Great schools and a small-town vibe draw buyers to Solon
A population of 3,000 people might sound small to some, but to Solon, it’s monumental. “Our population grew by 48% between 2010 and 2020. We’re one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa, and we’re averaging 40 new homes a year,” says Cami Rasmussen, the city manager, former mayor and resident of 30 years. “The big story here is the schools. It brings a lot of families to town.” Matthew Lepic counts his family among them. “All my kids go to school here, and my entire family moved out to Solon for the school system,” says Lepic, a broker associate with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors with more than 20 years of experience. “The pricing and the cost to build here are high, but people move here because it’s got a small-town atmosphere between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.” Solon has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national score of 4 out of 10.
The Solon Spartans are the heartbeat of the community
Solon Community School District serves about 1,500 students and receives a B-plus rating from Niche. “A lot of other schools are consolidating, but we have an elementary, intermediate, middle and high school in town,” Rasmussen says. Solon High School, rated B-plus, offers dual credit courses and career academies through Kirkwood Community College. “We’re like any small town. Your school is the heartbeat of your community,” Rasmussen says. “We have the Solon Spartan on the water tower. If you drive through our main street, you’ll see a lot of orange and black, and a lot of placemaking features have those colors. It’s part of our identity.”
New homes at a higher price than Iowa City
New construction dominates the market, but there are some older homes in the center of Solon, many of which were built between the early 1900s through the ’70s. Still, most of the available housing stock was built within the past five years and features New Traditional and Craftsman-style influences. The median sale price of a single-family home is $475,000, much higher than the Iowa City median of roughly $300,000. Condos and townhouses can range from $250,000 to $475,000 depending on the size, age and community amenities. Waterfront homes on Lake Macbride can sell for $700,000 and top $1 million.
Less than 30 minutes from Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
Solon is part of a seven-county area known as The Corridor, a stretch of Eastern Iowa between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Cedar Rapids is a technological and financial hub about 20 miles north, and Iowa City — home to the University of Iowa and its hospital system — is 10 miles south. It’s a straight shot on Interstate 80 to Des Moines and Des Moines International Airport about 120 miles away, or less than two hours.
Parks and trails in Solon, plus nearby waterfront fun
The city has six parks, including Solon Nature and Recreation Area, a nearly 60-acre park with a splash pad, paved trail and sports facilities. “It’s also the trailhead for the Hoover Trail. We’re a hub for many of the Eastern Iowa Trails, and we have a ton of bike enthusiasts,” Rasmussen says. “We’re surrounded by a state park with a lake and the Coralville Reservoir, so we’re a pretty big lake community.” Lake Macbride State Park has camping, trails and an 800-acre lake for boating, swimming and fishing. Saddleback Ridge Golf Course is open to the public. Residents are also within a short drive of games at the University of Iowa.
Restaurants like Big Grove Brewpub has roots in Solon
“In years gone by, it would have been a drive-thru town, but now Solon is really a place of vibrant activity, and our restaurants are a big part of that,” Rasmussen says. Downtown has spots like The Eat Shop bakery and Bluebird Cafe, a traditional café with breakfast all day. El Sol Mexican Cuisine is a favorite for margaritas and street tacos, while Uncle Sang’s serves up sushi and pho. “You have Big Grove, and it’s the first one they ever had. They’ve expanded to other cities,” Lepic says, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Omaha, Nebraska. “There’s Sam’s Main Street Market for groceries, but a lot of people go to Cedar Rapids or Iowa City.”
Solon Beef Days brings the community together
The highlight of the year is Solon Beef Days, a weekend-long celebration held during the third weekend of July. “It brings in close to 20,000 people on a Friday and Saturday night and it’s an all-in experience for the community,” Rasmussen says. “You’re either helping with Beef Days, going to Beef Days, or your kids are participating in Beef Days.” The festival features live entertainment, a parade, carnival rides and plenty of food. “We host a famous hay bale toss,” Rasmussen adds. “Being so close to the University of Iowa, we usually get a few of the football players to come and throw these 70-pound bales 12 feet over their heads, and it’s quite competitive.” Solon Beef Days raises funds for the community, and the event committee has donated nearly $400,000 to local causes and scholarships since 1971.
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
