Hugging the northwest curve of the Cedar River, Ellis Harbor is home to one of the most unique communities in Cedar Rapids — a houseboat harbor. But even those who live on dry land enjoy being seconds from the river and Ellis Park, one of the city's largest parks and golf courses. There's a harbor for recreational boats, too. There are only a few single-family homes in the neighborhood, and prices tend to be a bit above city averages here, thanks to the attractions of the river. Major roads, retail options, and downtown require a drive, but they're within a 3-mile radius.
Ellis Harbor is located in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa residential area.
Ellis Harbor as seen from above: a patchwork of homes and green spaces.
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Suburban neighborhoods on the river's edge
It's mostly apartment living on the land west of the harbor, with only a few pockets of single-family homes. Older sections have ranch styles and split levels from the mid-1900s, sometimes split into duplexes. Prices for these homes generally stay between $200,000 and $250,000. There's also construction from the 2010s. These new homes have nearly identical designs and fewer mature trees. Depending on size, newer homes cost between $250,000 and $450,000.
Charming row of homes, each with its own inviting appeal and unique details in Ellis Harbor.
Find your perfect white picket fence home in the Ellis Harbor residential area.
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Outdoor recreation along the Cedar River
The Ellis Golf Course dates back to 1919, when it was designed by Illinois native William Langford. Today, the 18-hole course is open to the public and considered by the city to be the "Crown Jewel" of the Cedar Rapids municipal golf courses. The adjacent Ellis Park has walking trails, baseball fields, tennis courts and a sand volleyball area — all alongside the river. The public swimming pool opens in the summer, and a water ski and boat show performs regularly on the river. "There's not a lot of water in Iowa, period, so Ellis Park is really awesome and unique in that it has trails along the water," says Cory Rath, an experienced Realtor with Keller Williams Midwest Partners. "You can walk over to see the houseboats, and kids like feeding the ducks." The nearby Manhatten/Robbins Lake Park is a go-to spot for fishing, and residents who own boats can dock them at Ellis Harbor after a day on the water.
Take a swing or two at the Ellis Golf Course, located in the Ellis Harbor neighborhood.
Ellis Harbor residents can enjoy the Five Seasons Ski Show, happening every Thursday.
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College prep at a highly-rated high school
As part of Cedar Rapids Community School District, kids are zoned to start at Madison Elementary School, which gets a C-plus from Niche. Then it's on to Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, rated C, for sixth through eighth grade. Roosevelt students can follow magnet pathways in fields like STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), leadership/entrepreneurship and global systems. Students are then zoned for Kennedy High School, rated A-minus. With 27 AP classes to choose from, Niche ranks Kennedy High as the sixth-best public high school for college prep in Iowa.
John F. Kennedy High School serves High School students of Ellis Harbor.
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy serves students of Ellis Harbor.
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The houseboat community in Ellis Harbor
The neighborhood's harbor is home to around 100 houseboats, and it's not easy to buy one. "You don't really see the houseboats come on the market," Rath says. "They mostly sell through word of mouth." But those who manage to snag a floating home become part of a tight-knit community. "This is everybody's second home, so they only come out here for the summer, but we feel like a family," says John Hansen, the city liaison for the Harbor Neighborhood Association. "On Sunday Funday, we stay in the harbor and celebrate the space with swimming and barbecues," Hansen says. "At night, there's a lot of houseboat hopping, so if you see the lights on, come on in — it's kind of an open-door policy." However, owning a houseboat comes with its challenges. Some resident haul their boats out in the winter and have to drive them miles away to a storage location. Flooding and coastal erosion are concerns, too.
Ellis Harbor offers a rare option to own and live on a house boat within the area.
This decked out house boat showing it's character and pride in the Ellis Harbor community.
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Flood risks mainly for houseboats
Since the disastrous flood in 2008, the city has tried to mitigate flooding, but homes along the river are still at risk. In FEMA's flood mapping, the coast of Ellis Harbor is designated as an AE Flood Zone, meaning there is a 1% annual chance of flooding. None of the single-family homes are in this zone, but all houseboats are.
Reaching city amenities
Ellis Harbor residents have to travel at least 2 miles to reach any major shopping and dining. There are Hy-Vee grocery stores to the north and south. Cedar River Landing, a local dive with karaoke nights, live music and pool tables, is also 2 miles away. For more options, downtown Cedar Rapids is about 3 miles southeast and is accessible via bus lines. A commercial area less than 5 miles northwest of the neighborhood includes Aldi, Sam's Club and Walmart near the junction of Route 100 and Interstate 380. Residents can drive 9 miles to the regional Eastern Iowa Airport.
Downtown Cedar Rapids gives residents of Ellis Harbor a trendy and happening place to go.
Cedar Rapids Transit serves the residents of Ellis Harbor, to get around the area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Jim Zachar,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Ellis Park
Transit
Airport
The Eastern Iowa
19 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Ellis Harbor
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Ellis Harbor Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Ellis Harbor, Cedar Rapids sell after 61 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Ellis Harbor, Cedar Rapids over the last 12 months is $209,000.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Jim Zachar,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
962
Median Age
40
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$59,999
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$74,024
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.6%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
31.4%
Advanced Degrees
12.1%
% Population in Labor Force
68.6%
On par with the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
12°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
36/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
11/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
