Dubuque, IABest Places to Live in the US in 2022

Advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, education, health care, insurance and financial services are key economic sectors in Dubuque. 

University of Dubuque, Clarke University & Loras College

Dubuque experiences all four seasons with gradually warming spring weather, pleasantly warm summers without oppressive heat, crisp fall temperatures ideal for being outdoors and really cold winters. January, the coldest month, has an average high of 27 degrees and an average low of 11 degrees and typically sees 10 inches of snowfall.

The 1,432-acre Mines of Spain Recreation Area offers untamed landscapes, more than 20 miles of hiking trails, six nature walks, paddling, picnicking spots, hunting and cross-country skiing. Visit the Julien Dubuque Monument and E.B. Lyons Interpretive and Nature Center, and don’t miss the incredible views from Horseshoe Bluff.

Dubuque’s cost of living is far below the national average, and 100% of its residents have access to high-speed internet. Crime rates are relatively low in the city. Dubuque offers resources for newcomers and relocating workers on its website.

With a focus on culture, community and connectedness, the locally owned River Lights Bookstore features a broad selection of titles and literary happenings from author events to special-interest book clubs like Chow Bella! for foodies and Page & Palette for art lovers.

Look below the surface to discover a fascinating world at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Animal encounters, a 4D theater and enlightening exhibits bring the history and culture of the river to life.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk, the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens features more than 60 types of gardens. Statuary is sprinkled throughout the 56 acres, which include a formal English garden, a Japanese garden and areas dedicated to specific plantings, a children’s playground, a veterans memorial, and walking, hiking and biking trails.

Check out the weekly wine menu at Wicked Dame or sample creative cocktails like the Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maya Angelou or Calamity Jane. There’s live music most weekends and an open mic on Tuesday nights. 

Built as a workaround to get up the steep bluff, Fenlon Place Elevator – commonly called the Fourth Street Elevator – is the world’s shortest and steepest scenic railway. Stretching only 296 feet in length, the cable car lifts passengers from Fourth Street straight up 189 feet to Fenlon Place. 

A strong economy, affordable housing options, and excellent health care and education systems make Dubuque a best place to live in Iowa.

With a landscape carved by the Mississippi River, Dubuque, IA, is a welcoming community that values diversity and boasts a flourishing housing market of fast-selling properties and prices consistently trending up. Homebuyers can expect homes for sale in Dubuque at a median price close to $218K. The Dubuque real estate market is diverse, offering newcomers anything from cozy starter homes to sleek downtown lofts, Victorian-era mansions on the Mississippi bluffs, and even rural acreage in popular neighborhoods like Eagle Point and Rockdale. If you’re considering investing in Dubuque IA real estate, contact a local real estate agent.