Iowa City

Bluffwood, tucked into the Hoover subsection of Iowa City, offers quiet suburban living at the east entrance of the 185-acre Hickory Hill Park. Nearly 400 homes, many on spacious lots, line hilly streets. The prestigious Regina Catholic Education Center is just outside the community's southwest corner. Two small retail centers can be found to the south, and downtown is less than 3 miles away. Bluffwood has changed a lot in the past few decades, says Adam Pretorius, a Realtor with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors who grew up in the neighborhood. "It's had seven additions since the '80s, with the newest being Tamarack Ridge." With each addition came new architecture, painting a style timeline across the neighborhood. Modest ranches sit beside two-story Colonial-inspired and New Traditional homes. Custom homes can come with all sorts of quirks, like porthole windows, steep gabled roofs, Craftsman porch pillars and farmhouse aesthetics. Brick condominiums also appear in the mix along North First Avenue. Condos typically cost between $200,000 and $275,000, while single-family homes range from $425,000 to $675,000. On average, home values are about $100,000 higher than values across the Iowa City Metro Area. Sidewalks are prevalent, and the median lot size is nearly 1/2 acre. Homes typically have single-or two-car garages. Lush, large-bowed trees fill the spaces behind homes. "The neighborhood terrain is all rolling hills, woods and creeks; it's not your stereotypical flat Iowa suburb," Pretorius says. "And the terrain is enough rolling hills that I don't remember the creeks flooding or damaging the homes." Residents have many recreation options nearby. On the eastern edge of the community, Calder Park features a partially shaded playground and a picnic pavilion. The park was renamed in 2018 in honor of Calder Wills, a local boy who used to play with his friends at the park before passing away from cancer, says Robin Sueppel, Realtor with Urban Acres Real Estate. In addition to memorializing Wills, the new name distinguishe what was formerly known as Hickory Trail Park from Hickory Hill Park, a larger green space sits to the west. Hiking trails, dotted with mushrooms and assorted ground cover, wind through Hickory Hill’s forest. Some paths connect to bridges over narrow creeks. Chirping birds draw visitors during spring and summer, while the forest's vibrant foliage becomes the main attraction in fall. Northeast of the neighborhood is the Harvest Preserve, a 100-acre landscape with member-only access. The non-profit Harvest Preserve Foundation maintains and protects the area's native prairie and woodlands, adorned with sculptures, water features and a butterfly house. They also offer programs and events to educate the community about conservation. The state of Iowa offers open enrollment; however, Bluffwood students are zoned for Iowa City School District and typically stay within it. They attend Lemme Elementary School, named for Helen Lemme, an African-American activist with a prominent history in Iowa City. They continue on to South East Junior High School. Both schools have a B rating on Niche. City High School earns an A-minus and recognizes graduating seniors who have completed 200 hours of community service through a Silver Cord Program. Pretorius says the A-rated Regina Catholic Education Center is another popular option. "The private school has a pretty big enrollment, so I'd say about half of students go to public school, and half go to the private." Regina serves prekindergarten through 12th grade, and Niche rates it as the second-best Catholic high school in Iowa. The A-rated University of Iowa is roughly 5 miles southwest. A small retail center sits just beyond the neighborhood's southwestern corner. Residents can shop at Hy-Vee, stop in at Cracken's Grill or grab carry-out from Wig & Pen East. One mile east is another business center that locals visit more often. It features an urgent care center, medical offices, fitness studios and more restaurants. Locals particularly favor the versatile BlackStone for brunch and date nights. A 2-1/2 mile drive west to downtown offers more shops, restaurants and entertainment options. Bluffwood is a car-dependent area with only a few roads leading into the city. North First and Rochester avenues are main thoroughfares, and Interstate 80 is under 2 miles north. A few bus stops line Rochester Avenue, and a bike path winds along North First. For long-distance travel, locals head 4 miles southwest to Iowa City Municipal Airport.

Downtown Iowa City is practically bursting with energy—a byproduct of its extensively curated commercial scene and close-knit partnership with the University of Iowa. "Downtown is always growing and ongoing with more and more each year," says Christopher Hunter, director of marketing at Iowa City Downtown District, a nonprofit organization supporting downtown reinvestment efforts and businesses. "Every weekend and every moment, there always seems to be something to do." Residents of the largely commercial neighborhood, just east of the Iowa River, can easily walk to shops, restaurants, parks, playgrounds and special events. Downtown officially became one of the state's cultural and entertainment districts in 2022, Hunter says. "We have the most cultural and entertainment venues per capita in the state." For example, dining is nearly limitless. Breakfast nooks sit beside bubble tea cafes, upscale steakhouses, hole-in-the-wall bars and live music venues like Gabe's. To the north, Hunter suggests The Webster, which was featured on the New York Times' 2023 Restaurant List. Groceries are available at the Bread Garden Market on South Linn Street and the New Pioneer Food Co-op just east of the neighborhood. And locals can visit the Iowa City Farmers Market every Saturday morning from May to October. The shining stars of Downtown are Old Capitol Town Center and the Pedestrian Mall. People gather at the town center to shop and grab lunch, says Adam Pretorius, area expert and real estate agent with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors. The Pedestrian Mall, which adds an open-air element, is connected to the Iowa City Public Library. Cultural attractions come in all forms. Two of the most notable are The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and The Stanley Museum of Art. However, even small shops like Prairie Lights Bookstore have a significant presence because Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature. FilmScene shows movies at the Pedestrian Mall, the Hotel Chauncey and outdoors at Chauncey Swan Park. Events take place Downtown throughout the year. Taste of Iowa City, held when college students return in the fall, is a solid introduction to the area's restaurant scene. Shop crawls, sidewalk sales, community happy hours and gallery walks are opportunities for newcomers and natives to learn more about the neighborhood. The capstone event is the free Downtown Summer Block Party, Hunter says. "It is the biggest event in Cedar Rapids-Iowa City-Davenport region. It draws over 40,000 people yearly and has endless activities, from drag shows to silent discos and pro wrestling. Anyone can find something to do there." Another summer staple is Herky on Parade, named after the U of I mascot. "There are about 100 statues of Herky all over Johnson County, with about 20 of them downtown," Hunter says. "All summer, people can go out and find them like a scavenger hunt and take pictures with them." The University of Iowa is the state's No. 1 public university. It sits 1-1/2 miles west of downtown, and residents can walk to campus in under 45 minutes using the pedestrian bridges that cross the Iowa River and South Riverside Drive. "The university and the city very actively collaborate," Pretorius says. "Most campuses stay separate, but here it's all intermixed, which makes for unique campus amenities. It's almost like we have a mini Downtown Chicago." Hunter agrees, adding that "downtown is like the living room of the University of Iowa, and the university is one of the biggest supporters of the Downtown District organization." For primary education, Iowa offers open enrollment, although students typically stay within the Iowa City School District. Students following zoning attend Longfellow Elementary School and South East Junior High, both of which have B scores on Niche. South East Junior is the largest junior high school in the district and, according to Niche, the fifth-best public middle school in Johnson County. Niche also gives City High School an A-minus and calls it Iowa's second-best college-prep public high school. Many improvements are in motion to preserve the neighborhood's pedestrian-friendly vibe. Hunter says roads are being redone with new planters, wider sidewalks and updated overhead lighting, which should be completed by fall 2024. The Downtown District is also partnering with the city to pay for a hospitality and cleaning service to maintain the downtown area and improve navigation. Downtown puts pedestrian traffic first with walkable, interconnected streets and ample bike lanes. For those who use public transit, Iowa City Transit buses have been free since August 2023 as part of a two-year pilot program. Also, the university's free CAMBUS serves the whole campus, Pretorius says. "It is open to the public and university people, so you could conceivably live without a car." Regardless, drivers are taken care of, too; the first hour of parking is free on any downtown ramp. Plus, locals are within 2 miles of the Iowa City Municipal Airport. The neighborhood is evenly split among apartments, condominiums, retail spaces and hotels. Some condos are in converted historic buildings, while others are in contemporary high-rises built within the past 20 years. Many listings include open floor plans, balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and reserved parking. The average home value is about $200,000 more than the rest of Iowa City's Metro Area. Prices typically range between $500,000 to $675,000, although some are closer to the $325,000 to $425,000 range. Units with over 2,000 square feet usually top $1 million. The heart of the city may have few green spaces, but recreational hubs are tucked within the corners of the district. The Pedestrian Mall features an outdoor playground and benches decorated with colorful murals. Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center offers a fitness room, gymnasium and pool. Just east of downtown is College Green Park, a multi-use space with sports courts, play structures and walking paths lined with trees.

Hidden in Iowa City’s west side between U.S. Highway 218 and The University of Iowa is the modest community of Bryn Mawr Heights. Less busy than campus and downtown, yet not as removed as the city’s outermost suburbs, the neighborhood strikes a unique balance between domestic solitude and urban walkability. Sidewalk-accessible amenities nearby include a well-rated elementary school, two spacious parks and an ice cream stand that’s been a local favorite for over 60 years. Iowa City’s only mosque is right across the street. Meanwhile, most city employers are within a 2-mile drive, and Highway 1 is mere feet away. Bryn Mawr Heights is a relatively small, tree-covered neighborhood with fewer than 200 single-family homes. These average-sized abodes are arranged along a cluster of loosely gridded, sidewalk-lined roadways immediately south of the small city of University Heights. Most properties were built in the late 1900s, and their exteriors feature brick, vinyl siding, wood planks and other popular materials of that period. Split-level, bi-level, ranch-style and Colonial Revival designs are common. Cape Cods from before the 1950s appear occasionally. Lots hover around ¼ acre and often feature wood or chain-link fences. The average homebuyer will spend about $340,000 — slightly over the local average but well below the national norm. Prices range from the mid-$200,000s for a 1,100-square-foot home to the low $600,000s for a house nearing 4,000 square feet. Ernest Horn Elementary School lies immediately north of Bryn Mawr Heights across Benton Street, within walking distance of many residences. Just over 400 students attend prekindergarten through sixth grade at Horn. They then progress to Northwest Junior High — about 3 miles from the neighborhood — for grades seven and eight. Both of these schools earn B grades overall from Niche. West High School accommodates the neighborhood’s older teens less than 1 mile west. Niche gives it an A-plus and calls it Iowa’s best public high school. It partners with the University of Iowa to offer engineering programs for STEM-minded students. Other learning academies are available through a collaboration with Kirkwood Community College. The University of Iowa employs thousands of Iowa City locals and is within minutes of Bryn Mawr Heights. Sunset Street runs alongside the neighborhood to the east, taking drivers a few blocks north to Melrose Avenue. From there, the campus is less than ½ mile east. Commuters have only two or three extra turns until they reach the Hawkeyes’ home football stadium, the university’s medical campus or other facilities. Downtown Iowa City is just across the river to the east of campus. Benton and Sunset streets also feature a few Iowa City Transit bus stops, offering fare-free rides throughout the day. Sidewalks also carry residents just south of the neighborhood to Dane’s Dairy, which has served sweet treats since 1960. Pedestrians and drivers from throughout the area frequently flock to this classic ice cream stand, including Bryn Mawr Heights residents whose dogs enjoy Dane’s pup cups. Lines are often long, but waiting for a Dane’s treat is part of the experience. “There are a lot of animal statues around that kids can ride on; a lot of parents take pictures with them. There are always high schoolers working here. So, it has a youthful vibe, but it’s very beloved by older generations,” says Manager Amy Crespo. “They knew the Dane family and have been coming since they were young.” Casey’s, a Midwest pizzeria and convenience store chain, operates a location next door. Highway 1 runs just east of the neighborhood, quickly taking drivers to Walmart Supercenter for groceries and day-to-day goods. Foodstuffs are also available at Fareway Meat and Grocery, just west down Benton Street. Two popular public parks are less than ¼ mile west of Bryn Mawr Heights, just down the sidewalk for some. Willow Creek Park and Kiwanis Park combine to cover over 40 acres and are connected by Willow Creek, a wooded waterway intertwined with a mixed-use trail. Visitors to Willow Creek Park can play baseball, take their kids to the rubber-surfaced playground and enjoy a restful moment in the park’s Hospice Memorial Garden. “There are volunteers with the local hospice who are master gardeners as well, and they help take care of that garden space,” says Iowa City Parks and Recreation Superintendent of Parks & Forestry Tyler Baird. “It’s a nice contemplation-type space.” To the south, Kiwanis Park features a playground where slides, tunnels, sandboxes, hammock swings and bridges are incorporated into the natural landscape. Locals also rent raised garden beds in the garden’s southern section. “In the summer, there are always people out there tending to their garden plots,” Baird says. Noise levels are mild to moderate for the neighborhood’s innermost residents. Those along Benton and Sunset streets will experience higher noise pollution. Activity levels peak in the southeast section, where Sunset Street nears Highway 1.

Locals only know where Downtown Iowa City ends and College Hill begins when off-campus housing starts popping up past the Iowa City Farmers Market. "It's in the name. It's where a lot of college students live, and there's even some sorority houses that circle around College Green Park," says Taylor Blazeck, Realtor with Urban Acres Real Estate and Iowa City expert. Formerly known as College Green, this neighborhood has a mix of renters and owners living in both historic and modern housing. Amenities are at residents' fingertips — or rather footsteps — with shopping, dining, entertainment and education within walking distance. In College Hill, greenery is as plentiful as college students in the neighborhood. Trees line every street, fill the spaces between houses and create a mini forest around Ralston Creek, lessening seasonal flooding. "The trees are very mature, given that College Hill is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Iowa City," Blazeck says. "As old as the Pentacrest and the University of Iowa." The neighborhood also shares its name with one of the oldest parks in the city, College Green Park. A gathering place for all ages, kids can play all day at the playground and sports courts while people walk the paved paths with their pups. The grass lawn draws groups looking to lounge. Blazeck says, "A lot of students in the spring and summer will have their blankets out on the green. They lay down to study or just hang out and play frisbee and other games." Many community events occur annually at College Green Park, from Pride parades to flea markets and cookouts. Residents are just a short stroll away from what they might want or need. Inside the neighborhood, New Pioneer Food Co-op supports the local economy by locally sourcing its products. Across South Van Buren Street, the Iowa City Farmers Market sells an even fresher supply, directly delivered from farms to shoppers. The open-air market happens every Saturday morning from May through October on the Chauncey Swan parking ramp. After shopping the stalls, people can head across the street to grab a cheesy calzone at D.P. Dough or a boozy botanical beverage at The Green House. Down the block, The Black Angel's moody lighting coaxes customers to cozy up at their high tops. Attentive servers suggest craft cocktail and po'boy pairings brought to tables in record time. Heading deeper into downtown promises about 50 more restaurants, plus shops and entertainment sites. People enjoy catching flicks at FilmScene at The Chauncey or the Pedestrian Mall, which is less than a 10-minute walk west. Brand-name stores are also at the Pedestrian Mall, as well as Old Capitol Town Center across South Clinton Street. For a connection with Iowa City's literary culture, Porchlight Literary Arts Center is right inside College Hill. The center allows writers from every background and identity to build community in a shared creative space. Visitors can attend free writing workshops, outdoor readings and prose exchanges. The center also orchestrates master classes, writing consultations and weekend retreats. College Hill harbors a blended culture, especially in its housing stock. Apartments sit beside sororities, town houses and historic homes with American Foursquare, Dutch Colonial and Craftsman designs. The median year that houses were built is 1920, but some listings can date back to 1880. Renovations to these historic houses have increased values, with prices ranging between $275,000 and $425,000. However, homes over 3,000 square feet can range between $850,000 and $950,000. There is a mix of owner-occupied homes and rentals, as college students and university staff are drawn to neighborhoods near downtown. College Hill is relatively peaceful while students are in class, but Blazeck says, "Anybody who's moving to that area understands that there's going to be evening activities going on on Fridays and Saturdays." House parties and bars playing live music late into the night are taken with a grain of salt, as they are an accepted part of the area's lifestyle. While the neighborhood has primarily college-aged students, children living in College Hill are zoned for two elementary schools based on their address. Those living north of Iowa Avenue attend Mann Elementary School, while students living south of Iowa Avenue attend Longfellow Elementary School. The schools integrate at South East Junior High, which Niche lists as the fifth best public middle school in Johnson County. All three schools earn a B rating from Niche. Students graduate from City High School, home of the Little Hawks, which earns an A-minus Niche rating. College students are only 1 mile from the A-rated University of Iowa and can get there by foot in 25 to 45 minutes, depending on their route. Blazeck says the city center's pedestrian-friendly design continues in College Hill. Since many university students don't have cars, it's common to see residents walking, biking or driving mopeds around the city. The bus system is also heavily used because rides are fare-free through the city's multi-year pilot program. Stops are along main roads like East Burlington Street, East Jefferson Street and Rochester Avenue. Within 2 miles is the Iowa City Municipal Airport, just across the river.

