RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least affordable housing, Iowa cities

Iowa cities ranked by the CensusEasy Afford Score, median home value divided by median household income (2023 ACS). A higher score means a home costs more years of local income. This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost expensive homes Cheapest homes Highest median rent Lowest median rent Highest homeownership rate Highest renter share

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 2000

01Iowa City, IAIA76,2294.9+41%

02Ames, IAIA68,2204.5+31%

03Coralville, IAIA23,9604.3+40%

04Decorah, IAIA7,4173.8+47%

05West Des Moines, IAIA74,2243.6+40%

06Pella, IAIA10,9923.5+36%

07Waukee, IAIA34,8903.5+68%

08Johnston, IAIA25,0653.5+41%

09Adel, IAIA7,0983.4+47%

10Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2403.4+41%

11Tiffin, IAIA7,1563.4+43%

12Eldridge, IAIA6,9543.3+41%

13Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5253.3+31%

14Hiawatha, IAIA7,4323.3+58%

15Clear Lake, IAIA7,6013.3+29%

16Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2393.3+69%

17Orange City, IAIA6,4683.2+32%

18Grinnell, IAIA9,4303.2+34%

19Altoona, IAIA22,7963.2+41%

20Indianola, IAIA16,8293.1+40%

21Sioux Center, IAIA8,8643.1+27%

22Dubuque, IAIA59,1483.1+32%

23Sheldon, IAIA5,5753.1+35%

24Spencer, IAIA11,2183.1+27%

25Ankeny, IAIA77,8333.1+37%

26Bettendorf, IAIA40,7103.0+45%

27Fairfield, IAIA9,2203.0+36%

28Clive, IAIA19,8613.0+27%

29North Liberty, IAIA21,9763.0+34%

30Urbandale, IAIA48,5703.0+36%

31Des Moines, IAIA212,0863.0+42%

32Norwalk, IAIA15,0043.0+65%

33Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.9+29%

34Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0592.9+35%

35Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.9+23%

36Algona, IAIA5,3092.9+34%

37Anamosa, IAIA5,9012.8+31%

38Winterset, IAIA5,5202.8+11%

39Marion, IAIA42,7322.8+38%

40Waverly, IAIA10,5612.8+15%

41Washington, IAIA7,2612.8+27%

42Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902.7+38%

43Asbury, IAIA6,0352.7+27%

44Carroll, IAIA10,0852.7+26%

45Newton, IAIA15,7412.7+36%

46Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6802.7+26%

47Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9352.7+25%

48Waterloo, IAIA66,9192.7+42%

49Muscatine, IAIA23,1642.6+33%

50Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.6+20%

51Knoxville, IAIA7,4692.6+26%

52DeWitt, IAIA5,7042.6+26%

53Grimes, IAIA17,4052.5+32%

54Polk City, IAIA6,6302.5+33%

55Sioux City, IAIA86,3562.5+29%

56Davenport, IAIA100,3582.5+19%

57Boone, IAIA12,4712.5+44%

58Clarinda, IAIA5,2732.5+33%

59Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0132.5+23%

60Atlantic, IAIA6,6762.5+20%

61Nevada, IAIA6,9742.4+23%

62Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3242.4+10%

63Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4932.4+27%

64Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8372.4+24%

65Bondurant, IAIA9,6472.3+34%

66Vinton, IAIA5,0042.3+10%

67Denison, IAIA8,2142.3+6%

68Manchester, IAIA5,3572.3−5%

69Independence, IAIA6,3122.2+7%

70Cherokee, IAIA5,1222.2+27%

71Centerville, IAIA5,3272.2+28%

72Maquoketa, IAIA6,0272.2−3%

73Mason City, IAIA26,8532.2+2%

74Creston, IAIA7,3352.2+13%

75Osceola, IAIA5,6792.1+3%

76Oelwein, IAIA5,7572.1+8%

77Webster City, IAIA7,8152.0+8%

78Red Oak, IAIA5,3882.0+6%

79Keokuk, IAIA9,5102.0+24%

80Clinton, IAIA24,0492.0+9%

81Charles City, IAIA7,0131.9−6%

82Burlington, IAIA23,3361.9+4%

83Estherville, IAIA5,8071.9+8%

84Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351.9+21%

85Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361.8−1%

86Perry, IAIA8,2081.8−7%

87Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191.7+12%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

Download CSV (full list, 87 rows)How this score is calculated

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