RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most residents in poverty, Iowa cities · 1990

Iowa cities with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 1990 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 827.

IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDHighest median household income Lowest median household income Highest per-capita income Lowest poverty rate Highest poverty rate Most six-figure households

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS –

01Des Moines, IAIA212,08624,900–

02Davenport, IAIA100,35814,862–

03Iowa City, IAIA76,22913,951–

04Ames, IAIA68,22011,384–

05Waterloo, IAIA66,91911,234–

06Sioux City, IAIA86,35611,108–

07Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93510,846–

08Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6806,623–

09Dubuque, IAIA59,1486,272–

10Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2405,763–

11Ottumwa, IAIA25,3193,986–

12Burlington, IAIA23,3363,735–

13Clinton, IAIA24,0493,716–

14Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8373,321–

15Mason City, IAIA26,8532,797–

16Muscatine, IAIA23,1642,743–

17Marshalltown, IAIA27,5362,402–

18Keokuk, IAIA9,5102,041–

19Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,745–

20Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,655–

21Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,492–

22Centerville, IAIA5,3271,473–

23Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,328–

24Boone, IAIA12,4711,328–

25Marion, IAIA42,7321,321–

26Creston, IAIA7,3351,213–

27Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,190–

28Coralville, IAIA23,9601,155–

29Denison, IAIA8,2141,140–

30Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,123–

31Newton, IAIA15,7411,107–

32Charles City, IAIA7,0131,105–

33Spencer, IAIA11,2181,092–

34West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,050–

35Ankeny, IAIA77,8331,047–

36Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,046–

37Estherville, IAIA5,807984–

38Decorah, IAIA7,417954–

39Grinnell, IAIA9,430953–

40Vinton, IAIA5,004937–

41Carroll, IAIA10,085931–

42Independence, IAIA6,312906–

43Storm Lake, IAIA11,590878–

44Indianola, IAIA16,829827–

45Waverly, IAIA10,561803–

46Perry, IAIA8,208768–

47Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500759–

48Webster City, IAIA7,815757–

49Le Mars, IAIA10,760753–

50Washington, IAIA7,261753–

51Clarinda, IAIA5,273751–

52Pella, IAIA10,992709–

53Algona, IAIA5,309707–

54Atlantic, IAIA6,676679–

55Manchester, IAIA5,357675–

56Urbandale, IAIA48,570636–

57Cherokee, IAIA5,122598–

58Clear Lake, IAIA7,601586–

59Red Oak, IAIA5,388556–

60Osceola, IAIA5,679547–

61Winterset, IAIA5,520533–

62Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013513–

63Anamosa, IAIA5,901482–

64Sheldon, IAIA5,575474–

65Sioux Center, IAIA8,864457–

66Spirit Lake, IAIA5,525439–

67Glenwood, IAIA5,287439–

68Altoona, IAIA22,796402–

69Nevada, IAIA6,974390–

70Hiawatha, IAIA7,432366–

71Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,324358–

72DeWitt, IAIA5,704312–

73Orange City, IAIA6,468280–

74North Liberty, IAIA21,976261–

75Adel, IAIA7,098259–

76Johnston, IAIA25,065252–

77Norwalk, IAIA15,004187–

78Clive, IAIA19,861184–

79Eldridge, IAIA6,954161–

80Windsor Heights, IAIA5,059152–

81Asbury, IAIA6,035109–

82Polk City, IAIA6,63099–

83Waukee, IAIA34,89083–

84Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23979–

85Grimes, IAIA17,40554–

86Tiffin, IAIA7,15654–

87Bondurant, IAIA9,64750–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS