RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least educated, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Charles City, IAIA7,01312.8%−18%

02Estherville, IAIA5,80713.3%+0%

03Clarinda, IAIA5,27313.8%−13%

04Osceola, IAIA5,67914.0%−4%

05Centerville, IAIA5,32716.7%+18%

06Perry, IAIA8,20817.0%+63%

07Keokuk, IAIA9,51017.4%+30%

08Oelwein, IAIA5,75717.5%+39%

09Denison, IAIA8,21417.5%+29%

10Red Oak, IAIA5,38817.7%+33%

11Anamosa, IAIA5,90118.2%+77%

12Fort Madison, IAIA9,93518.5%+25%

13Storm Lake, IAIA11,59018.9%−3%

14Newton, IAIA15,74119.5%−1%

15Maquoketa, IAIA6,02719.7%+36%

16Ottumwa, IAIA25,31920.8%+35%

17Sheldon, IAIA5,57520.8%+21%

18Mason City, IAIA26,85320.8%+4%

19Clinton, IAIA24,04920.8%+40%

20Marshalltown, IAIA27,53620.9%+16%

21Le Mars, IAIA10,76021.1%−1%

22Muscatine, IAIA23,16421.1%+28%

23Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68021.5%+54%

24Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83721.7%+12%

25Waterloo, IAIA66,91921.8%+12%

26Winterset, IAIA5,52022.0%+71%

27Burlington, IAIA23,33622.5%+40%

28Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01322.9%+13%

29Sioux City, IAIA86,35622.9%+21%

30Atlantic, IAIA6,67623.0%+11%

31Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50023.2%+28%

32Webster City, IAIA7,81523.2%+35%

33Washington, IAIA7,26123.6%+43%

34Creston, IAIA7,33523.9%+62%

35Boone, IAIA12,47124.0%+35%

36Cherokee, IAIA5,12224.6%+85%

37Independence, IAIA6,31224.7%+44%

38Manchester, IAIA5,35725.3%+32%

39Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49325.4%+32%

40Algona, IAIA5,30925.5%+59%

41Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52526.8%+28%

42Glenwood, IAIA5,28726.8%+106%

43Carroll, IAIA10,08527.1%+33%

44Vinton, IAIA5,00428.6%+78%

45Nevada, IAIA6,97429.6%+30%

46Des Moines, IAIA212,08629.7%+36%

47Spencer, IAIA11,21829.8%+75%

48Davenport, IAIA100,35829.9%+39%

49Clear Lake, IAIA7,60130.5%+27%

50Knoxville, IAIA7,46930.6%+142%

51Hiawatha, IAIA7,43232.4%+35%

52Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93533.1%+17%

53Altoona, IAIA22,79633.5%+41%

54Dubuque, IAIA59,14834.0%+46%

55DeWitt, IAIA5,70434.6%+79%

56Indianola, IAIA16,82935.0%+29%

57Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23935.5%+38%

58Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32436.7%+73%

59Grinnell, IAIA9,43037.5%+55%

60Adel, IAIA7,09837.9%+86%

61Marion, IAIA42,73238.1%+31%

62Norwalk, IAIA15,00438.8%+55%

63Sioux Center, IAIA8,86441.7%+50%

64Decorah, IAIA7,41742.2%+38%

65Waverly, IAIA10,56144.1%+40%

66Polk City, IAIA6,63044.2%+68%

67Orange City, IAIA6,46844.2%+41%

68Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05945.9%+6%

69Pella, IAIA10,99247.3%+51%

70Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24050.4%+29%

71Asbury, IAIA6,03550.4%+63%

72Bettendorf, IAIA40,71050.7%+31%

73Urbandale, IAIA48,57051.2%+17%

74Grimes, IAIA17,40551.5%+62%

75Ankeny, IAIA77,83352.1%+33%

76Bondurant, IAIA9,64752.8%+173%

77Fairfield, IAIA9,22052.9%+33%

78Eldridge, IAIA6,95454.4%+64%

79North Liberty, IAIA21,97654.5%+62%

80West Des Moines, IAIA74,22454.9%+13%

81Coralville, IAIA23,96056.0%+8%

82Johnston, IAIA25,06557.8%+16%

83Waukee, IAIA34,89058.0%+71%

84Iowa City, IAIA76,22960.5%+8%

85Clive, IAIA19,86161.0%+9%

86Tiffin, IAIA7,15663.6%+109%

87Ames, IAIA68,22065.8%+12%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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