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 (2020 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 25.9%.

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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%−1.6 pts

02Osceola, IAIA5,67913.2%−1.4 pts

03Denison, IAIA8,21413.5%−0.1 pts

04Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.7%+0.3 pts

05Oelwein, IAIA5,75715.6%+3.0 pts

06Fort Madison, IAIA9,93515.9%+1.2 pts

07Newton, IAIA15,74115.9%−3.7 pts

08Keokuk, IAIA9,51016.2%+2.8 pts

09Anamosa, IAIA5,90116.7%+6.5 pts

10Storm Lake, IAIA11,59016.9%−2.6 pts

11Clarinda, IAIA5,27317.0%+1.1 pts

12Centerville, IAIA5,32717.5%+3.4 pts

13Burlington, IAIA23,33617.9%+1.8 pts

14Red Oak, IAIA5,38818.2%+4.9 pts

15Clinton, IAIA24,04918.7%+3.8 pts

16Algona, IAIA5,30918.8%+2.7 pts

17Knoxville, IAIA7,46919.0%+6.3 pts

18Washington, IAIA7,26119.2%+2.6 pts

19Manchester, IAIA5,35719.3%+0.1 pts

20Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68019.5%+5.6 pts

21Vinton, IAIA5,00419.7%+3.6 pts

22Charles City, IAIA7,01319.8%+4.2 pts

23Muscatine, IAIA23,16419.9%+3.5 pts

24Ottumwa, IAIA25,31920.1%+4.7 pts

25Mason City, IAIA26,85320.5%+0.5 pts

26Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01320.6%+0.4 pts

27Boone, IAIA12,47120.7%+3.0 pts

28Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83720.7%+1.3 pts

29Glenwood, IAIA5,28720.8%+7.8 pts

30Marshalltown, IAIA27,53620.8%+2.8 pts

31Estherville, IAIA5,80721.2%+7.8 pts

32Sheldon, IAIA5,57521.3%+4.2 pts

33Sioux City, IAIA86,35622.4%+3.4 pts

34Creston, IAIA7,33522.4%+7.6 pts

35Waterloo, IAIA66,91922.6%+3.2 pts

36Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49322.7%+3.5 pts

37Le Mars, IAIA10,76023.4%+2.1 pts

38Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50023.6%+5.5 pts

39Cherokee, IAIA5,12223.7%+10.4 pts

40Webster City, IAIA7,81523.9%+6.7 pts

41Spencer, IAIA11,21824.1%+7.0 pts

42Independence, IAIA6,31225.4%+8.2 pts

43Winterset, IAIA5,52025.5%+12.7 pts

44Carroll, IAIA10,08525.9%+5.6 pts

45Davenport, IAIA100,35826.6%+5.0 pts

46Atlantic, IAIA6,67627.2%+6.5 pts

47Hiawatha, IAIA7,43227.6%+3.5 pts

48Des Moines, IAIA212,08627.9%+6.1 pts

49Altoona, IAIA22,79628.9%+5.1 pts

50DeWitt, IAIA5,70430.1%+10.8 pts

51Indianola, IAIA16,82930.9%+3.9 pts

52Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52531.4%+10.5 pts

53Dubuque, IAIA59,14831.7%+8.4 pts

54Clear Lake, IAIA7,60132.8%+8.8 pts

55Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93532.9%+4.5 pts

56Tiffin, IAIA7,15633.8%+3.4 pts

57Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23934.7%+9.0 pts

58Eldridge, IAIA6,95435.2%+2.1 pts

59Nevada, IAIA6,97435.2%+12.5 pts

60Marion, IAIA42,73236.0%+6.9 pts

61Orange City, IAIA6,46836.5%+5.1 pts

62Grinnell, IAIA9,43039.0%+14.8 pts

63Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05939.3%−4.0 pts

64Norwalk, IAIA15,00439.9%+14.8 pts

65Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32441.0%+19.8 pts

66Grimes, IAIA17,40541.7%+9.9 pts

67Adel, IAIA7,09842.2%+21.8 pts

68Bondurant, IAIA9,64743.4%+24.1 pts

69Waverly, IAIA10,56143.5%+12.0 pts

70Pella, IAIA10,99243.6%+12.2 pts

71Decorah, IAIA7,41743.8%+13.1 pts

72Polk City, IAIA6,63046.3%+20.0 pts

73Sioux Center, IAIA8,86448.1%+20.3 pts

74Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24048.5%+9.3 pts

75Urbandale, IAIA48,57049.1%+5.4 pts

76Fairfield, IAIA9,22049.4%+9.8 pts

77Bettendorf, IAIA40,71051.2%+12.4 pts

78Ankeny, IAIA77,83352.2%+13.1 pts

79Johnston, IAIA25,06553.3%+3.4 pts

80Asbury, IAIA6,03553.5%+22.7 pts

81West Des Moines, IAIA74,22454.0%+5.5 pts

82North Liberty, IAIA21,97656.0%+22.3 pts

83Waukee, IAIA34,89056.7%+22.7 pts

84Clive, IAIA19,86158.4%+2.4 pts

85Iowa City, IAIA76,22959.6%+3.7 pts

86Coralville, IAIA23,96060.1%+8.3 pts

87Ames, IAIA68,22061.6%+3.0 pts

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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