RANKING · 2025 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most sparsely populated, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the fewest 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

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Clinton, IAIA24,049676−13%

02Clear Lake, IAIA7,601705−7%

03Eldridge, IAIA6,954713+67%

04Cherokee, IAIA5,122750−5%

05Osceola, IAIA5,679782+22%

06Atlantic, IAIA6,676805−8%

07Webster City, IAIA7,815849−4%

08DeWitt, IAIA5,704917+13%

09Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013931−3%

10Waverly, IAIA10,561938+18%

11Mason City, IAIA26,853964−8%

12Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500985−3%

13Bondurant, IAIA9,6471,018+423%

14Decorah, IAIA7,4171,024−9%

15Vinton, IAIA5,0041,024−2%

16Spencer, IAIA11,2181,025−1%

17Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,029−7%

18Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,034−7%

19Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2391,039+122%

20Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,045−17%

21Independence, IAIA6,3121,047+5%

22Estherville, IAIA5,8071,078−13%

23Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,086−3%

24Centerville, IAIA5,3271,101−10%

25Manchester, IAIA5,3571,106+2%

26Charles City, IAIA7,0131,145−10%

27Algona, IAIA5,3091,146−8%

28Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,161+13%

29Nevada, IAIA6,9741,172+5%

30Winterset, IAIA5,5201,173+16%

31Polk City, IAIA6,6301,176+183%

32Pella, IAIA10,9921,176+12%

33Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,196−14%

34Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,222+30%

35Denison, IAIA8,2141,255+12%

36Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,260+16%

37Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,273+2%

38Johnston, IAIA25,0651,286+190%

39Norwalk, IAIA15,0041,288+118%

40Adel, IAIA7,0981,316+107%

41Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,334−1%

42Washington, IAIA7,2611,343+3%

43Boone, IAIA12,4711,364−3%

44Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,372−13%

45Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,394−3%

46Newton, IAIA15,7411,399+1%

47Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,401+14%

48Orange City, IAIA6,4681,403+16%

49Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,405+48%

50Creston, IAIA7,3351,414−3%

51Perry, IAIA8,2081,417+8%

52Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,428+5%

53Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,434+6%

54Grimes, IAIA17,4051,450+241%

55Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,459+8%

56Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,467+2%

57Indianola, IAIA16,8291,472+29%

58Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,552−1%

59Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,560+15%

60West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,569+60%

61Davenport, IAIA100,3581,570+2%

62Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,576+1%

63Waukee, IAIA34,8901,601+581%

64Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,617−3%

65Burlington, IAIA23,3361,620−13%

66Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,658+4%

67Tiffin, IAIA7,1561,675+634%

68Carroll, IAIA10,0851,691−0%

69Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,791+60%

70Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,809−1%

71Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,860+14%

72Coralville, IAIA23,9601,891+58%

73Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,894+3%

74Asbury, IAIA6,0351,899+146%

75Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,911+30%

76Altoona, IAIA22,7961,921+120%

77Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902,136+15%

78Urbandale, IAIA48,5702,154+67%

79North Liberty, IAIA21,9762,306+309%

80Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,338+7%

81Marion, IAIA42,7322,392+63%

82Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,406+7%

83Ames, IAIA68,2202,419+34%

84Ankeny, IAIA77,8332,456+187%

85Clive, IAIA19,8612,595+55%

86Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,959+23%

87Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0593,528+5%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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