RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least affordable housing, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities ranked by the CensusEasy Afford Score, median home value divided by median household income (2020 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 2.5.

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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 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 1990

01Iowa City, IAIA76,2294.7+46%

02Ames, IAIA68,2204.2+43%

03Coralville, IAIA23,9603.5+29%

04Decorah, IAIA7,4173.4+52%

05Eldridge, IAIA6,9543.3+90%

06Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2403.2+56%

07Adel, IAIA7,0983.1+65%

08Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5253.1+51%

09West Des Moines, IAIA74,2243.1+40%

10Spencer, IAIA11,2183.0+64%

11Grinnell, IAIA9,4303.0+40%

12Storm Lake, IAIA11,5903.0+50%

13Vinton, IAIA5,0043.0+75%

14Carroll, IAIA10,0853.0+50%

15Anamosa, IAIA5,9012.9+71%

16Johnston, IAIA25,0652.9+31%

17Hiawatha, IAIA7,4322.9+33%

18Sioux Center, IAIA8,8642.9+31%

19Clear Lake, IAIA7,6012.9+48%

20Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2392.9+73%

21Tiffin, IAIA7,1562.8+32%

22DeWitt, IAIA5,7042.8+61%

23Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0592.8+48%

24Pella, IAIA10,9922.8+38%

25Algona, IAIA5,3092.8+56%

26Bettendorf, IAIA40,7102.7+63%

27Winterset, IAIA5,5202.7+43%

28North Liberty, IAIA21,9762.7+18%

29Dubuque, IAIA59,1482.7+42%

30Atlantic, IAIA6,6762.7+43%

31Ankeny, IAIA77,8332.7+39%

32Waverly, IAIA10,5612.7+43%

33Indianola, IAIA16,8292.7+24%

34Clive, IAIA19,8612.7+17%

35Waukee, IAIA34,8902.6+38%

36Fairfield, IAIA9,2202.6+5%

37Sheldon, IAIA5,5752.6+50%

38Des Moines, IAIA212,0862.6+40%

39Orange City, IAIA6,4682.6+28%

40Newton, IAIA15,7412.5+57%

41Davenport, IAIA100,3582.5+37%

42Urbandale, IAIA48,5702.5+25%

43Asbury, IAIA6,0352.5+46%

44Altoona, IAIA22,7962.5+41%

45Charles City, IAIA7,0132.5+47%

46Waterloo, IAIA66,9192.5+49%

47Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.5+27%

48Grimes, IAIA17,4052.5+45%

49Norwalk, IAIA15,0042.5+57%

50Nevada, IAIA6,9742.5+25%

51Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.4+19%

52Marion, IAIA42,7322.4+33%

53Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.4+15%

54Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9352.4+33%

55Polk City, IAIA6,6302.4+48%

56Bondurant, IAIA9,6472.3+29%

57Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3242.3+19%

58Oelwein, IAIA5,7572.3+76%

59Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6802.3+30%

60Creston, IAIA7,3352.3+37%

61Manchester, IAIA5,3572.3+25%

62Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8372.2+32%

63Centerville, IAIA5,3272.2+27%

64Washington, IAIA7,2612.2+32%

65Independence, IAIA6,3122.2+24%

66Clinton, IAIA24,0492.2+41%

67Sioux City, IAIA86,3562.1+31%

68Mason City, IAIA26,8532.1+16%

69Muscatine, IAIA23,1642.1+23%

70Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0132.1+23%

71Cherokee, IAIA5,1222.1+46%

72Burlington, IAIA23,3362.0+31%

73Clarinda, IAIA5,2731.9+13%

74Knoxville, IAIA7,4691.9+11%

75Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271.9−7%

76Boone, IAIA12,4711.9+19%

77Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931.9+9%

78Denison, IAIA8,2141.8−7%

79Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351.8+22%

80Osceola, IAIA5,6791.8−11%

81Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191.8+36%

82Perry, IAIA8,2081.8+16%

83Keokuk, IAIA9,5101.7+25%

84Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361.7+8%

85Webster City, IAIA7,8151.7−3%

86Estherville, IAIA5,8071.6+20%

87Red Oak, IAIA5,3881.5−8%

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