RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least affordable housing, Iowa cities · 1990

Iowa cities ranked by the CensusEasy Afford Score, median home value divided by median household income (1990 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. The median across all 87 is 1.8.

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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 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS –

01Iowa City, IAIA76,2293.2–

02Ames, IAIA68,2202.9–

03Coralville, IAIA23,9602.7–

04Fairfield, IAIA9,2202.5–

05North Liberty, IAIA21,9762.3–

06Clive, IAIA19,8612.3–

07Decorah, IAIA7,4172.3–

08Sioux Center, IAIA8,8642.2–

09Johnston, IAIA25,0652.2–

10Hiawatha, IAIA7,4322.2–

11West Des Moines, IAIA74,2242.2–

12Indianola, IAIA16,8292.2–

13Tiffin, IAIA7,1562.1–

14Grinnell, IAIA9,4302.1–

15Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.1–

16Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.1–

17Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5252.1–

18Maquoketa, IAIA6,0272.0–

19Urbandale, IAIA48,5702.0–

20Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2402.0–

21Osceola, IAIA5,6792.0–

22Pella, IAIA10,9922.0–

23Orange City, IAIA6,4682.0–

24Denison, IAIA8,2142.0–

25Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902.0–

26Nevada, IAIA6,9742.0–

27Carroll, IAIA10,0852.0–

28Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3242.0–

29Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.0–

30Clear Lake, IAIA7,6012.0–

31Ankeny, IAIA77,8331.9–

32Waukee, IAIA34,8901.9–

33Adel, IAIA7,0981.9–

34Dubuque, IAIA59,1481.9–

35Winterset, IAIA5,5201.9–

36Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0591.9–

37Waverly, IAIA10,5611.9–

38Atlantic, IAIA6,6761.9–

39Davenport, IAIA100,3581.9–

40Spencer, IAIA11,2181.8–

41Des Moines, IAIA212,0861.8–

42Marion, IAIA42,7321.8–

43Manchester, IAIA5,3571.8–

44Bondurant, IAIA9,6471.8–

45Mason City, IAIA26,8531.8–

46Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351.8–

47Independence, IAIA6,3121.8–

48Algona, IAIA5,3091.8–

49Altoona, IAIA22,7961.8–

50Centerville, IAIA5,3271.8–

51Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801.8–

52Webster City, IAIA7,8151.8–

53Eldridge, IAIA6,9541.7–

54DeWitt, IAIA5,7041.7–

55Knoxville, IAIA7,4691.7–

56Sheldon, IAIA5,5751.7–

57Asbury, IAIA6,0351.7–

58Anamosa, IAIA5,9011.7–

59Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931.7–

60Muscatine, IAIA23,1641.7–

61Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371.7–

62Clarinda, IAIA5,2731.7–

63Grimes, IAIA17,4051.7–

64Charles City, IAIA7,0131.7–

65Washington, IAIA7,2611.7–

66Vinton, IAIA5,0041.7–

67Waterloo, IAIA66,9191.7–

68Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101.7–

69Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0131.7–

70Red Oak, IAIA5,3881.7–

71Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2391.7–

72Creston, IAIA7,3351.7–

73Sioux City, IAIA86,3561.6–

74Newton, IAIA15,7411.6–

75Polk City, IAIA6,6301.6–

76Boone, IAIA12,4711.6–

77Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361.6–

78Norwalk, IAIA15,0041.6–

79Clinton, IAIA24,0491.6–

80Burlington, IAIA23,3361.5–

81Perry, IAIA8,2081.5–

82Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351.5–

83Cherokee, IAIA5,1221.4–

84Keokuk, IAIA9,5101.4–

85Estherville, IAIA5,8071.4–

86Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191.3–

87Oelwein, IAIA5,7571.3–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS