Dubuque Area, Iowa/Illinois

Homes for Sale in the Dubuque, Iowa Area

Avg. Home Price: $358K

Search houses for sale in Dubuque, IA. Learn about home prices, active listings, and the surrounding community.

A unique history, an active and family-oriented community & a growing focus on technology.

The Dubuque area attracts plenty of visitors each year, but the community’s focus on the future is what keeps people around. Many neighborhoods, including Downtown Dubuque, Eastern Dubuque, and Peosta, have been refurbished in recent years, with an emphasis on technology and growth.

Take a look at current homes for sale in the Dubuque area while you learn more about this thriving community and its surrounding cities.

The Masterpiece on the Mississippi: About the Dubuque Area

Dubuque is the oldest town in Iowa, situated on limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in the heart of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The city of Dubuque was ranked as the third most beautiful place to live in the United States by USA Today Magazine. In 2009, IBM chose Dubuque to locate a 1,300 employee Information Technology Service Center in a downtown office building that is now on the National Historic Register. The Dubuque area is home to a wide variety of different people, with 2.9 million of them living within 100 miles of the city in college towns like Madison, Wisconsin, and Iowa City. Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee are only three hours away, and if you travel just a bit further on, you’ll be in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Community

Whether you’re a tourist looking for new experiences or a local wanting the perfect meal at any price across Iowa and Illinois, everything is in close proximity. It only takes about 15-20 minutes to drive around the whole city of Dubuque and the surrounding areas include a wide range of generations with something to offer each one.

The Dubuque area has a suburban vibe perfect for raising a family. It also has a large population of young professionals. With just enough community events to keep things interesting, the area is known as “a small big city.” Residents enjoy top-notch public and private schools, as well as four colleges (seven colleges in the tri-states, the seventh-best rated School District in the country, and the Senior High School stands in the top 100), inexpensive housing, a great job market, plenty of tasty restaurants, and a plethora of beautiful Iowa views. Finding your people and real estate in Dubuque, Iowa won’t be hard to do.

Other communities include East Dubuque, just across the river and home to a very active river community, as well as Asbury, just adjacent to Dubuque. Looking for something a little quieter? Check out Sherrill, a popular tourist destination but still peaceful, or Bellevue, which offers a laid-back, small-town atmosphere with expansive countryside to sit back and take in.

Things to Do Around the Dubuque Area

There is something for everyone to enjoy in Dubuque every season. Friendly and welcoming, with beautiful murals and raw metal and brick textures everywhere, the city offers a distinctive vibe—a bar and art scene intermingled with a family-oriented atmosphere and exciting outdoor experiences.

Fall
The limestone bluffs come alive in fall and go for miles. These rolling hills do not disappoint when it comes to the vibrant changing of colors that fall brings. From farmer’s markets and pumpkin patches to apple orchards and local farms, fall is certainly picturesque here.

Winter
The majesty of the rolling hills blanketed by snow is truly a sight to see. Whether you’d prefer to stay in and cozy up with the family or take a more active approach to the season, you’ll always have something to do. It’s no secret that it gets pretty cold around here in the wintertime, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay inside. Take advantage of the slopes at Sundown Mountain (suitable for all ages and levels), cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Swiss Valley Nature Preserve or Mines of Spain Recreation Area, and of course, don’t skip Brewfest on Ice.

Spring
This is the season the city is all about. Outdoor markets and dining, hiking (check out Swiss Valley, the Mines of Spain, and Eagle Point Park), and of course, watching the beauty of the Mississippi River thaw as traffic breaks through at Lock & Dam #11.

Summer
You probably guessed you’ll find most folks on the Mississippi River in the summertime. Whether you want to rent a pontoon or have a yacht cruise you around, catching rays on the beach is a favorite pastime. Want to escape the heat? Head to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium or take in all three bordering states (Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa) from the world’s shortest, steepest railway, the Fenelon Place Elevator.

Working in the Dubuque Area

Dubuque, Iowa, has an exciting tech scene but that’s not all. The community has had a long-standing manufacturing scene and a thriving service sector. Dubuque is now the major retail, tourism, medical, financial services, publishing, and education center for the tri-state area.

Working in Dubuque offers diverse employment opportunities. In fact, many companies call Dubuque their home including IBM, John Deere, Diamond Jo Casino, Heartland Financial USA, Kendall Hunt Publishing, the University of Dubuque, Woodward Communications, Cottingham & Butler, Flexsteel Industries, and more.

