RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Highest poverty rate, Iowa cities · 1990

Iowa cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (1990 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 residents in poverty Most six-figure households

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS –

01Centerville, IAIA5,32724.8%–

02Ames, IAIA68,22024.1%–

03Iowa City, IAIA76,22923.4%–

04Vinton, IAIA5,00418.4%–

05Oelwein, IAIA5,75717.3%–

06Denison, IAIA8,21417.3%–

07Maquoketa, IAIA6,02717.1%–

08Fairfield, IAIA9,22016.9%–

09Waterloo, IAIA66,91916.9%–

10Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24016.8%–

11Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49316.4%–

12Keokuk, IAIA9,51016.4%–

13Ottumwa, IAIA25,31916.3%–

14Davenport, IAIA100,35815.6%–

15Creston, IAIA7,33515.3%–

16Independence, IAIA6,31215.2%–

17Clarinda, IAIA5,27314.7%–

18Estherville, IAIA5,80714.6%–

19Knoxville, IAIA7,46914.5%–

20Charles City, IAIA7,01314.0%–

21Sioux City, IAIA86,35613.8%–

22Burlington, IAIA23,33613.7%–

23Manchester, IAIA5,35713.1%–

24Osceola, IAIA5,67913.1%–

25Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32412.9%–

26Des Moines, IAIA212,08612.9%–

27Fort Madison, IAIA9,93512.8%–

28Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83712.8%–

29Clinton, IAIA24,04912.7%–

30Winterset, IAIA5,52012.7%–

31Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68012.2%–

32Muscatine, IAIA23,16412.0%–

33Decorah, IAIA7,41711.8%–

34Algona, IAIA5,30911.8%–

35Tiffin, IAIA7,15611.8%–

36Perry, IAIA8,20811.5%–

37Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52511.3%–

38Coralville, IAIA23,96011.2%–

39Dubuque, IAIA59,14810.9%–

40Boone, IAIA12,47110.7%–

41Grinnell, IAIA9,43010.7%–

42Washington, IAIA7,26110.7%–

43Storm Lake, IAIA11,59010.0%–

44Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93510.0%–

45Cherokee, IAIA5,1229.9%–

46Spencer, IAIA11,2189.9%–

47Carroll, IAIA10,0859.7%–

48Mason City, IAIA26,8539.6%–

49Glenwood, IAIA5,2879.6%–

50Sheldon, IAIA5,5759.6%–

51Webster City, IAIA7,8159.6%–

52Marshalltown, IAIA27,5369.5%–

53Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0139.5%–

54Anamosa, IAIA5,9019.5%–

55Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5009.5%–

56Waverly, IAIA10,5619.4%–

57Atlantic, IAIA6,6769.1%–

58North Liberty, IAIA21,9769.0%–

59Sioux Center, IAIA8,8649.0%–

60Le Mars, IAIA10,7608.9%–

61Red Oak, IAIA5,3888.9%–

62Adel, IAIA7,0987.8%–

63Pella, IAIA10,9927.7%–

64Newton, IAIA15,7417.5%–

65Hiawatha, IAIA7,4327.3%–

66Indianola, IAIA16,8297.3%–

67Clear Lake, IAIA7,6017.2%–

68DeWitt, IAIA5,7046.9%–

69Nevada, IAIA6,9746.5%–

70Marion, IAIA42,7326.5%–

71Orange City, IAIA6,4685.7%–

72Ankeny, IAIA77,8335.6%–

73Altoona, IAIA22,7965.6%–

74Asbury, IAIA6,0355.4%–

75Johnston, IAIA25,0655.4%–

76Polk City, IAIA6,6305.2%–

77Eldridge, IAIA6,9544.8%–

78Bettendorf, IAIA40,7104.7%–

79Waukee, IAIA34,8903.3%–

80West Des Moines, IAIA74,2243.3%–

81Norwalk, IAIA15,0043.3%–

82Bondurant, IAIA9,6473.2%–

83Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0592.9%–

84Urbandale, IAIA48,5702.7%–

85Clive, IAIA19,8612.5%–

86Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2392.1%–

87Grimes, IAIA17,4052.0%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS