RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most densely populated, Iowa cities · 1990

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, IAIA5,0593,619+8%

02Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,319−4%

03Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,191−3%

04Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,021−7%

05Burlington, IAIA23,3361,888+1%

06Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,842−0%

07Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,783+6%

08Ames, IAIA68,2201,673−7%

09Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,618+3%

10Storm Lake, IAIA11,5901,616−13%

11Carroll, IAIA10,0851,606−5%

12Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,596+1%

13Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,565−2%

14Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,564−15%

15Creston, IAIA7,3351,525+4%

16Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,524−2%

17Davenport, IAIA100,3581,491−3%

18Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,477+3%

19Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,466−10%

20Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,368+9%

21Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,367−5%

22Boone, IAIA12,4711,356−3%

23Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,353−0%

24Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,349−3%

25Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,321−3%

26Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,318−10%

27Newton, IAIA15,7411,313−5%

28Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,311−3%

29Washington, IAIA7,2611,309+0%

30Algona, IAIA5,3091,299+5%

31Charles City, IAIA7,0131,286+1%

32Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,264−7%

33Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,257+1%

34Estherville, IAIA5,8071,247+1%

35Centerville, IAIA5,3271,227+0%

36Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,204+8%

37Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,165−5%

38Perry, IAIA8,2081,148−13%

39Marion, IAIA42,7321,142−22%

40Decorah, IAIA7,4171,113−1%

41Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,079−3%

42Orange City, IAIA6,4681,072−12%

43Manchester, IAIA5,3571,061−2%

44Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,046−23%

45Vinton, IAIA5,0041,045+0%

46Mason City, IAIA26,8531,043−0%

47Urbandale, IAIA48,5701,042−19%

48Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,029+1%

49Spencer, IAIA11,2181,011−2%

50Nevada, IAIA6,9741,010−10%

51Denison, IAIA8,2141,009−10%

52Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0131,007+4%

53Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,001−10%

54Pella, IAIA10,992992−6%

55Indianola, IAIA16,829992−13%

56Independence, IAIA6,312991−1%

57Le Mars, IAIA10,760990−8%

58Clive, IAIA19,861975−42%

59Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,324933−17%

60Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500930−8%

61Atlantic, IAIA6,676897+2%

62Winterset, IAIA5,520892−12%

63Cherokee, IAIA5,122882+12%

64Webster City, IAIA7,815858−3%

65Spirit Lake, IAIA5,525856−9%

66Clinton, IAIA24,049820+5%

67Coralville, IAIA23,960817−32%

68Sioux Center, IAIA8,864804−15%

69Clear Lake, IAIA7,601759+0%

70Waverly, IAIA10,561758−5%

71DeWitt, IAIA5,704725−11%

72West Des Moines, IAIA74,224670−32%

73Asbury, IAIA6,035633−18%

74Adel, IAIA7,098613−4%

75Altoona, IAIA22,796606−30%

76Ankeny, IAIA77,833586−31%

77Osceola, IAIA5,679573−11%

78Norwalk, IAIA15,004491−17%

79Eldridge, IAIA6,954346−19%

80Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239340−27%

81Polk City, IAIA6,630339−19%

82North Liberty, IAIA21,976304−46%

83Johnston, IAIA25,065241−46%

84Grimes, IAIA17,405221−48%

85Bondurant, IAIA9,647167−14%

86Waukee, IAIA34,890115−51%

87Tiffin, IAIA7,156107−53%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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