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 (2024 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 28.6%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Estherville, IA, up 29 places to #2.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01▲21Charles City, IAIA7,01312.8%−2.8 pts

02▲29Estherville, IAIA5,80713.3%0.0 pts

03▲8Clarinda, IAIA5,27313.8%−2.0 pts

04▼2Osceola, IAIA5,67914.0%−0.6 pts

05▲7Centerville, IAIA5,32716.7%+2.5 pts

06▼5Perry, IAIA8,20817.0%+6.6 pts

07▲1Keokuk, IAIA9,51017.4%+4.0 pts

08▼3Oelwein, IAIA5,75717.5%+4.9 pts

09▼6Denison, IAIA8,21417.5%+3.9 pts

10▲4Red Oak, IAIA5,38817.7%+4.4 pts

11▼2Anamosa, IAIA5,90118.2%+7.9 pts

12▼6Fort Madison, IAIA9,93518.5%+3.8 pts

13▼3Storm Lake, IAIA11,59018.9%−0.6 pts

14▼7Newton, IAIA15,74119.5%−0.2 pts

15▼11Maquoketa, IAIA6,02719.7%+5.2 pts

16▲8Ottumwa, IAIA25,31920.8%+5.4 pts

17▲15Sheldon, IAIA5,57520.8%+3.7 pts

18▲7Mason City, IAIA26,85320.8%+0.8 pts

19▼4Clinton, IAIA24,04920.8%+5.9 pts

20▲10Marshalltown, IAIA27,53620.9%+2.9 pts

21▲16Le Mars, IAIA10,76021.1%−0.3 pts

22▲1Muscatine, IAIA23,16421.1%+4.7 pts

23▼3Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68021.5%+7.6 pts

24▲4Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83721.7%+2.3 pts

25▲10Waterloo, IAIA66,91921.8%+2.4 pts

26▲17Winterset, IAIA5,52022.0%+9.2 pts

27▼14Burlington, IAIA23,33622.5%+6.4 pts

28▼2Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01322.9%+2.7 pts

29▲4Sioux City, IAIA86,35622.9%+4.0 pts

30▲16Atlantic, IAIA6,67623.0%+2.3 pts

31▲7Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50023.2%+5.0 pts

32▲8Webster City, IAIA7,81523.2%+6.0 pts

33▼15Washington, IAIA7,26123.6%+7.1 pts

34Creston, IAIA7,33523.9%+9.1 pts

35▼8Boone, IAIA12,47124.0%+6.2 pts

36▲3Cherokee, IAIA5,12224.6%+11.3 pts

37▲5Independence, IAIA6,31224.7%+7.5 pts

38▼19Manchester, IAIA5,35725.3%+6.2 pts

39▼3Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49325.4%+6.2 pts

40▼24Algona, IAIA5,30925.5%+9.4 pts

41▲11Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52526.8%+5.8 pts

42▼13Glenwood, IAIA5,28726.8%+13.8 pts

43▲1Carroll, IAIA10,08527.1%+6.8 pts

44▼23Vinton, IAIA5,00428.6%+12.5 pts

45▲14Nevada, IAIA6,97429.6%+6.9 pts

46▲2Des Moines, IAIA212,08629.7%+7.9 pts

47▼6Spencer, IAIA11,21829.8%+12.7 pts

48▼3Davenport, IAIA100,35829.9%+8.4 pts

49▲5Clear Lake, IAIA7,60130.5%+6.5 pts

50▼33Knoxville, IAIA7,46930.6%+17.9 pts

51▼4Hiawatha, IAIA7,43232.4%+8.3 pts

52▲3Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93533.1%+4.8 pts

53▼4Altoona, IAIA22,79633.5%+9.7 pts

54▼1Dubuque, IAIA59,14834.0%+10.7 pts

55▼5DeWitt, IAIA5,70434.6%+15.2 pts

56▼5Indianola, IAIA16,82935.0%+7.9 pts

57Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23935.5%+9.8 pts

58▲7Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32436.7%+15.5 pts

59▲3Grinnell, IAIA9,43037.5%+13.3 pts

60▲7Adel, IAIA7,09837.9%+17.5 pts

61▼1Marion, IAIA42,73238.1%+9.0 pts

62▲2Norwalk, IAIA15,00438.8%+13.7 pts

63▲10Sioux Center, IAIA8,86441.7%+13.9 pts

64▲7Decorah, IAIA7,41742.2%+11.6 pts

65▲4Waverly, IAIA10,56144.1%+12.6 pts

66▲6Polk City, IAIA6,63044.2%+17.9 pts

67▼6Orange City, IAIA6,46844.2%+12.8 pts

68▼5Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05945.9%+2.6 pts

69▲1Pella, IAIA10,99247.3%+15.9 pts

70▲4Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24050.4%+11.2 pts

71▲9Asbury, IAIA6,03550.4%+19.6 pts

72▲5Bettendorf, IAIA40,71050.7%+11.9 pts

73▲2Urbandale, IAIA48,57051.2%+7.5 pts

74▼8Grimes, IAIA17,40551.5%+19.8 pts

75▲3Ankeny, IAIA77,83352.1%+12.9 pts

76▼8Bondurant, IAIA9,64752.8%+33.4 pts

77▼1Fairfield, IAIA9,22052.9%+13.3 pts

78▼20Eldridge, IAIA6,95454.4%+21.3 pts

79▲3North Liberty, IAIA21,97654.5%+20.8 pts

80▲1West Des Moines, IAIA74,22454.9%+6.5 pts

81▲5Coralville, IAIA23,96056.0%+4.2 pts

82▼3Johnston, IAIA25,06557.8%+7.9 pts

83Waukee, IAIA34,89058.0%+24.0 pts

84▲1Iowa City, IAIA76,22960.5%+4.6 pts

85▼1Clive, IAIA19,86161.0%+5.0 pts

86▼30Tiffin, IAIA7,15663.6%+33.2 pts

87Ames, IAIA68,22065.8%+7.2 pts

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES