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (4.8%)
- Market concentration: 52.4% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 124 properties in Iowa City reveals that 8+ guests properties dominate the market, representing 23.4% of all listings. The average property accommodates 4.7 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 8+ guests and 4 guests make up 42.7% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 8+ guests (23.4% of market)
- Least common capacity: 7 guests (4.8% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 4.7 guests per property
- Market concentration: 42.7% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 124 properties in Iowa City, the most common availability pattern is 91-180 days (39.5% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 181-270 days (40.3% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 91-180 days (39.5%)
- Most common booking duration: 181-270 days (40.3%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 53.2%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 47.6%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
44 listings
37.6% of total
2 Nights
49 listings
41.9% of total
3 Nights
6 listings
5.1% of total
4-6 Nights
3 listings
2.6% of total
7-29 Nights
6 listings
5.1% of total
30+ Nights
9 listings
7.7% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 79.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 2.6% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (7.7%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 84.6% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Consider monthly stay discounts to capture the growing extended-stay market
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Flexible
23 listings
19.8% of total
Moderate
25 listings
21.6% of total
Firm
41 listings
35.3% of total
Strict
27 listings
23.3% of total
Key Insights
- Firm is the preferred policy at 35.3% of listings
- The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (41.4%) and strict (58.6%) policies
- Flexible policies are least common at 19.8% of listings
Recommendations
- Market supports various policies - choose based on your property type and target guests
- Diverse policy distribution indicates an opportunity to differentiate through policy choice
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in May, Nov, Oct, averaging 73 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Mar, Jan, Feb, averaging 40 days
- Fall shows the longest average booking window at 67 days, while Winter has the shortest at 42 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Fall bookings at least 67 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Mar-Feb when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Iowa City
Every property in Iowa City comes standard with Wifi, and Smoke alarm. Below shows the distribution of other amenities:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 97% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: DC (0.5%) and Canada (0.5%)
- English is the top language at 79.1%, followed by Spanish (12.8%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 7.8%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Chicago and Iowa City markets
- Develop localized content for DC and Canada
- Prioritize English and Spanish language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Iowa City. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Galena Township | 42 | $4,396 | $305.08 | 42% |
| Guilford Township | 290 | $4,052 | $325.44 | 38% |
| University Heights | 14 | $3,936 | $318.01 | 39% |
| Thompson Township | 12 | $3,679 | $340.86 | 37% |
| Moravia | 10 | $3,006 | $230.71 | 42% |
| Galesburg | 16 | $3,005 | $157.37 | 55% |
| East Dubuque | 14 | $2,820 | $224.23 | 47% |
| Bettendorf | 34 | $2,712 | $149.81 | 54% |
| Pella | 43 | $2,590 | $169.99 | 48% |
| Waverly | 16 | $2,353 | $155.44 | 51% |
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