RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fastest shrinking, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Clinton, IAIA24,049-9.0%+84%

02Keokuk, IAIA9,510-8.2%−1%

03Oelwein, IAIA5,757-7.7%−352%

04Estherville, IAIA5,807-7.2%+653%

05Fort Madison, IAIA9,935-7.1%−9%

06Decorah, IAIA7,417-6.6%−592%

07Burlington, IAIA23,336-6.6%+383%

08Vinton, IAIA5,004-6.1%+30866%

09Atlantic, IAIA6,676-4.5%+91%

10Creston, IAIA7,335-3.8%−4%

11Glenwood, IAIA5,287-3.7%−122%

12Clarinda, IAIA5,273-3.6%−132%

13Charles City, IAIA7,013-3.3%+299%

14Webster City, IAIA7,815-3.0%−185%

15Mason City, IAIA26,853-2.6%−681%

16Red Oak, IAIA5,388-2.5%+138%

17Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013-2.5%−41%

18Manchester, IAIA5,357-2.2%−194%

19Centerville, IAIA5,327-2.1%+938%

20Waterloo, IAIA66,919-1.6%−147%

21Boone, IAIA12,471-1.6%−148%

22Anamosa, IAIA5,901-1.5%−119%

23Fort Dodge, IAIA24,837-1.3%−55%

24Algona, IAIA5,309-1.3%−71%

25Clear Lake, IAIA7,601-1.2%+330%

26Cherokee, IAIA5,122-1.0%−91%

27Fairfield, IAIA9,220-0.5%−81%

28Maquoketa, IAIA6,027-0.2%−1394%

29Marshalltown, IAIA27,536+0.1%−96%

30Spencer, IAIA11,218+0.8%−64%

31Oskaloosa, IAIA11,493+0.8%−71%

32Denison, IAIA8,214+0.9%−92%

33Council Bluffs, IAIA62,680+0.9%−87%

34Pella, IAIA10,992+1.1%−82%

35Washington, IAIA7,261+1.2%−410%

36Independence, IAIA6,312+1.6%+134%

37Perry, IAIA8,208+1.7%−88%

38Nevada, IAIA6,974+1.9%−83%

39Ottumwa, IAIA25,319+2.0%−3%

40Davenport, IAIA100,358+2.0%−36%

41Carroll, IAIA10,085+2.2%−61%

42Hiawatha, IAIA7,432+2.3%−92%

43Winterset, IAIA5,520+3.1%−77%

44Newton, IAIA15,741+3.3%−39%

45Dubuque, IAIA59,148+3.5%+1348%

46DeWitt, IAIA5,704+3.6%−70%

47Cedar Falls, IAIA41,240+3.7%−31%

48Grinnell, IAIA9,430+3.8%+65%

49Sioux City, IAIA86,356+3.8%−33%

50Knoxville, IAIA7,469+3.9%−163%

51Muscatine, IAIA23,164+4.0%−595%

52Orange City, IAIA6,468+4.4%−66%

53Des Moines, IAIA212,086+5.3%+85%

54Waverly, IAIA10,561+5.3%+5%

55Sheldon, IAIA5,575+6.2%−1164%

56Storm Lake, IAIA11,590+6.3%−58%

57Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500+7.0%−22%

58Indianola, IAIA16,829+7.1%−51%

59Le Mars, IAIA10,760+7.6%−18%

60Windsor Heights, IAIA5,059+8.1%−209%

61Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,935+9.0%−18%

62Osceola, IAIA5,679+9.9%−17%

63Iowa City, IAIA76,229+10.3%+147%

64Spirit Lake, IAIA5,525+12.4%+23%

65Ames, IAIA68,220+12.7%+69%

66Urbandale, IAIA48,570+15.5%−35%

67Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239+15.5%−59%

68Sioux Center, IAIA8,864+16.8%−8%

69Bettendorf, IAIA40,710+17.7%+56%

70Coralville, IAIA23,960+18.0%−61%

71Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,324+18.6%−6%

72Eldridge, IAIA6,954+19.0%−18%

73Marion, IAIA42,732+19.5%−33%

74Clive, IAIA19,861+20.4%−72%

75West Des Moines, IAIA74,224+21.4%−54%

76Altoona, IAIA22,796+34.6%−21%

77Johnston, IAIA25,065+39.3%−53%

78Asbury, IAIA6,035+42.5%+96%

79Norwalk, IAIA15,004+43.1%+113%

80Ankeny, IAIA77,833+48.9%+7%

81North Liberty, IAIA21,976+53.1%−38%

82Polk City, IAIA6,630+62.2%+172%

83Adel, IAIA7,098+67.1%+1593%

84Waukee, IAIA34,890+73.6%−29%

85Grimes, IAIA17,405+86.7%−6%

86Bondurant, IAIA9,647+90.8%+449%

87Tiffin, IAIA7,156+131.7%+16%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES