$281,086Average Value$142Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Kalona known for Amish community, small schools and lower home prices
Home to less than 3,000 people, Kalona is a rural community steeped in rich history. The community is best known for its predominant Amish and Mennonite communities, which fuel a modest tourism industry with shops and guided bus tours. Kalona attracts folks looking for an escape from nearby Iowa City with bucolic surroundings, cost-efficient housing, and respected public and private schools. “There are a lot of really cool stores and it has that small-town feel. People are also moving there because of the smaller school systems,” says Matthew Lepic, a broker associate with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors with more than 20 years of real estate experience. “But it’s right south of Iowa City, so there are a lot of people moving there because the cost of living isn’t as much.”
Kalona is home to around 3,000 residents.
The streets of downtown Kalona feature thriving businesses of all kinds.
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New builds in subdivisions and 20th century homes
Kalona has a mix of established homes from the 1900s and new construction within city limits like SouthTown, a nearly 300-acre development with subdivisions and more than 90 acres of public parks, trails and fishing. Homes in town date back to the early 1900s with styles like bungalow, National, American Foursquare and Colonial Revival. Buyers can also find midcentury cottage, split-level and ranch-style homes. Kalona has a median price of $260,000, lower than the Iowa City median of about $300,000. “The price point is one of the biggest things here,” Lepic says. “We’re able to hit better price points because they have lower land costs.”
Historic homes around Kalona come in many shapes and sizes.
Neighborhoods on the edges of Kalona feature homes with as many as five bedrooms.
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Small public and private school options in Kalona
Mid-Prairie School District serves Kalona and the surrounding rural communities and receives a B-plus rating by Niche. The district has open enrollment and about 1,800 students. Mid-Prairie East Elementary School, rated B, and Mid-Prairie Middle School, rated B-minus, are both located in town. However, B-minus-rated Mid-Prairie High School is about 10 minutes away in nearby Wellman. With less than 400 students, the high school offers college credit through Advanced Placement classes or concurrent enrollment courses. Kalona also has private school options like Hillcrest Academy, a B-plus-rated private Christian middle school and high school about 10 miles away. Niche rates the high school as one of the top 5 Christian high schools in Iowa. Pathway Christian School, a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school, is just a few miles north of town.
The playgrounds of Mid-Prairie East Elementary keeps students entertained during recess.
Mid-Prairie Schools' mascot is the Golden Eagles and the logo can be seen throughout Kalona.
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Amish stores, local restaurants and specialty shops
Kalona’s Amish-owned stores and services are a highlight for residents and visitors alike. Most accept cash or checks only, and many Kalona businesses are closed on Sundays. A few miles outside of town, Amish-owned Stringtown Grocery stocks bulk items, spices, produce, meat and Amish-made goods. Tourists and locals both stop at Kalona Creamery for cheese curds and ice cream. As the “Quilt Capital of Iowa,” several quilt and fabric stores cater to area artisans. Mornings might start at Kalona Coffee House, while Tequila Grill is a casual Mexican lunchtime spot. Tuscan Moon Grill on Fifth is an Italian steakhouse with a sophisticated flair, and Kalona Chocolates and Yotty’s Ice Cream Shop have dessert covered. For a proper grocery run, residents drive 20 miles to Iowa City.
Kalona Creamery draws in visitors from Highway 1 to shop their local dairy goods.
The food at Tuscan Moon Grill is some of the best in Kalona.
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Outdoor fun from Kalona’s parks to nearby lakes and trails
Visitors to Kalona Historical Village’s outdoor museum are transported back to the frontier. At 30 acres, City Park is Kalona’s largest and features a playground, sports fields, a campground and the community pool. The semi-private Kalona Golf Club has a nine-hole course and is open to the public. Just a couple of miles outside town, SouthTown Recreation Area has more than 90 acres of public parks, trails and fishing. Riverside Casino and Resort, a regional attraction, is about 10 miles away. Locals are also about 30 miles from the Coralville Reservoir in North Liberty. “Most people go into North Liberty or that general area to go to the reservoir, which most of us just call the lake,” Lepic says. “A lot of time in Kalona, people go between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City for events, like University of Iowa games in Iowa City.”
Visitors to Kalona Historical Village can take guided tours of the grounds.
Kalona City Park has more than 30 acres of amenities for residents to enjoy.
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Within a 30-minute drive of Iowa City
The flat farm fields that surround Kalona are punctuated by grain silos and barns. Sidewalks line most streets, but the town is car-dependent. Many of the main paved roads have an extra lane for Amish buggies. Iowa City is about 20 miles away, or less than 30 minutes, and home to UI Health Care Medical Center, the closest hospital. Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, about 40 miles away, has domestic flights, but Des Moines International Airport offers more options about 125 miles away, a roughly two-hour drive. Flooding is a possibility along the English River and drainage ways that run north and south through town. The river floods at least once a year in Washington County, and the last major local flood occurred in 2013. Kalona participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which offers federally backed insurance to communities where flood losses are not typically covered.
The University of Iowa Hospital is just minutes away from Kalona.
Des Moines International Airport is the largest airport in Iowa.
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Kalona Fall Festival has food, entertainment and history
Kalona Historical Village hosts the annual Fall Festival — the town’s biggest event — every September. Locals look forward to historical demonstrations, craft vendors, live entertainment and plenty of food. The bi-weekly farmers market is held every second and fourth Saturday downtown from May through early October.
Mennonite churches and houses of worship in town
Kalona’s Amish and Mennonite communities predate statehood, and both have different denominations and beliefs. There are several houses of worship in Kalona, including Mennonite, United Methodist and non-denominational churches. Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a few miles outside town.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Grace Kim
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Julie Chown,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Kalona, IA sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Kalona, IA over the last 12 months is $260,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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