RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Least educated, Iowa cities · 2020

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

01Perry, IAIA8,2088.8%−15%

02Osceola, IAIA5,67913.2%−9%

03Denison, IAIA8,21413.5%−1%

04Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.7%+2%

05Oelwein, IAIA5,75715.6%+24%

06Fort Madison, IAIA9,93515.9%+8%

07Newton, IAIA15,74115.9%−19%

08Keokuk, IAIA9,51016.2%+21%

09Anamosa, IAIA5,90116.7%+63%

10Storm Lake, IAIA11,59016.9%−14%

11Clarinda, IAIA5,27317.0%+7%

12Centerville, IAIA5,32717.5%+24%

13Burlington, IAIA23,33617.9%+11%

14Red Oak, IAIA5,38818.2%+36%

15Clinton, IAIA24,04918.7%+25%

16Algona, IAIA5,30918.8%+17%

17Knoxville, IAIA7,46919.0%+50%

18Washington, IAIA7,26119.2%+16%

19Manchester, IAIA5,35719.3%+1%

20Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68019.5%+40%

21Vinton, IAIA5,00419.7%+22%

22Charles City, IAIA7,01319.8%+27%

23Muscatine, IAIA23,16419.9%+21%

24Ottumwa, IAIA25,31920.1%+30%

25Mason City, IAIA26,85320.5%+2%

26Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01320.6%+2%

27Boone, IAIA12,47120.7%+17%

28Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83720.7%+7%

29Glenwood, IAIA5,28720.8%+60%

30Marshalltown, IAIA27,53620.8%+16%

31Estherville, IAIA5,80721.2%+59%

32Sheldon, IAIA5,57521.3%+25%

33Sioux City, IAIA86,35622.4%+18%

34Creston, IAIA7,33522.4%+51%

35Waterloo, IAIA66,91922.6%+16%

36Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49322.7%+18%

37Le Mars, IAIA10,76023.4%+10%

38Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50023.6%+30%

39Cherokee, IAIA5,12223.7%+78%

40Webster City, IAIA7,81523.9%+39%

41Spencer, IAIA11,21824.1%+41%

42Independence, IAIA6,31225.4%+48%

43Winterset, IAIA5,52025.5%+99%

44Carroll, IAIA10,08525.9%+27%

45Davenport, IAIA100,35826.6%+23%

46Atlantic, IAIA6,67627.2%+32%

47Hiawatha, IAIA7,43227.6%+15%

48Des Moines, IAIA212,08627.9%+28%

49Altoona, IAIA22,79628.9%+21%

50DeWitt, IAIA5,70430.1%+56%

51Indianola, IAIA16,82930.9%+14%

52Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52531.4%+50%

53Dubuque, IAIA59,14831.7%+36%

54Clear Lake, IAIA7,60132.8%+37%

55Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93532.9%+16%

56Tiffin, IAIA7,15633.8%+11%

57Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23934.7%+35%

58Eldridge, IAIA6,95435.2%+6%

59Nevada, IAIA6,97435.2%+55%

60Marion, IAIA42,73236.0%+24%

61Orange City, IAIA6,46836.5%+16%

62Grinnell, IAIA9,43039.0%+61%

63Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05939.3%−9%

64Norwalk, IAIA15,00439.9%+59%

65Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32441.0%+93%

66Grimes, IAIA17,40541.7%+31%

67Adel, IAIA7,09842.2%+107%

68Bondurant, IAIA9,64743.4%+124%

69Waverly, IAIA10,56143.5%+38%

70Pella, IAIA10,99243.6%+39%

71Decorah, IAIA7,41743.8%+43%

72Polk City, IAIA6,63046.3%+76%

73Sioux Center, IAIA8,86448.1%+73%

74Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24048.5%+24%

75Urbandale, IAIA48,57049.1%+12%

76Fairfield, IAIA9,22049.4%+25%

77Bettendorf, IAIA40,71051.2%+32%

78Ankeny, IAIA77,83352.2%+33%

79Johnston, IAIA25,06553.3%+7%

80Asbury, IAIA6,03553.5%+74%

81West Des Moines, IAIA74,22454.0%+11%

82North Liberty, IAIA21,97656.0%+66%

83Waukee, IAIA34,89056.7%+67%

84Clive, IAIA19,86158.4%+4%

85Iowa City, IAIA76,22959.6%+7%

86Coralville, IAIA23,96060.1%+16%

87Ames, IAIA68,22061.6%+5%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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