RANKING · 2025 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most densely populated, Iowa cities

Iowa cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most sparsely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0593,528+5%

02Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,959+23%

03Clive, IAIA19,8612,595+55%

04Ankeny, IAIA77,8332,456+187%

05Ames, IAIA68,2202,419+34%

06Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,406+7%

07Marion, IAIA42,7322,392+63%

08Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,338+7%

09North Liberty, IAIA21,9762,306+309%

10Urbandale, IAIA48,5702,154+67%

11Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902,136+15%

12Altoona, IAIA22,7961,921+120%

13Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,911+30%

14Asbury, IAIA6,0351,899+146%

15Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,894+3%

16Coralville, IAIA23,9601,891+58%

17Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,860+14%

18Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,809−1%

19Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,791+60%

20Carroll, IAIA10,0851,691−0%

21Tiffin, IAIA7,1561,675+634%

22Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,658+4%

23Burlington, IAIA23,3361,620−13%

24Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,617−3%

25Waukee, IAIA34,8901,601+581%

26Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,576+1%

27Davenport, IAIA100,3581,570+2%

28West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,569+60%

29Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,560+15%

30Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,552−1%

31Indianola, IAIA16,8291,472+29%

32Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,467+2%

33Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,459+8%

34Grimes, IAIA17,4051,450+241%

35Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,434+6%

36Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,428+5%

37Perry, IAIA8,2081,417+8%

38Creston, IAIA7,3351,414−3%

39Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,405+48%

40Orange City, IAIA6,4681,403+16%

41Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,401+14%

42Newton, IAIA15,7411,399+1%

43Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,394−3%

44Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,372−13%

45Boone, IAIA12,4711,364−3%

46Washington, IAIA7,2611,343+3%

47Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,334−1%

48Adel, IAIA7,0981,316+107%

49Norwalk, IAIA15,0041,288+118%

50Johnston, IAIA25,0651,286+190%

51Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,273+2%

52Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,260+16%

53Denison, IAIA8,2141,255+12%

54Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,222+30%

55Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,196−14%

56Pella, IAIA10,9921,176+12%

57Polk City, IAIA6,6301,176+183%

58Winterset, IAIA5,5201,173+16%

59Nevada, IAIA6,9741,172+5%

60Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,161+13%

61Algona, IAIA5,3091,146−8%

62Charles City, IAIA7,0131,145−10%

63Manchester, IAIA5,3571,106+2%

64Centerville, IAIA5,3271,101−10%

65Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,086−3%

66Estherville, IAIA5,8071,078−13%

67Independence, IAIA6,3121,047+5%

68Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,045−17%

69Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2391,039+122%

70Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,034−7%

71Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,029−7%

72Spencer, IAIA11,2181,025−1%

73Vinton, IAIA5,0041,024−2%

74Decorah, IAIA7,4171,024−9%

75Bondurant, IAIA9,6471,018+423%

76Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500985−3%

77Mason City, IAIA26,853964−8%

78Waverly, IAIA10,561938+18%

79Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013931−3%

80DeWitt, IAIA5,704917+13%

81Webster City, IAIA7,815849−4%

82Atlantic, IAIA6,676805−8%

83Osceola, IAIA5,679782+22%

84Cherokee, IAIA5,122750−5%

85Eldridge, IAIA6,954713+67%

86Clear Lake, IAIA7,601705−7%

87Clinton, IAIA24,049676−13%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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