RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most educated, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2020 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Ames, IAIA68,22061.6%+5%

02Coralville, IAIA23,96060.1%+16%

03Iowa City, IAIA76,22959.6%+7%

04Clive, IAIA19,86158.4%+4%

05Waukee, IAIA34,89056.7%+67%

06North Liberty, IAIA21,97656.0%+66%

07West Des Moines, IAIA74,22454.0%+11%

08Asbury, IAIA6,03553.5%+74%

09Johnston, IAIA25,06553.3%+7%

10Ankeny, IAIA77,83352.2%+33%

11Bettendorf, IAIA40,71051.2%+32%

12Fairfield, IAIA9,22049.4%+25%

13Urbandale, IAIA48,57049.1%+12%

14Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24048.5%+24%

15Sioux Center, IAIA8,86448.1%+73%

16Polk City, IAIA6,63046.3%+76%

17Decorah, IAIA7,41743.8%+43%

18Pella, IAIA10,99243.6%+39%

19Waverly, IAIA10,56143.5%+38%

20Bondurant, IAIA9,64743.4%+124%

21Adel, IAIA7,09842.2%+107%

22Grimes, IAIA17,40541.7%+31%

23Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32441.0%+93%

24Norwalk, IAIA15,00439.9%+59%

25Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05939.3%−9%

26Grinnell, IAIA9,43039.0%+61%

27Orange City, IAIA6,46836.5%+16%

28Marion, IAIA42,73236.0%+24%

29Nevada, IAIA6,97435.2%+55%

30Eldridge, IAIA6,95435.2%+6%

31Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23934.7%+35%

32Tiffin, IAIA7,15633.8%+11%

33Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93532.9%+16%

34Clear Lake, IAIA7,60132.8%+37%

35Dubuque, IAIA59,14831.7%+36%

36Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52531.4%+50%

37Indianola, IAIA16,82930.9%+14%

38DeWitt, IAIA5,70430.1%+56%

39Altoona, IAIA22,79628.9%+21%

40Des Moines, IAIA212,08627.9%+28%

41Hiawatha, IAIA7,43227.6%+15%

42Atlantic, IAIA6,67627.2%+32%

43Davenport, IAIA100,35826.6%+23%

44Carroll, IAIA10,08525.9%+27%

45Winterset, IAIA5,52025.5%+99%

46Independence, IAIA6,31225.4%+48%

47Spencer, IAIA11,21824.1%+41%

48Webster City, IAIA7,81523.9%+39%

49Cherokee, IAIA5,12223.7%+78%

50Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50023.6%+30%

51Le Mars, IAIA10,76023.4%+10%

52Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49322.7%+18%

53Waterloo, IAIA66,91922.6%+16%

54Creston, IAIA7,33522.4%+51%

55Sioux City, IAIA86,35622.4%+18%

56Sheldon, IAIA5,57521.3%+25%

57Estherville, IAIA5,80721.2%+59%

58Marshalltown, IAIA27,53620.8%+16%

59Glenwood, IAIA5,28720.8%+60%

60Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83720.7%+7%

61Boone, IAIA12,47120.7%+17%

62Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01320.6%+2%

63Mason City, IAIA26,85320.5%+2%

64Ottumwa, IAIA25,31920.1%+30%

65Muscatine, IAIA23,16419.9%+21%

66Charles City, IAIA7,01319.8%+27%

67Vinton, IAIA5,00419.7%+22%

68Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68019.5%+40%

69Manchester, IAIA5,35719.3%+1%

70Washington, IAIA7,26119.2%+16%

71Knoxville, IAIA7,46919.0%+50%

72Algona, IAIA5,30918.8%+17%

73Clinton, IAIA24,04918.7%+25%

74Red Oak, IAIA5,38818.2%+36%

75Burlington, IAIA23,33617.9%+11%

76Centerville, IAIA5,32717.5%+24%

77Clarinda, IAIA5,27317.0%+7%

78Storm Lake, IAIA11,59016.9%−14%

79Anamosa, IAIA5,90116.7%+63%

80Keokuk, IAIA9,51016.2%+21%

81Newton, IAIA15,74115.9%−19%

82Fort Madison, IAIA9,93515.9%+8%

83Oelwein, IAIA5,75715.6%+24%

84Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.7%+2%

85Denison, IAIA8,21413.5%−1%

86Osceola, IAIA5,67913.2%−9%

87Perry, IAIA8,2088.8%−15%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS