RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most affordable housing, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the lowest CensusEasy Afford Score, where homes cost the fewest years of local income (2023 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost expensive homes Cheapest homes Highest median rent Lowest median rent Highest homeownership rate Highest renter share

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 2000

01Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191.7+12%

02Perry, IAIA8,2081.8−7%

03Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361.8−1%

04Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351.9+21%

05Estherville, IAIA5,8071.9+8%

06Burlington, IAIA23,3361.9+4%

07Charles City, IAIA7,0131.9−6%

08Clinton, IAIA24,0492.0+9%

09Keokuk, IAIA9,5102.0+24%

10Red Oak, IAIA5,3882.0+6%

11Webster City, IAIA7,8152.0+8%

12Oelwein, IAIA5,7572.1+8%

13Osceola, IAIA5,6792.1+3%

14Creston, IAIA7,3352.2+13%

15Mason City, IAIA26,8532.2+2%

16Maquoketa, IAIA6,0272.2−3%

17Centerville, IAIA5,3272.2+28%

18Cherokee, IAIA5,1222.2+27%

19Independence, IAIA6,3122.2+7%

20Manchester, IAIA5,3572.3−5%

21Denison, IAIA8,2142.3+6%

22Vinton, IAIA5,0042.3+10%

23Bondurant, IAIA9,6472.3+34%

24Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8372.4+24%

25Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4932.4+27%

26Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3242.4+10%

27Nevada, IAIA6,9742.4+23%

28Atlantic, IAIA6,6762.5+20%

29Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0132.5+23%

30Clarinda, IAIA5,2732.5+33%

31Boone, IAIA12,4712.5+44%

32Davenport, IAIA100,3582.5+19%

33Sioux City, IAIA86,3562.5+29%

34Polk City, IAIA6,6302.5+33%

35Grimes, IAIA17,4052.5+32%

36DeWitt, IAIA5,7042.6+26%

37Knoxville, IAIA7,4692.6+26%

38Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.6+20%

39Muscatine, IAIA23,1642.6+33%

40Waterloo, IAIA66,9192.7+42%

41Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9352.7+25%

42Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6802.7+26%

43Newton, IAIA15,7412.7+36%

44Carroll, IAIA10,0852.7+26%

45Asbury, IAIA6,0352.7+27%

46Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902.7+38%

47Washington, IAIA7,2612.8+27%

48Waverly, IAIA10,5612.8+15%

49Marion, IAIA42,7322.8+38%

50Winterset, IAIA5,5202.8+11%

51Anamosa, IAIA5,9012.8+31%

52Algona, IAIA5,3092.9+34%

53Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.9+23%

54Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0592.9+35%

55Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.9+29%

56Norwalk, IAIA15,0043.0+65%

57Des Moines, IAIA212,0863.0+42%

58Urbandale, IAIA48,5703.0+36%

59North Liberty, IAIA21,9763.0+34%

60Clive, IAIA19,8613.0+27%

61Fairfield, IAIA9,2203.0+36%

62Bettendorf, IAIA40,7103.0+45%

63Ankeny, IAIA77,8333.1+37%

64Spencer, IAIA11,2183.1+27%

65Sheldon, IAIA5,5753.1+35%

66Dubuque, IAIA59,1483.1+32%

67Sioux Center, IAIA8,8643.1+27%

68Indianola, IAIA16,8293.1+40%

69Altoona, IAIA22,7963.2+41%

70Grinnell, IAIA9,4303.2+34%

71Orange City, IAIA6,4683.2+32%

72Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2393.3+69%

73Clear Lake, IAIA7,6013.3+29%

74Hiawatha, IAIA7,4323.3+58%

75Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5253.3+31%

76Eldridge, IAIA6,9543.3+41%

77Tiffin, IAIA7,1563.4+43%

78Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2403.4+41%

79Adel, IAIA7,0983.4+47%

80Johnston, IAIA25,0653.5+41%

81Waukee, IAIA34,8903.5+68%

82Pella, IAIA10,9923.5+36%

83West Des Moines, IAIA74,2243.6+40%

84Decorah, IAIA7,4173.8+47%

85Coralville, IAIA23,9604.3+40%

86Ames, IAIA68,2204.5+31%

87Iowa City, IAIA76,2294.9+41%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

Download CSV (full list, 87 rows)How this score is calculated

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