RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most affordable housing, Iowa cities · 1990

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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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 2000

01Oelwein, IAIA5,7571.3−32%

02Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191.3−16%

03Estherville, IAIA5,8071.4−22%

04Keokuk, IAIA9,5101.4−13%

05Cherokee, IAIA5,1221.4−19%

06Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351.5−2%

07Perry, IAIA8,2081.5−20%

08Burlington, IAIA23,3361.5−17%

09Clinton, IAIA24,0491.6−14%

10Norwalk, IAIA15,0041.6−13%

11Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361.6−16%

12Boone, IAIA12,4711.6−9%

13Polk City, IAIA6,6301.6−15%

14Newton, IAIA15,7411.6−17%

15Sioux City, IAIA86,3561.6−17%

16Creston, IAIA7,3351.7−14%

17Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2391.7−14%

18Red Oak, IAIA5,3881.7−11%

19Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0131.7−16%

20Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101.7−21%

21Waterloo, IAIA66,9191.7−10%

22Vinton, IAIA5,0041.7−19%

23Washington, IAIA7,2611.7−22%

24Charles City, IAIA7,0131.7−18%

25Grimes, IAIA17,4051.7−11%

26Clarinda, IAIA5,2731.7−8%

27Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371.7−11%

28Muscatine, IAIA23,1641.7−14%

29Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931.7−9%

30Anamosa, IAIA5,9011.7−21%

31Asbury, IAIA6,0351.7−19%

32Sheldon, IAIA5,5751.7−25%

33Knoxville, IAIA7,4691.7−16%

34DeWitt, IAIA5,7041.7−15%

35Eldridge, IAIA6,9541.7−26%

36Webster City, IAIA7,8151.8−6%

37Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801.8−17%

38Centerville, IAIA5,3271.8+1%

39Altoona, IAIA22,7961.8−21%

40Algona, IAIA5,3091.8−17%

41Independence, IAIA6,3121.8−15%

42Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351.8−16%

43Mason City, IAIA26,8531.8−15%

44Bondurant, IAIA9,6471.8+4%

45Manchester, IAIA5,3571.8−24%

46Marion, IAIA42,7321.8−9%

47Des Moines, IAIA212,0861.8−12%

48Spencer, IAIA11,2181.8−25%

49Davenport, IAIA100,3581.9−13%

50Atlantic, IAIA6,6761.9−9%

51Waverly, IAIA10,5611.9−22%

52Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0591.9−13%

53Winterset, IAIA5,5201.9−26%

54Dubuque, IAIA59,1481.9−19%

55Adel, IAIA7,0981.9−19%

56Waukee, IAIA34,8901.9−8%

57Ankeny, IAIA77,8331.9−14%

58Clear Lake, IAIA7,6012.0−23%

59Glenwood, IAIA5,2872.0−16%

60Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3242.0−10%

61Carroll, IAIA10,0852.0−8%

62Nevada, IAIA6,9742.0+0%

63Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902.0−1%

64Denison, IAIA8,2142.0−8%

65Orange City, IAIA6,4682.0−18%

66Pella, IAIA10,9922.0−22%

67Osceola, IAIA5,6792.0−3%

68Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2402.0−17%

69Urbandale, IAIA48,5702.0−8%

70Maquoketa, IAIA6,0272.0−10%

71Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5252.1−18%

72Le Mars, IAIA10,7602.1−9%

73Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5002.1−5%

74Grinnell, IAIA9,4302.1−11%

75Tiffin, IAIA7,1562.1−8%

76Indianola, IAIA16,8292.2−4%

77West Des Moines, IAIA74,2242.2−14%

78Hiawatha, IAIA7,4322.2+6%

79Johnston, IAIA25,0652.2−9%

80Sioux Center, IAIA8,8642.2−9%

81Decorah, IAIA7,4172.3−13%

82Clive, IAIA19,8612.3−6%

83North Liberty, IAIA21,9762.3+4%

84Fairfield, IAIA9,2202.5+12%

85Coralville, IAIA23,9602.7−12%

86Ames, IAIA68,2202.9−16%

87Iowa City, IAIA76,2293.2−8%

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