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 (1990 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 16.1%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

01Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68010.0%–

02Vinton, IAIA5,00410.0%–

03Keokuk, IAIA9,51010.2%–

04Cherokee, IAIA5,12210.7%–

05Ottumwa, IAIA25,31911.2%–

06Osceola, IAIA5,67911.3%–

07Bondurant, IAIA9,64711.4%–

08Knoxville, IAIA7,46911.5%–

09Fort Madison, IAIA9,93511.5%–

10Estherville, IAIA5,80711.7%–

11Anamosa, IAIA5,90111.7%–

12Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32411.9%–

13Denison, IAIA8,21412.1%–

14Webster City, IAIA7,81512.4%–

15Centerville, IAIA5,32713.2%–

16Washington, IAIA7,26113.2%–

17Winterset, IAIA5,52013.4%–

18Perry, IAIA8,20813.4%–

19Independence, IAIA6,31213.6%–

20Red Oak, IAIA5,38813.8%–

21Charles City, IAIA7,01313.8%–

22Oelwein, IAIA5,75713.8%–

23Glenwood, IAIA5,28713.9%–

24Burlington, IAIA23,33614.0%–

25Waterloo, IAIA66,91914.1%–

26Creston, IAIA7,33514.1%–

27Carroll, IAIA10,08514.1%–

28Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01314.2%–

29Clinton, IAIA24,04914.4%–

30Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.4%–

31Clarinda, IAIA5,27314.4%–

32Muscatine, IAIA23,16414.5%–

33Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52514.8%–

34Nevada, IAIA6,97414.8%–

35Boone, IAIA12,47114.9%–

36Polk City, IAIA6,63015.0%–

37Tiffin, IAIA7,15615.2%–

38Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23915.4%–

39Newton, IAIA15,74115.6%–

40Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49315.7%–

41Algona, IAIA5,30915.8%–

42Manchester, IAIA5,35715.8%–

43Atlantic, IAIA6,67615.9%–

44Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83716.1%–

45Spencer, IAIA11,21816.1%–

46DeWitt, IAIA5,70416.1%–

47Mason City, IAIA26,85316.3%–

48Sheldon, IAIA5,57516.8%–

49Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50016.9%–

50Storm Lake, IAIA11,59017.0%–

51Eldridge, IAIA6,95417.0%–

52Hiawatha, IAIA7,43217.1%–

53Sioux City, IAIA86,35617.5%–

54Marshalltown, IAIA27,53617.8%–

55Clear Lake, IAIA7,60117.8%–

56Norwalk, IAIA15,00418.0%–

57Adel, IAIA7,09818.4%–

58Waukee, IAIA34,89018.6%–

59Des Moines, IAIA212,08618.9%–

60Le Mars, IAIA10,76019.1%–

61Dubuque, IAIA59,14819.4%–

62Davenport, IAIA100,35820.1%–

63Altoona, IAIA22,79620.2%–

64Marion, IAIA42,73221.2%–

65Grimes, IAIA17,40521.4%–

66Indianola, IAIA16,82921.8%–

67Pella, IAIA10,99221.8%–

68Waverly, IAIA10,56122.3%–

69Asbury, IAIA6,03523.1%–

70Sioux Center, IAIA8,86423.1%–

71Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93523.3%–

72Orange City, IAIA6,46823.6%–

73Grinnell, IAIA9,43024.5%–

74North Liberty, IAIA21,97625.9%–

75Decorah, IAIA7,41728.3%–

76Ankeny, IAIA77,83329.1%–

77Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24031.4%–

78Johnston, IAIA25,06533.8%–

79Bettendorf, IAIA40,71034.2%–

80Fairfield, IAIA9,22034.3%–

81Urbandale, IAIA48,57037.5%–

82West Des Moines, IAIA74,22441.8%–

83Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05942.4%–

84Coralville, IAIA23,96044.4%–

85Clive, IAIA19,86145.8%–

86Iowa City, IAIA76,22953.7%–

87Ames, IAIA68,22054.1%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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