RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Highest unemployment, Iowa cities

Iowa cities ranked by the highest unemployment rate (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

RELATEDLowest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2000

01Fairfield, IAIA9,22011.8%–

02Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0139.1%–

03Maquoketa, IAIA6,0278.6%–

04Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2398.2%–

05Oelwein, IAIA5,7577.6%–

06Altoona, IAIA22,7967.5%–

07Fort Madison, IAIA9,9357.3%–

08Webster City, IAIA7,8157.0%–

09Clarinda, IAIA5,2736.5%–

10Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8376.0%–

11Osceola, IAIA5,6796.0%–

12Ames, IAIA68,2205.8%–

13Newton, IAIA15,7415.7%–

14Des Moines, IAIA212,0865.6%–

15Denison, IAIA8,2145.4%–

16Waterloo, IAIA66,9195.3%–

17Marshalltown, IAIA27,5365.3%–

18Anamosa, IAIA5,9015.2%–

19Keokuk, IAIA9,5104.9%–

20Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4934.8%–

21Knoxville, IAIA7,4694.8%–

22Iowa City, IAIA76,2294.6%–

23Ottumwa, IAIA25,3194.6%–

24Charles City, IAIA7,0134.6%–

25Davenport, IAIA100,3584.6%–

26Dubuque, IAIA59,1484.5%–

27Spencer, IAIA11,2184.5%–

28Sioux City, IAIA86,3564.5%–

29Storm Lake, IAIA11,5904.4%–

30Muscatine, IAIA23,1644.3%–

31Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6804.2%–

32DeWitt, IAIA5,7044.1%–

33Decorah, IAIA7,4174.0%–

34Grinnell, IAIA9,4304.0%–

35Clive, IAIA19,8614.0%–

36Indianola, IAIA16,8294.0%–

37Hiawatha, IAIA7,4324.0%–

38Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2403.9%–

39Burlington, IAIA23,3363.9%–

40Clinton, IAIA24,0493.7%–

41Perry, IAIA8,2083.6%–

42Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9353.6%–

43Creston, IAIA7,3353.6%–

44Centerville, IAIA5,3273.6%–

45Marion, IAIA42,7323.6%–

46Waukee, IAIA34,8903.5%–

47Manchester, IAIA5,3573.5%–

48Waverly, IAIA10,5613.5%–

49Norwalk, IAIA15,0043.4%–

50North Liberty, IAIA21,9763.3%–

51Washington, IAIA7,2613.3%–

52Polk City, IAIA6,6303.2%–

53Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5253.1%–

54Winterset, IAIA5,5203.0%–

55Urbandale, IAIA48,5702.9%–

56Red Oak, IAIA5,3882.9%–

57Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.8%–

58Mason City, IAIA26,8532.8%–

59Adel, IAIA7,0982.7%–

60Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.7%–

61Orange City, IAIA6,4682.7%–

62Carroll, IAIA10,0852.5%–

63Vinton, IAIA5,0042.5%–

64Clear Lake, IAIA7,6012.4%–

65West Des Moines, IAIA74,2242.4%–

66Cherokee, IAIA5,1222.4%–

67Bettendorf, IAIA40,7102.4%–

68Independence, IAIA6,3122.3%–

69Coralville, IAIA23,9602.2%–

70Johnston, IAIA25,0652.1%–

71Nevada, IAIA6,9742.0%–

72Boone, IAIA12,4712.0%–

73Algona, IAIA5,3092.0%–

74Grimes, IAIA17,4051.9%–

75Ankeny, IAIA77,8331.9%–

76Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001.7%–

77Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241.7%–

78Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0591.4%–

79Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641.2%–

80Asbury, IAIA6,0351.2%–

81Pella, IAIA10,9921.1%–

82Atlantic, IAIA6,6761.1%–

83Estherville, IAIA5,8071.1%–

84Eldridge, IAIA6,9541.0%–

85Bondurant, IAIA9,6470.9%–

86Sheldon, IAIA5,5750.6%–

87Tiffin, IAIA7,1560.4%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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