RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Highest poverty rate, Iowa cities · 2020

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

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

01Iowa City, IAIA76,22927.3%+26%

02Ames, IAIA68,22026.6%+31%

03Centerville, IAIA5,32726.5%+46%

04Denison, IAIA8,21423.1%+92%

05Osceola, IAIA5,67922.7%+198%

06Maquoketa, IAIA6,02721.6%+76%

07Charles City, IAIA7,01320.5%+83%

08Cherokee, IAIA5,12219.8%+182%

09Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49319.5%+42%

10Burlington, IAIA23,33619.1%+52%

11Keokuk, IAIA9,51018.8%+58%

12Clinton, IAIA24,04918.4%+47%

13Ottumwa, IAIA25,31918.1%+19%

14Waterloo, IAIA66,91917.5%+28%

15Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24017.2%+3%

16Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83717.0%+47%

17Des Moines, IAIA212,08616.0%+41%

18Davenport, IAIA100,35815.9%+13%

19Fairfield, IAIA9,22015.7%+8%

20Oelwein, IAIA5,75715.0%+10%

21Atlantic, IAIA6,67614.9%+23%

22Fort Madison, IAIA9,93514.8%+21%

23Vinton, IAIA5,00414.7%+51%

24Marshalltown, IAIA27,53614.5%+15%

25Red Oak, IAIA5,38814.3%+39%

26Muscatine, IAIA23,16414.3%+31%

27Anamosa, IAIA5,90114.1%+75%

28Newton, IAIA15,74114.0%+106%

29Perry, IAIA8,20814.0%+15%

30Washington, IAIA7,26113.9%+49%

31Sioux City, IAIA86,35613.9%+24%

32DeWitt, IAIA5,70413.9%+125%

33Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50013.8%+35%

34Creston, IAIA7,33513.3%+15%

35Dubuque, IAIA59,14813.2%+39%

36Manchester, IAIA5,35712.8%+31%

37Algona, IAIA5,30912.5%+16%

38Spencer, IAIA11,21812.3%+30%

39Storm Lake, IAIA11,59012.3%+6%

40Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68012.2%+18%

41Knoxville, IAIA7,46911.8%+6%

42Glenwood, IAIA5,28711.6%+22%

43Coralville, IAIA23,96011.5%+15%

44Estherville, IAIA5,80711.5%+42%

45Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93511.2%+49%

46Sheldon, IAIA5,57511.2%+48%

47Clarinda, IAIA5,27311.0%−32%

48Grinnell, IAIA9,43011.0%−17%

49Nevada, IAIA6,97411.0%+97%

50Hiawatha, IAIA7,43210.8%+141%

51Mason City, IAIA26,85310.8%+8%

52Waverly, IAIA10,56110.5%+68%

53Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01310.1%+1%

54Indianola, IAIA16,82910.0%+38%

55Decorah, IAIA7,41710.0%+25%

56Webster City, IAIA7,8159.8%+34%

57Tiffin, IAIA7,1569.0%+109%

58Bondurant, IAIA9,6478.6%+51%

59Adel, IAIA7,0988.5%+112%

60Winterset, IAIA5,5208.4%+1%

61Independence, IAIA6,3128.2%+16%

62Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5258.2%+23%

63Le Mars, IAIA10,7607.7%+24%

64Carroll, IAIA10,0857.7%+47%

65Boone, IAIA12,4717.5%−11%

66Marion, IAIA42,7327.3%+38%

67Altoona, IAIA22,7967.1%+29%

68Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2396.9%+440%

69Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0596.8%+33%

70West Des Moines, IAIA74,2246.8%+49%

71Grimes, IAIA17,4056.6%+101%

72Bettendorf, IAIA40,7106.5%+36%

73Orange City, IAIA6,4685.8%+21%

74Clear Lake, IAIA7,6015.5%−27%

75Urbandale, IAIA48,5705.4%+46%

76Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3245.3%−3%

77Sioux Center, IAIA8,8645.1%−28%

78Johnston, IAIA25,0655.1%+23%

79Norwalk, IAIA15,0044.7%+98%

80Ankeny, IAIA77,8334.6%+14%

81Clive, IAIA19,8614.5%+27%

82North Liberty, IAIA21,9764.4%−21%

83Asbury, IAIA6,0354.2%+7%

84Eldridge, IAIA6,9543.9%−13%

85Polk City, IAIA6,6303.7%+55%

86Waukee, IAIA34,8903.3%+11%

87Pella, IAIA10,9922.7%−65%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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