RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fastest shrinking, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the steepest population decline from the 2020 census to 2024. 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 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500-3.5%−12.5 pts

02Keokuk, IAIA9,510-2.4%+5.8 pts

03Charles City, IAIA7,013-2.2%−1.4 pts

04Windsor Heights, IAIA5,059-2.1%+5.3 pts

05Algona, IAIA5,309-2.0%+2.6 pts

06Knoxville, IAIA7,469-1.6%+4.5 pts

07Red Oak, IAIA5,388-1.5%−0.5 pts

08Oelwein, IAIA5,757-1.5%−4.5 pts

09Denison, IAIA8,214-1.3%−12.5 pts

10Creston, IAIA7,335-1.3%+2.6 pts

11Fort Madison, IAIA9,935-1.3%+6.4 pts

12Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013-1.3%+2.9 pts

13Muscatine, IAIA23,164-1.3%−0.5 pts

14Estherville, IAIA5,807-1.1%−0.1 pts

15Carroll, IAIA10,085-1.1%−6.6 pts

16Burlington, IAIA23,336-1.1%+0.3 pts

17Mason City, IAIA26,853-1.1%−1.5 pts

18Clear Lake, IAIA7,601-1.0%−0.8 pts

19Cherokee, IAIA5,122-0.9%+10.0 pts

20Maquoketa, IAIA6,027-0.9%−0.9 pts

21Washington, IAIA7,261-0.8%−0.5 pts

22Dubuque, IAIA59,148-0.8%−1.1 pts

23Des Moines, IAIA212,086-0.8%−3.6 pts

24Davenport, IAIA100,358-0.8%−4.0 pts

25Centerville, IAIA5,327-0.7%−0.5 pts

26Webster City, IAIA7,815-0.7%−4.3 pts

27Sheldon, IAIA5,575-0.7%−0.1 pts

28Decorah, IAIA7,417-0.7%−2.0 pts

29Grinnell, IAIA9,430-0.6%−2.9 pts

30Clinton, IAIA24,049-0.6%+4.3 pts

31Oskaloosa, IAIA11,493-0.5%−3.3 pts

32Waterloo, IAIA66,919-0.5%−3.9 pts

33Atlantic, IAIA6,676-0.4%+1.9 pts

34Ottumwa, IAIA25,319-0.4%−2.5 pts

35Newton, IAIA15,741-0.4%−5.8 pts

36Council Bluffs, IAIA62,680-0.3%−7.6 pts

37Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,935-0.3%−11.4 pts

38Clarinda, IAIA5,273-0.3%−11.8 pts

39Boone, IAIA12,471-0.3%−3.6 pts

40Fort Dodge, IAIA24,837-0.2%+2.8 pts

41Marshalltown, IAIA27,536+0.1%−3.2 pts

42Vinton, IAIA5,004+0.2%+0.2 pts

43Hiawatha, IAIA7,432+0.3%−29.6 pts

44Sioux City, IAIA86,356+0.4%−5.2 pts

45Fairfield, IAIA9,220+0.4%+3.1 pts

46Cedar Falls, IAIA41,240+0.4%−5.0 pts

47DeWitt, IAIA5,704+0.6%−11.3 pts

48Le Mars, IAIA10,760+0.7%−8.6 pts

49Spencer, IAIA11,218+0.7%−1.6 pts

50Asbury, IAIA6,035+0.8%−20.9 pts

51Nevada, IAIA6,974+0.8%−10.0 pts

52Marion, IAIA42,732+0.9%−28.0 pts

53Waverly, IAIA10,561+1.0%−4.1 pts

54Winterset, IAIA5,520+1.2%−12.5 pts

55Iowa City, IAIA76,229+1.2%−2.9 pts

56Johnston, IAIA25,065+1.3%−82.6 pts

57Indianola, IAIA16,829+1.3%−13.3 pts

58Eldridge, IAIA6,954+1.4%−21.8 pts

59Bettendorf, IAIA40,710+1.4%−10.0 pts

60Glenwood, IAIA5,287+1.4%−15.8 pts

61Storm Lake, IAIA11,590+1.4%−13.5 pts

62Spirit Lake, IAIA5,525+1.5%−8.6 pts

63Independence, IAIA6,312+1.6%+0.9 pts

64Ames, IAIA68,220+1.9%−5.6 pts

65Perry, IAIA8,208+1.9%−12.8 pts

66Osceola, IAIA5,679+2.0%−9.9 pts

67Clive, IAIA19,861+2.2%−70.1 pts

68Urbandale, IAIA48,570+2.2%−21.5 pts

69Pella, IAIA10,992+2.4%−3.6 pts

70Manchester, IAIA5,357+2.5%+0.2 pts

71Orange City, IAIA6,468+2.5%−10.5 pts

72Sioux Center, IAIA8,864+2.7%−15.6 pts

73Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,324+3.1%−16.7 pts

74North Liberty, IAIA21,976+3.2%−82.0 pts

75Anamosa, IAIA5,901+3.3%−4.4 pts

76West Des Moines, IAIA74,224+3.4%−43.0 pts

77Coralville, IAIA23,960+4.1%−42.1 pts

78Adel, IAIA7,098+4.5%+0.5 pts

79Grimes, IAIA17,405+6.3%−85.8 pts

80Ankeny, IAIA77,833+7.0%−39.0 pts

81Polk City, IAIA6,630+8.9%−13.9 pts

82Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239+9.7%−28.2 pts

83Altoona, IAIA22,796+9.9%−34.0 pts

84Norwalk, IAIA15,004+10.8%−9.4 pts

85Bondurant, IAIA9,647+16.2%−0.3 pts

86Waukee, IAIA34,890+22.1%−81.9 pts

87Tiffin, IAIA7,156+27.1%−86.7 pts

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES