RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most densely populated, Iowa cities · 2020

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, IAIA5,0593,662+9%

02Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,904+20%

03Clive, IAIA19,8612,430+45%

04Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,429+8%

05Ames, IAIA68,2202,355+31%

06Marion, IAIA42,7322,325+58%

07Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,159−1%

08North Liberty, IAIA21,9762,149+282%

09Ankeny, IAIA77,8332,142+150%

10Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902,076+12%

11Urbandale, IAIA48,5702,021+57%

12Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,910+3%

13Asbury, IAIA6,0351,870+143%

14Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,857+14%

15Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,836+25%

16Coralville, IAIA23,9601,762+48%

17Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,736−5%

18Carroll, IAIA10,0851,730+2%

19Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,687+51%

20Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,681+5%

21Burlington, IAIA23,3361,664−11%

22Altoona, IAIA22,7961,649+89%

23Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,645−2%

24Davenport, IAIA100,3581,591+3%

25Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,589+2%

26Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,554−1%

27Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,507+11%

28Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,462+8%

29Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,457+1%

30West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,453+48%

31Creston, IAIA7,3351,452−1%

32Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,437+6%

33Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,436+6%

34Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,425−10%

35Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,424−1%

36Newton, IAIA15,7411,400+1%

37Indianola, IAIA16,8291,385+22%

38Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,383+13%

39Boone, IAIA12,4711,363−3%

40Washington, IAIA7,2611,360+4%

41Orange City, IAIA6,4681,360+12%

42Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,357+0%

43Perry, IAIA8,2081,352+3%

44Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,308+5%

45Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,304+37%

46Grimes, IAIA17,4051,282+202%

47Denison, IAIA8,2141,279+14%

48Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,238+14%

49Johnston, IAIA25,0651,235+178%

50Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,230−12%

51Charles City, IAIA7,0131,208−5%

52Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,203+28%

53Algona, IAIA5,3091,185−4%

54Nevada, IAIA6,9741,164+4%

55Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,148+12%

56Adel, IAIA7,0981,141+79%

57Winterset, IAIA5,5201,138+12%

58Pella, IAIA10,9921,120+6%

59Centerville, IAIA5,3271,119−9%

60Waukee, IAIA34,8901,099+367%

61Norwalk, IAIA15,0041,099+86%

62Estherville, IAIA5,8071,096−11%

63Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,093−2%

64Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,088−13%

65Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001,075+6%

66Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,064−4%

67Tiffin, IAIA7,1561,056+363%

68Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,053−6%

69Decorah, IAIA7,4171,047−7%

70Manchester, IAIA5,3571,046−4%

71Spencer, IAIA11,2181,034+0%

72Vinton, IAIA5,0041,011−3%

73Independence, IAIA6,3121,006+1%

74Polk City, IAIA6,630983+136%

75Mason City, IAIA26,853981−6%

76Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013948−2%

77Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239938+100%

78Waverly, IAIA10,561923+16%

79DeWitt, IAIA5,704886+9%

80Webster City, IAIA7,815850−4%

81Atlantic, IAIA6,676819−6%

82Bondurant, IAIA9,647777+299%

83Cherokee, IAIA5,122761−3%

84Osceola, IAIA5,679746+16%

85Clear Lake, IAIA7,601713−6%

86Eldridge, IAIA6,954689+62%

87Clinton, IAIA24,049687−12%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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