Explore Homes in the Dubuque Area

Ruhl & Ruhl offers plenty of homes for sale in the Dubuque, IA area for you to choose from. Continue browsing this page to see all houses for sale in the Dubuque area, as well as learn about Dubuque, Iowa real estate. If you need to do a little more research before buying, check out the pages below for additional options:

Careers at Ruhl&Ruhl

If you’re looking for new career opportunities in the Iowa area, we’re always looking for folks to join our Ruhl&Ruhl team. Check out our careers page for more information.

Interested in seeing a property in person? Stop by and pay us a visit at:

Nearest Ruhl&Ruhl Office
600 Star Brewery Drive Suite 300
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone Number: (563) 441-1776

Dubuque Area History

France initially controlled the Dubuque Area land, but later ceded control to Spain in 1763. The first European-American settler of Dubuque was Julien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785. In 1803, the Dubuque Area was acquired by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Dubuque officially became a city in 1857 and is one of the oldest cities in Iowa.

Bellevue was originally known as “Belleview” or “Bell’s View” after John D. Bell, one of the earliest residents. It became a city in 1833 and is the oldest town in Jackson County.

Asbury achieved city status in 1933 with around 27 citizens. County boards and supervisors were not yet empowered to issue beer permits in rural areas, so in order to legalize beer sales in the area, Asbury needed to become incorporated as a city.

East Dubuque was established in 1853, and has a history that earned it the nickname “Sin City.”

While the rest of the country was following Prohibition, people in East Dubuque continued to produce and sell illegal alcohol because it had easy access to a key ingredient, corn. It is said that the city even had a lantern system established to communicate to town residents. It’s also rumored that Al Capone was a frequent visitor.

Dubuque Area Community

From the bluffs with historic homes overlooking the Mississippi River to the renovated downtown condos to the new construction homes in the rural areas, the Dubuque Area offers many different housing options.

With 18 schools and over 10,500 students, Dubuque Area schools understand the impact education has on children and families. Both Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa were named among America’s Best High Schools by US News within the past three years. All schools in the area have a strong focus on graduation rates, technology and learning, life after high school and excellence in music.

The beautiful landscape of the Dubuque Area provides scenic areas for residents and tourists alike to enjoy. Dubuque, Iowa has multiple parks within city limits, including McAleece Park and Recreation Complex, which has a concession stand surrounded by multiple softball diamonds. A.Y. McDonald Park and Veterans Memorial Park also provide plenty of other amenities including walking paths, playground equipment and other sports courts. The Bellevue State Park offers plenty of trails, a nature center for learning and camping. Gramercy Park in East Dubuque, Illinois offers visitors a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River and the surrounding cliffs.

The Dubuque County Library has multiple branches available to visit, including the Dubuque County Library – Asbury Branch. Many of the branches have events and programs available for visitors of all ages. Bellevue, Iowa and East Dubuque, Illinois also have their own public libraries available to residents and visitors alike.

Attractions and Entertainment

Port of Dubuque: The Port of Dubuque in downtown Dubuque, Iowa offers so much to do for people of any age. Visit the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium with your family to learn more about the nature and wildlife that surrounds you on the Mississippi River. Take the next day to enjoy the indoor waterpark experience of Grand Harbor Resort or take the afternoon to walk along the trails or check out the many activities offered at the Port of Dubuque Marina. For the adults, be sure to spend some alone time at Diamond Jo Casino and Stone Cliff Winery. And if you’re looking for another location where you could potentially host an event, be sure to check out the Grand River Center.

East Dubuque Marinas: East Dubuque, Illinois offers plenty of marinas for boat storage along the river and even lakes in the area. Whether you’re looking to purchase, store, or maintain your boat, you will find a place to do it in East Dubuque. Check out Frentess Marina, Midtown Marina, and Bent Prop Marina.

Fenelon Place Elevator Company: Have you ever ridden an elevator up a cliff? The Fenelon Place Elevator Company in Dubuque, Iowa takes you on the shortest, steepest scenic railway ride in the world. Built in 1882 as a shortcut up the hill, this elevator has had a few remodels due to fires. Now, it provides magnificent views of the historic Dubuque business district, the Mississippi River, and three states at once.

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