FAQs
Things You Can't Find in FREIDA

Where is Iowa City?   

Iowa City is 220 miles west of Chicago on Interstate 80, and within a four to five hour drive to Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. It has the cultural, educational, social and political opportunities of a bigger city with the values and ambiance of a midwestern town. The Iowa City/ Coralville area is clean, safe, with nothing farther than a 15 minute car ride. It has a great city bus system (with bike racks!), wonderful parks, sports, schools and even sailing. Those who have lived here and left frequently return because what they were looking for was in their own backyard. But we're not the only ones who think Iowa City is great:

• USA Today listed Iowa City as the third best-educated city in the nation.
• The Milken Institute ranked Iowa City the No. 1 small metro economy.
• Men's Journal ranked Iowa City the sixth-most sexy, healthy and safe place to live.
• Expansion Management magazine ranked Iowa City the No. 11 metro area for companies to relocate or expand.
• Outside Magazine ranked Iowa City No. 10 on the magazine's list of 40 best college towns
• Voted Best In The Midwest by Organic Style Magazine in its ranking of 125 Healthy Cities

How ethnically diverse are the patients? Are there people of color in Iowa City?    

Like a lot of university towns, Iowa City has a large international community. Growing cultural diversity is another reason Iowa City is an interesting place to live. Diversity is embraced and celebrated with city and university events, festivals, clubs and programs. The University works hard to recruit and retain minorities with its affirmative action policies. About 13 percent of Iowa Citians are non-white.

Is the weather really bad in Iowa City?

For about two weeks every winter it's very cold and windy and for two weeks every summer it's really hot and humid; the rest of the time it's pretty nice. The area has a lot of sunny days even in winter--166 per year. Our average snowfall is 28 inches, average rainfall is 35 inches, average temperature in the summer is 72.6 degrees farenheight and in the winter, 23.7 degrees farenheight. Iowa Citians consider the weather to be character building.

What is there to do in Iowa City when you're not working?

Fifteen different festivals and art fairs, concerts, runs, and bicycle races combined with music venues, sports events, neighborhood street fairs and garden walks are but a few Iowa City events. This area also has a large mall and several smaller ones, 41 parks, nine golf courses, six public tennis courts, six public pools, some lakes and a reservoir with trails, camping and boating. There are bike trails, some famous bookstores, numerous galleries and excellent museums. There are half a dozen or more performing arts venues including Hancher Auditorium. There's always something going on in the Iowa City area.

What's Iowa City like for kids and families?

There's ice skating, bowling, organized sports, several public parks, miniature golf, a great public library, a toy library, bicycle library, fun centers, swimming pools and three beaches, nine museums including a children's museum, dance companies and public recreation centers that feature many activities for kids and families at little or no cost. Iowa City also has 20 movie screens and 50-licensed daycare providers. The Iowa City schools are perennially ranked among the top schools in the nation. Iowa City is unique in the facilities and services available for individuals with disabilities.  Many families who have a family member with a disability are reluctant to leave Iowa City because they cannot duplicate those services in another location.

Are there any job opportunities for my spouse/significant other?

Yes, we've developed a list of resources on our website.

Do you have a freestanding children's hospital?

University of Iowa Children's Hospital is a state of the art pediatric facility integrated within the UI Hospitals and Clinics. A hospital within a hospital, University of Iowa Children's Hospital benefits from the sophisticated services and comprehensive resources of UI Hospitals and Clinics, which is consistently ranked as one of America's Best Hospitals by US News and World Report. As part of an internationally recognized university teaching hospital, there is access to diagnostic equipment and treatment modalities that are not found at many freestanding children's hospitals.