Creekside is a quiet community roughly 1-1/2 miles outside Downtown Iowa City surrounded by schools. As students trek to get an education, residents can head by car, bus, bike or foot to two major retail centers along the neighborhood's borders. For fresh air and a connection to nature, the area offers plentiful gardens in its two main green spaces and various bike trails connecting to the city. Homes are roughly $100,000 less than the average value of homes within the Iowa City Metro Area and come in multiple styles and sizes. Creekside is primarily residential, with most homes developed in the 1940s post-war. "The neighborhood, being away from the city, was formerly a dairy farm that was converted into a working man's area," Rex Brandstatter, native Iowan and real estate associate at RE/MAX Affiliates in Coralville, says. "So, while homes are on nice-sized lots, they have smaller bedrooms, and many had to be renovated to have central air." Aesthetics are diverse; Midcentury ranches can be found near Dutch Colonial Revivals, split-levels, American Foursquares, Cape Cods and duplexes. While many homes have driveways and garages off to the side, people also use the alleys that run between rows of homes to access detached garages. Because of this, Brandstatter says many residents enter their homes through the back door rather than the front. Homes typically cost between $160,000 and $270,000. Outliers include $100,000 investment properties under 800 square feet and recently updated four-bedroom homes over 2,400 square feet costing up to $500,000. Cutting through the neighborhood on a diagonal is a creek, which can subject nearby homes to flooding during heavy rain. Most students attend Longfellow Elementary School, which is about 1/2 a mile west of the neighborhood. It also earns a B rating from Niche. However, a small portion of students living in the area's southeastern corner are zoned for B-minus-rated Lucas Elementary School, located less than 1 mile east. Both schools integrate at the B-rated South East Junior High, which is right outside that southeastern corner and a walkable option for many students. Niche lists the school as the fifth best public middle school in Johnson County. Students graduate from City High School, which is directly north of Creekside and earns an A-minus Niche rating. Brandstatter illustrates how the school unifies the community through its faithfully attended football games in the fall and annual events. "Every year in the spring, they have all fifth and sixth graders from the grade schools go down to have a community-wide track meet. It really brings the students together." For higher education, the A-rated University of Iowa is roughly 2 miles west. Creekside has two main green spaces, although the bike trails that pass through the neighborhood connect residents to a network of parks and nature preserves. James Alan McPherson Park has one such trail, as well as a playground, a basketball court and a small edible garden from which people can harvest. If the garden at James Alan isn't sufficient, residents can sign up for plots at Chadek Green. The park has two large community gardens with accessible raised beds and waterspouts. Garden plot season is from mid-April to mid-October, with plot registrations and renewals beginning in mid-February. Visitors can also access a simple playground and an open field outside the garden, where people have picnics that incorporate freshly picked garden produce. Less than half a mile outside Creekside is the Longfellow Nature Trail, a short, paved city trail cutting through a forested area. The path passes beneath a set of train tracks through a brightly muraled tunnel, and it is lined with flora meant to attract butterflies. Along South 1st Avenue is the retail center for Creekside. Shakespeare's Pub And Grill, a cozy family-style pub with a beer garden, is self-proclaimed as serving the best breaded tenderloin in Iowa City. Alongside its comfort food menu, the restaurant offers pool tables, a dart board and live music events once a month with no cover. For a sweet treat after dinner, Heyn's Ice Cream and its cow-printed décor welcome all ages next door. Essentials can be found at Walgreens and Hy-Vee, which Brandstatter says is very popular. "It is like a madhouse over there every day." To the south are more restaurants, like Java House Coffee Roasters, 2 Dogs Pub and Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack. Between the eateries are shops like Lenoch & Cilek Ace Hardware and Dollar Tree, plus a cinema. Although many people rely on driving to get from place to place, many other transportation options are available. Bus stops can be found all along Muscatine Avenue, East Court Street and Friendship Street, and bus fare is free through Iowa City's multi-year pilot program. With retail centers in the east and south, locals often walk to their destinations rather than drive. Specifically, the retail center at the intersection of Muscatine Avenue and South 1st Avenue has its fair share of road traffic during peak hours, so shopping on foot can be a quick detour around that. The Iowa City Municipal Airport is 3 miles southwest.

