RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least educated, Iowa cities · 1990

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

01Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68010.0%−28%

02Vinton, IAIA5,00410.0%−38%

03Keokuk, IAIA9,51010.2%−24%

04Cherokee, IAIA5,12210.7%−19%

05Ottumwa, IAIA25,31911.2%−27%

06Osceola, IAIA5,67911.3%−22%

07Bondurant, IAIA9,64711.4%−41%

08Knoxville, IAIA7,46911.5%−10%

09Fort Madison, IAIA9,93511.5%−22%

10Estherville, IAIA5,80711.7%−12%

11Anamosa, IAIA5,90111.7%+14%

12Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32411.9%−44%

13Denison, IAIA8,21412.1%−12%

14Webster City, IAIA7,81512.4%−28%

15Centerville, IAIA5,32713.2%−7%

16Washington, IAIA7,26113.2%−20%

17Winterset, IAIA5,52013.4%+4%

18Perry, IAIA8,20813.4%+29%

19Independence, IAIA6,31213.6%−21%

20Red Oak, IAIA5,38813.8%+3%

21Charles City, IAIA7,01313.8%−12%

22Oelwein, IAIA5,75713.8%+10%

23Glenwood, IAIA5,28713.9%+7%

24Burlington, IAIA23,33614.0%−13%

25Waterloo, IAIA66,91914.1%−28%

26Creston, IAIA7,33514.1%−5%

27Carroll, IAIA10,08514.1%−31%

28Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01314.2%−30%

29Clinton, IAIA24,04914.4%−3%

30Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.4%−0%

31Clarinda, IAIA5,27314.4%−9%

32Muscatine, IAIA23,16414.5%−12%

33Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52514.8%−29%

34Nevada, IAIA6,97414.8%−35%

35Boone, IAIA12,47114.9%−16%

36Polk City, IAIA6,63015.0%−43%

37Tiffin, IAIA7,15615.2%−50%

38Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23915.4%−40%

39Newton, IAIA15,74115.6%−20%

40Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49315.7%−18%

41Algona, IAIA5,30915.8%−2%

42Manchester, IAIA5,35715.8%−17%

43Atlantic, IAIA6,67615.9%−23%

44Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83716.1%−17%

45Spencer, IAIA11,21816.1%−6%

46DeWitt, IAIA5,70416.1%−17%

47Mason City, IAIA26,85316.3%−19%

48Sheldon, IAIA5,57516.8%−2%

49Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50016.9%−7%

50Storm Lake, IAIA11,59017.0%−13%

51Eldridge, IAIA6,95417.0%−49%

52Hiawatha, IAIA7,43217.1%−29%

53Sioux City, IAIA86,35617.5%−8%

54Marshalltown, IAIA27,53617.8%−1%

55Clear Lake, IAIA7,60117.8%−26%

56Norwalk, IAIA15,00418.0%−28%

57Adel, IAIA7,09818.4%−10%

58Waukee, IAIA34,89018.6%−45%

59Des Moines, IAIA212,08618.9%−13%

60Le Mars, IAIA10,76019.1%−10%

61Dubuque, IAIA59,14819.4%−17%

62Davenport, IAIA100,35820.1%−6%

63Altoona, IAIA22,79620.2%−15%

64Marion, IAIA42,73221.2%−27%

65Grimes, IAIA17,40521.4%−33%

66Indianola, IAIA16,82921.8%−19%

67Pella, IAIA10,99221.8%−31%

68Waverly, IAIA10,56122.3%−29%

69Asbury, IAIA6,03523.1%−25%

70Sioux Center, IAIA8,86423.1%−17%

71Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93523.3%−18%

72Orange City, IAIA6,46823.6%−25%

73Grinnell, IAIA9,43024.5%+1%

74North Liberty, IAIA21,97625.9%−23%

75Decorah, IAIA7,41728.3%−8%

76Ankeny, IAIA77,83329.1%−26%

77Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24031.4%−20%

78Johnston, IAIA25,06533.8%−32%

79Bettendorf, IAIA40,71034.2%−12%

80Fairfield, IAIA9,22034.3%−14%

81Urbandale, IAIA48,57037.5%−14%

82West Des Moines, IAIA74,22441.8%−14%

83Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05942.4%−2%

84Coralville, IAIA23,96044.4%−14%

85Clive, IAIA19,86145.8%−18%

86Iowa City, IAIA76,22953.7%−4%

87Ames, IAIA68,22054.1%−8%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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