RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Highest poverty rate, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2023 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDHighest median household income Lowest median household income Highest per-capita income Lowest poverty rate Most income inequality (Gini)Most equal income distribution

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

01Iowa City, IAIA76,22926.3%+21%

02Ames, IAIA68,22025.5%+25%

03Red Oak, IAIA5,38821.9%+113%

04Centerville, IAIA5,32721.3%+17%

05Fairfield, IAIA9,22020.7%+43%

06Muscatine, IAIA23,16419.1%+76%

07Anamosa, IAIA5,90118.5%+130%

08Oelwein, IAIA5,75718.5%+36%

09Clinton, IAIA24,04918.5%+48%

10Cherokee, IAIA5,12218.5%+163%

11Keokuk, IAIA9,51018.3%+54%

12Denison, IAIA8,21417.5%+45%

13Atlantic, IAIA6,67617.4%+44%

14Ottumwa, IAIA25,31917.2%+13%

15Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49316.6%+21%

16Waterloo, IAIA66,91916.6%+21%

17Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83715.9%+37%

18Creston, IAIA7,33515.8%+37%

19Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50015.7%+54%

20Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24015.7%−6%

21Sheldon, IAIA5,57515.3%+102%

22Sioux City, IAIA86,35615.3%+37%

23Davenport, IAIA100,35815.2%+8%

24Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68015.1%+46%

25Fort Madison, IAIA9,93515.0%+23%

26Des Moines, IAIA212,08615.0%+32%

27Marshalltown, IAIA27,53614.3%+14%

28Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.2%+16%

29Spencer, IAIA11,21814.0%+47%

30Hiawatha, IAIA7,43213.7%+205%

31Charles City, IAIA7,01313.3%+19%

32Burlington, IAIA23,33613.2%+5%

33Coralville, IAIA23,96013.0%+30%

34Washington, IAIA7,26112.8%+37%

35Dubuque, IAIA59,14812.7%+34%

36Estherville, IAIA5,80712.6%+56%

37Vinton, IAIA5,00412.6%+29%

38Knoxville, IAIA7,46912.5%+12%

39Clarinda, IAIA5,27312.1%−26%

40Mason City, IAIA26,85312.0%+20%

41Glenwood, IAIA5,28711.8%+24%

42Manchester, IAIA5,35711.4%+17%

43Orange City, IAIA6,46811.2%+134%

44Grinnell, IAIA9,43011.1%−17%

45Newton, IAIA15,74111.1%+62%

46Waverly, IAIA10,56110.9%+74%

47Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93510.8%+44%

48Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01310.7%+7%

49Winterset, IAIA5,52010.3%+23%

50Johnston, IAIA25,06510.2%+147%

51Nevada, IAIA6,9749.9%+78%

52Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3249.5%+73%

53Le Mars, IAIA10,7609.2%+47%

54Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2398.9%+596%

55Perry, IAIA8,2088.9%−27%

56Carroll, IAIA10,0858.9%+70%

57Webster City, IAIA7,8158.6%+18%

58West Des Moines, IAIA74,2248.4%+85%

59Altoona, IAIA22,7968.3%+52%

60Clear Lake, IAIA7,6018.3%+9%

61Boone, IAIA12,4718.3%−1%

62Marion, IAIA42,7328.1%+55%

63Decorah, IAIA7,4178.1%+2%

64Tiffin, IAIA7,1567.6%+76%

65Independence, IAIA6,3127.6%+8%

66Waukee, IAIA34,8907.4%+150%

67Clive, IAIA19,8617.3%+107%

68Adel, IAIA7,0987.2%+78%

69Storm Lake, IAIA11,5907.0%−40%

70Algona, IAIA5,3096.9%−37%

71Urbandale, IAIA48,5706.8%+82%

72Polk City, IAIA6,6306.7%+179%

73Bettendorf, IAIA40,7106.7%+41%

74Indianola, IAIA16,8296.4%−11%

75Osceola, IAIA5,6796.4%−16%

76Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5256.3%−4%

77Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0596.2%+21%

78Bondurant, IAIA9,6476.2%+8%

79North Liberty, IAIA21,9766.1%+10%

80Pella, IAIA10,9926.0%−23%

81Grimes, IAIA17,4054.4%+35%

82Ankeny, IAIA77,8334.2%+4%

83Norwalk, IAIA15,0044.2%+74%

84Asbury, IAIA6,0353.2%−20%

85DeWitt, IAIA5,7042.8%−54%

86Sioux Center, IAIA8,8642.2%−69%

87Eldridge, IAIA6,9541.3%−70%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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