Choosing an Iowa City Neighborhood: A Mom’s Guide to Tiffin

Moving to the Iowa City Area?

Check out our “Moving to Iowa City Guide” and learn everything you need to know, from buying and selling your house, to schools, grocery stores, neighborhoods, and more! 

Tiffin is a quiet, small Iowa town in Johnson County, approximately eight miles west of Iowa City. It is located in the Clear Creek Amana School District and is home to many parks, several restaurants, and is developing VERY quickly, with new neighborhood areas being developed each year. Housing is a mix of multi-family homes/apartments, townhomes, and single-family houses. Sidewalks abound, making family walks an enjoyable evening activity.

Along with a much sought-after small-town feel, comes limited amenities, services, and resources. However, it is just a hop, skip, and jump away (approximately 4 miles) from Coralville, where you’ll find many more restaurants, stores, and services. Just inside the city limits of Coralville is the Coral Ridge Mall, which houses the Iowa Children’s Museum, Target, Marcus Theatres, and an indoor ice rink.


A Mom's Guide to Tiffin


A Local Mom’s Guide to Tiffin


Restaurants/Food

Even though Tiffin is one of the smaller communities in the area, there is a nice selection of restaurants and places to get food when you don’t want to cook at home.


Churches

There are three churches located within Tiffin city limits. Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty provide even more options to choose from.


Parks/Recreation

Tiffin may be small, but it boasts a great selection of parks! A couple of new neighborhood parks were installed during the summer of 2016 and additions/improvements were made to Tiffin City Park over the last couple of years, including a new concession stand/restroom building, splash pad, tennis courts, and a dog park. Kent Park is only a few miles west and includes a variety of outdoor activities for the whole family.

  • Splash pad at Tififn City Park
    The splash pad at Tiffin City Park

    Deerview Park

  • Old City Hall/Fire Station Park
  • Potter Park
  • Railroad Park
  • Tiffin City Park: includes a splash pad, playground, ball fields, soccer fields, restrooms, picnic shelters, and parking.
  • Timber Ridge Nature Trail
  • Woodfield Park
  • Community Gardens
  • F.W. Kent Park (Johnson park located between Tiffin and Oxford): includes camping, fishing, swimming, walking/hiking trails, playground, and picnic shelters.

Tiffin does not currently have a recreation center, but plans are in the works for one in the next few years. The city established its own Parks & Recreation Department in 2020.


Gas Stations/Convenience Stores/Grocery Stores

There are three gas stations/convenience stores in Tiffin. They all serve whole, cooked pizzas. If you shop at Hy-Vee, you have two close options one a few miles down Highway 6 in Coralville, and one a few miles down Forever Green Road in North Liberty. Tiffin has its own Fareway that opened in 2019.


Healthcare

A newer addition to the City of Tiffin is a medical building housing a family practice clinic, physical therapy/rehab, and pharmacy and just down the road from the medical building is a vet clinic. There’s also a dental office across from the high school.


Public Schools/Library

Tiffin is in the Clear Creek Amana School District, which currently includes four elementary schools (one in Tiffin), a 4th/5th grade center (located in Tiffin), a middle school, and a high school. The middle school is also home to the Springmier Community Library, which is open to the public.

Hand painted mural in Tiffin Elementary School
Hand painted mural in the hallway at Tiffin Elementary

Childcare/Preschool

In addition to the public schools located in Tiffin, there are also three childcare/preschool facilities, as well as Before and After School Programs.


Entertainment/Events

If you’re in need of a place to hold an event or wedding, Bella Sala Event Center is a great place to check out. They have also hosted concerts in the past. Tiffin also hosts an annual Tiffun Creek Fest each summer.


Other Services

Park Place 380

Just off of the Forever Green exit in Tiffin, Park Place is under construction and taking shape. It boasts entertainment, restaurants, and upscale living all in one place. Check out the plans for Park Place.


If you are thinking of moving to the Iowa City area and aren’t sure of which part of town to settle in, Tiffin would be a great choice if you’re looking for an area that provides a small-town feel, is full of families, or is an easy drive into the University of Iowa campus.

Photo: Bails Team Urban AcresABOUT THE BAILS TEAM: URBAN ACRES REAL ESTATE

Hiring the Bails Team at Urban Acres Real Estate means you’ll have access to the real estate expertise you need anytime, anywhere. This real estate team includes Mike Bails, Phil O’Brien, Marcy Willier, Chelsey Riggan, Briley DeSmet, and Matt VandeBerg. Together, they have over 50 years of combined experience and a deep understanding of the entire residential and commercial real estate picture in the Iowa City area – it’s what they like to call a panoramic view of real estate.

If you are ready to buy or sell, give them a call today and tell them Iowa City Moms sent you!

REALTORS®
Mike Bails | 319.321.5500
Phil O’Brien | 319.331.1701
Marcy Willier | 319.936.5899
Chelsey Riggan-Kuepker | 319.631.1434
Briley DeSmet | 319.330.5078
Matt VandeBerg | 605.321.1700


 

Becky
Becky is a Minnesota Native and Wisconsin Badger fan living in the heart of Hawkeye Country. Since graduating from high school, she has lived in Duluth, MN; Birmingham, UK; Minneapolis, MN; Louisville, KY; and Madison, WI, but is now happy to call Iowa City home. She and her husband have been married for ten years and have a spirited four-year-old daughter and a mischievous baby boy. Becky juggles working from home and keeping two kids happy each and every day. In her free time, she enjoys working her side business, spending time with friends, relaxing with a good book, and eating snacks.

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