RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most densely populated, Iowa cities · 2010

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, IAIA5,0593,389+1%

02Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,634+9%

03Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,307+2%

04Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,192+1%

05Ames, IAIA68,2202,091+16%

06Clive, IAIA19,8612,018+20%

07Storm Lake, IAIA11,5901,953+5%

08Marion, IAIA42,7321,946+32%

09Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,845−0%

10Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,803−2%

11Burlington, IAIA23,3361,781−4%

12Urbandale, IAIA48,5701,750+36%

13Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,703+5%

14Carroll, IAIA10,0851,694−0%

15Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,620+1%

16Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,584−5%

17Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,575+0%

18Davenport, IAIA100,3581,559+1%

19Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,559+6%

20Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,558+0%

21Creston, IAIA7,3351,510+3%

22Coralville, IAIA23,9601,493+25%

23Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,474+8%

24Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,463−7%

25Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,448+7%

26Ankeny, IAIA77,8331,438+68%

27Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,435+6%

28Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,431−0%

29Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,424+5%

30Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,422+27%

31Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,404−3%

32North Liberty, IAIA21,9761,404+149%

33Boone, IAIA12,4711,385−1%

34Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,360+0%

35Newton, IAIA15,7411,355−2%

36Washington, IAIA7,2611,344+3%

37Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,334+9%

38Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,333−4%

39Perry, IAIA8,2081,329+1%

40Asbury, IAIA6,0351,312+70%

41Orange City, IAIA6,4681,303+8%

42Indianola, IAIA16,8291,293+14%

43Denison, IAIA8,2141,267+13%

44Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,258+1%

45Charles City, IAIA7,0131,250−2%

46Altoona, IAIA22,7961,225+41%

47Algona, IAIA5,3091,200−3%

48West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,197+22%

49Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,185−6%

50Estherville, IAIA5,8071,181−4%

51Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,151+6%

52Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,145+3%

53Centerville, IAIA5,3271,143−7%

54Nevada, IAIA6,9741,143+2%

55Decorah, IAIA7,4171,122−1%

56Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,117+17%

57Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,111−0%

58Pella, IAIA10,9921,108+5%

59Winterset, IAIA5,5201,103+9%

60Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,093−2%

61Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,080+6%

62Vinton, IAIA5,0041,076+3%

63Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,071+14%

64Manchester, IAIA5,3571,070−1%

65Spencer, IAIA11,2181,026−1%

66Mason City, IAIA26,8531,008−4%

67Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001,005−1%

68Independence, IAIA6,312990−1%

69Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013973+1%

70Johnston, IAIA25,065887+100%

71Waverly, IAIA10,561877+10%

72Webster City, IAIA7,815877−1%

73Atlantic, IAIA6,676858−2%

74DeWitt, IAIA5,704855+5%

75Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239812+73%

76Cherokee, IAIA5,122769−2%

77Norwalk, IAIA15,004768+30%

78Clinton, IAIA24,049755−3%

79Clear Lake, IAIA7,601721−5%

80Grimes, IAIA17,405687+62%

81Adel, IAIA7,098683+7%

82Osceola, IAIA5,679679+6%

83Waukee, IAIA34,890633+169%

84Polk City, IAIA6,630606+46%

85Eldridge, IAIA6,954579+36%

86Tiffin, IAIA7,156456+100%

87Bondurant, IAIA9,647407+109%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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