About 1 mile east of downtown Iowa City is Eastside, a mix of modest suburban homes within blocks of commercial areas, recreation spaces, houses of worship and other day-to-day conveniences. “Eastside is known for its quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods and close proximity to schools and everyday shopping like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations,” says Realtor Emily Farber of Lepic-Kroeger, REALTORS, an Iowa City-area native. “You can also find some cute independent businesses, like bakeries and an ice cream shop.” The area is also known for its relatively inexpensive home prices, which hover about $40,000 below the metro area’s average and are about half the U.S. average. “Eastside is a little more bang for the buck,” says Realtor Adam Pretorius, also of Lepic-Kroeger, REALTORS. Eastside’s roughly 1 square mile is primarily residential, with single- and multi-family housing developments arranged mainly on winding streets. Most were built from the 1970s to the ‘90s. However, more recent constructions appear in the eastern section, reflecting Iowa City’s eastward expansion over the years. Detached homes from the late 1900s typically feature bi-level and ranch-style designs; some of the latter have Craftsman-style elements. A few farmhouses and Dutch Colonial-revival homes from the early 1900s appear in the neighborhood. Twenty-first-century constructions also have ranch-style and bi-level architecture, along with some New Traditional designs. Many single-family houses sit on wooded lots, with heavier tree cover in the backyards. One- and two-story condominiums from the 1970s to the 2000s are available in several parts of the neighborhood. Those in the Wellington Condominiums community to the southeast surround scenic ponds with fountains. Prices start in the low $100,000s for two-bedroom condos under 900 square feet and can reach $500,000 for new four-bedroom houses over 2,100 square feet. Many Eastside residents can walk to one of three public parks for outdoor and indoor leisure and activity. Mercer Park is the neighborhood’s largest green space, filling nearly 31 acres in its southwest section. Outdoor amenities include four baseball and softball diamonds surrounding a concession stand. (City High School’s baseball teams play home games on the northeast field.) Next to the baseball facility are three tennis courts and eight pickleball courts; a soccer field and a playground are also available nearby. The park is home to the Mercer Park Aquatic Center, an indoor pool with lap lanes, a wading area and a hot tub. Attached to the aquatic center is Scanlon Gym, which features an indoor gymnasium and a game room. Court Hill Park fills about 9 acres in the neighborhood’s northern section with a playground, a basketball court and walking trails along Ralston Creek. Just east of Eastside is the 43-acre Scott Park, with mostly open fields and a 3-acre, off-leash dog park. Robert Lucas Elementary School operates at Eastside’s heart, across the street or down the block from dozens of homes. Just under 300 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade attend Lucas Elementary, which has a B-minus overall score from Niche. Southeast Junior High School sits in the neighborhood’s southeast section next to Mercer Park. It accommodates over 700 seventh and eighth graders and has a B Niche score. Older teens head just northwest of the neighborhood to City High School, which occupies a nearly 90-year-old Federal-style building. Niche gives City High an A-minus and calls it Iowa’s second-best public college-prep high school. For those seeking a private education, Willowwind School serves pre-K through sixth grade and enrolls about 100 children annually. Its curriculum “emphasizes social-emotional learning, the arts, and social justice in addition to core instruction,” according to its website. All residents are within a 2-mile drive of the neighborhood’s Hy-Vee supermarket, making it possible to run errands in minutes. The store is located along First Avenue to the west, adjacent to Mesa 503, a Salvadoran restaurant. Customers come back to this unassuming eatery for its popular pupusas and tamales. Across the street, Shakespeare’s Pub & Grill is a downhome bar open every day of the year to serve breakfast, wings, draft beer and its signature breaded tenderloin. Patrons can watch the big game, relax on the outdoor patio or play pool until 2 a.m. daily. Next door is Heyn’s Ice Cream, which has made and served ice cream on-site since 1989. Muscatine Avenue runs east to west through Eastside’s center, taking drivers and bikers straight to downtown Iowa City. Iowa City Transit buses service several stops along Muscatine three times hourly during working hours. Homes near Ralston Creek and the ponds in Wellington Condominiums are at increased risk of flooding. Noise levels in the neighborhood are moderate, with greater activity along First Avenue.