RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most densely populated, Iowa cities · 2000

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, IAIA5,0593,351+0%

02Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,415+0%

03Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,254+0%

04Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,177+0%

05Burlington, IAIA23,3361,863+0%

06Storm Lake, IAIA11,5901,857+0%

07Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,847+0%

08Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,833+0%

09Ames, IAIA68,2201,799+0%

10Carroll, IAIA10,0851,694+0%

11Clive, IAIA19,8611,680+0%

12Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,674+0%

13Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,628+0%

14Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,600+0%

15Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,578+0%

16Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,570+0%

17Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,556+0%

18Davenport, IAIA100,3581,539+0%

19Marion, IAIA42,7321,472+0%

20Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,468+0%

21Creston, IAIA7,3351,464+0%

22Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,444+0%

23Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,438+0%

24Boone, IAIA12,4711,401+0%

25Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,390+0%

26Newton, IAIA15,7411,384+0%

27Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,360+0%

28Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,359+0%

29Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,356+0%

30Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,355+0%

31Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,353+0%

32Perry, IAIA8,2081,317+0%

33Washington, IAIA7,2611,304+0%

34Urbandale, IAIA48,5701,289+0%

35Charles City, IAIA7,0131,276+0%

36Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,256+0%

37Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,247+0%

38Algona, IAIA5,3091,239+0%

39Estherville, IAIA5,8071,236+0%

40Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,228+0%

41Centerville, IAIA5,3271,225+0%

42Orange City, IAIA6,4681,211+0%

43Coralville, IAIA23,9601,194+0%

44Indianola, IAIA16,8291,137+0%

45Decorah, IAIA7,4171,128+0%

46Denison, IAIA8,2141,121+0%

47Nevada, IAIA6,9741,119+0%

48Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,117+0%

49Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,116+0%

50Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,116+0%

51Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,110+0%

52Manchester, IAIA5,3571,086+0%

53Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,082+0%

54Pella, IAIA10,9921,052+0%

55Mason City, IAIA26,8531,047+0%

56Vinton, IAIA5,0041,044+0%

57Spencer, IAIA11,2181,034+0%

58Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,023+0%

59Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001,014+0%

60Winterset, IAIA5,5201,013+0%

61Independence, IAIA6,312998+0%

62West Des Moines, IAIA74,224981+0%

63Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013964+0%

64Sioux Center, IAIA8,864951+0%

65Spirit Lake, IAIA5,525942+0%

66Webster City, IAIA7,815888+0%

67Atlantic, IAIA6,676875+0%

68Altoona, IAIA22,796872+0%

69Ankeny, IAIA77,833856+0%

70DeWitt, IAIA5,704811+0%

71Waverly, IAIA10,561796+0%

72Cherokee, IAIA5,122786+0%

73Clinton, IAIA24,049780+0%

74Asbury, IAIA6,035771+0%

75Clear Lake, IAIA7,601757+0%

76Osceola, IAIA5,679641+0%

77Adel, IAIA7,098637+0%

78Norwalk, IAIA15,004591+0%

79North Liberty, IAIA21,976563+0%

80Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239469+0%

81Johnston, IAIA25,065444+0%

82Eldridge, IAIA6,954426+0%

83Grimes, IAIA17,405425+0%

84Polk City, IAIA6,630416+0%

85Waukee, IAIA34,890235+0%

86Tiffin, IAIA7,156228+0%

87Bondurant, IAIA9,647195+0%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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