RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Lowest unemployment, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities ranked by the lowest unemployment rate (2020 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 3.9%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost unemployed people Highest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS –

01Nevada, IAIA6,9740.3%–

02Sioux Center, IAIA8,8640.3%–

03Bondurant, IAIA9,6470.4%–

04Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5250.4%–

05Oelwein, IAIA5,7570.7%–

06Atlantic, IAIA6,6760.8%–

07Sheldon, IAIA5,5750.9%–

08Osceola, IAIA5,6791.2%–

09Manchester, IAIA5,3571.3%–

10Boone, IAIA12,4711.3%–

11Johnston, IAIA25,0651.4%–

12Pella, IAIA10,9921.4%–

13Vinton, IAIA5,0041.4%–

14Winterset, IAIA5,5202.1%–

15Independence, IAIA6,3122.1%–

16Coralville, IAIA23,9602.1%–

17Tiffin, IAIA7,1562.2%–

18Creston, IAIA7,3352.3%–

19Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.5%–

20West Des Moines, IAIA74,2242.5%–

21Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.5%–

22Carroll, IAIA10,0852.5%–

23Eldridge, IAIA6,9542.5%–

24Ankeny, IAIA77,8332.6%–

25North Liberty, IAIA21,9762.7%–

26Bettendorf, IAIA40,7102.8%–

27Knoxville, IAIA7,4692.8%–

28Clear Lake, IAIA7,6012.9%–

29Cherokee, IAIA5,1223.0%–

30Orange City, IAIA6,4683.0%–

31Waukee, IAIA34,8903.2%–

32Clive, IAIA19,8613.3%–

33Decorah, IAIA7,4173.3%–

34Webster City, IAIA7,8153.4%–

35Indianola, IAIA16,8293.5%–

36Polk City, IAIA6,6303.6%–

37Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8373.6%–

38Waverly, IAIA10,5613.6%–

39Estherville, IAIA5,8073.6%–

40Mason City, IAIA26,8533.7%–

41Marion, IAIA42,7323.8%–

42Urbandale, IAIA48,5703.9%–

43Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2403.9%–

44Norwalk, IAIA15,0043.9%–

45Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9353.9%–

46Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4934.0%–

47Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0134.2%–

48Newton, IAIA15,7414.2%–

49Glenwood, IAIA5,2874.2%–

50Red Oak, IAIA5,3884.4%–

51Asbury, IAIA6,0354.4%–

52Muscatine, IAIA23,1644.4%–

53Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0594.4%–

54Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3244.5%–

55Davenport, IAIA100,3584.7%–

56Iowa City, IAIA76,2294.7%–

57Charles City, IAIA7,0134.8%–

58Dubuque, IAIA59,1484.8%–

59Washington, IAIA7,2614.9%–

60Sioux City, IAIA86,3564.9%–

61Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6804.9%–

62Ottumwa, IAIA25,3195.1%–

63Burlington, IAIA23,3365.2%–

64Altoona, IAIA22,7965.2%–

65Clinton, IAIA24,0495.2%–

66Algona, IAIA5,3095.2%–

67Adel, IAIA7,0985.3%–

68Marshalltown, IAIA27,5365.6%–

69Spencer, IAIA11,2185.7%–

70DeWitt, IAIA5,7045.7%–

71Des Moines, IAIA212,0866.0%–

72Grimes, IAIA17,4056.2%–

73Grinnell, IAIA9,4306.3%–

74Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2396.4%–

75Clarinda, IAIA5,2736.5%–

76Waterloo, IAIA66,9196.7%–

77Fort Madison, IAIA9,9356.8%–

78Ames, IAIA68,2207.3%–

79Keokuk, IAIA9,5107.4%–

80Hiawatha, IAIA7,4327.4%–

81Denison, IAIA8,2147.7%–

82Centerville, IAIA5,3277.8%–

83Storm Lake, IAIA11,5907.9%–

84Perry, IAIA8,2089.2%–

85Fairfield, IAIA9,2209.3%–

86Anamosa, IAIA5,9019.7%–

87Maquoketa, IAIA6,02710.0%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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