$923,396Average Value$268Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Luxurious living with proximity to the University
A stone sign reading "Walnut Ridge" marks the entrance to one of Iowa City's most prestigious neighborhoods, which is located less than 4 miles west of downtown. Each home has a unique architectural design, and an active Homeowner Association ensures the neighborhood always looks its best. Residents are minutes from the University of Iowa and its surrounding hospitals, making this a popular spot for professors and healthcare workers. It's also appealing to families, being close to an elementary school and one of the best high schools in the state. But all of these benefits come at a price; the community's average home value, $880,000, is nearly three times the average home price in the region.
Walnut Ridge is an exclusive neighborhood on the west side of Iowa City.
The homes of Walnut Ridge sit on large lots surrounded by green space and mature trees.
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Exclusive custom-built homes with large yards
With only 100 homes in the neighborhood, it's tough to snag a home in Walnut Ridge. All of the lots were sold in the 1990s, and the last two empty spaces filled up in 2024. The houses tend to have modern interiors, with a sense of old-school charm from high-arched entrances and stone exteriors. New Traditional architecture is the most common, but other influences include stately Colonial columns, quaint French rooflines and charming Queen Anne-inspired Bay windows. Homes sit along curving streets that end in cul-de-sacs, with each street named after a type of tree. Lengthy and circular driveways are common. Elaborate landscaping offers privacy on 1-acre lots — the biggest yards available this close to the city center. Homes are 4,000 square feet on average, with smaller homes going for $700,000 and the largest homes reaching $1.6 million.
Walnut Ridge homes vary from modern and contemporary to classic and stately.
A Prairie style home sits at the end of the quietest cul-de-sac in Walnut Ridge.
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Well-maintained green space, golf and pickleball
Large lots and quiet streets make the neighborhood an idyllic place to call home. "It's very park-like because a reasonable amount of land is held in commons and maintained by the Homeowner Association," Knecht says. "And not every street has a sidewalk, which adds to a more rural, rustic feeling." About half the homes have wooded backyards, and some sit next to the Clear Creek Trail, which runs to the university. The neighborhood also borders a suite of University of Iowa sports facilities, some of which are open to the public. Finkbine Golf Course has 18 holes and a driving range, and the Hawkeye Recreation Center has tennis and pickleball courts.
The Clear Creek Greenbelt trail and wooded area sits just to the north of Walnut Ridge.
Clear Creek runs along the trail on the north side of Walnut Ridge.
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Kids attend Iowa's top-rated high school
As part of the Iowa City Community School District, neighborhood kids are zoned to attend Borlaug Elementary School, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche and is within a 20-minute walk from many homes. Then it's on to Northwest Junior High School, rated B. One of the big draws to this neighborhood is that it is just across Melrose Avenue from the highly rated West Senior High School zone. With a top grade of A-plus, Niche ranks West High as the No. 1 public high school in Iowa. The school offers engineering programs in partnership with the University of Iowa and specialized academies with Kirkwood Community College.
The University of Iowa is centrally located in Iowa City and ties into the entire city.
The adjacent West High School is the highest rated high school in the state.
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A community united by University culture
The college-town vibe of Iowa City is strong in Walnut Ridge — but not from a student's perspective. The University of Iowa and the surrounding hospitals are just 3 miles away, drawing in professors and healthcare workers. "Many of the people here work at the hospital or the university, so there's a sense of commonality," Knecht says. More than that, Knecht says, the university adds a sense of culture that unites the community. The Hatcher Auditorium, just west of the Iowa River, hosts Broadway plays and world-class musicians, and Kinnick Stadium gets packed on football game days. So, from waving hello on morning walks to running into each other on the university campus, Walnut Ridge residents know each other's faces and enjoy spending time together. "We have all these cultural events on all sides, and then we also have people who are interested in many of those same things," Knecht says. "My wife and I go out to dinner once a month with another couple just next door."
Kinnick Stadium hosts 70,000 people on home gamedays in the fall.
Walnut Ridge is a sought-after neighborhood with large lots and beautiful homes.
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HOA living with a sense of neighborhood pride
All properties are part of the Walnut Ridge Homeowner Association, which charges $750 a year. The HOA has specific standards, such as well-maintained yards and no cars parked on the street. "The HOA really doesn't have to enforce the standards that much because of the people who live here — they are all geared towards maintaining this area," says Terrence Knecht, the association's president. "You see people out on their tractors cutting their own lawns." The HOA also holds an annual ice cream social at the end of summer.
Large homes on cul-de-sacs are the norm in Walnut Ridge.
Several cul-de-sacs give many Walnut Ridge homes a secluded feeling.
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Getting around outside of Walnut Ridge
The nearest shopping and dining hub is 2nd Street, which runs 2 miles north of Walnut Ridge. The commercial corridor is home to grocery staples like Hy-Vee and New Pioneer Food Co-op, which specializes in organic foods. There are a few chains and local restaurants, too. Chez Grace stands out with reservation-only dining and a prix fixe menu of creative French haute cuisine. Downtown Iowa City is 3.5 miles away for more shopping and dining. Just south of Walnut Ridge, U.S. Route 218 connects to Interstate 80 in about four minutes.
Coralville's 2nd St is the nearest retail corridor with grocery stores, restaurants and shopping
One grocery option for Walnut Ridge residents is New Pioneer Food Co-op.
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
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Reach out to
Taylor Blazek,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
The Eastern Iowa
31 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Walnut Ridge
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Walnut Ridge Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Walnut Ridge, Iowa City sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Walnut Ridge, Iowa City over the last 12 months is $1,094,950, up 33% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
WALNUT RIDGE MODERN CLASSIC with deco-inspired accents. This in-town acreage is situated on a picturesque one acre property with close proximity to elementary and high schools, Iowa Health Care and freeway. With four bedrooms, 2.5 baths this home offers phenomenal natural light throughout from an expanse of Andersen windows and southern exposure. Designed with contemporary elements including
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Taylor Blazek,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
241
Median Age
43
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
26.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$196,153
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$222,609
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.8%
College Graduates
74.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
50.6%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
12°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
30''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
25/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
1/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
32/ 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.
