Eye-opening fact: Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature, the world’s third after Edinburgh and Melbourne. (Grads from University of Iowa’s Writers Workshop, which dates back more than 80 years, include John Irving and Jane Smiley.) Those who call the city home are one of its greatest strengths, with the citizenry ranking Top 5 for Educational Attainment in the country. Nearly 34% of the area’s population has a bachelor’s degree, and close to 28% has earned a master’s. The city ranks #32 for Foreign Born Residents (just over 14%, according to the most recent census data), while Household Income, at a median of approximately $61,000, ranks at #34. Several large projects are currently in development, including the $50-million, 5,000-seat Xtream Arena as well as the university’s $33.5-million Brain Sciences Building and $50-million Stanley Museum of Art.