RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most sparsely populated, Iowa cities · 2010

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

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Bondurant, IAIA9,647407+109%

02Tiffin, IAIA7,156456+100%

03Eldridge, IAIA6,954579+36%

04Polk City, IAIA6,630606+46%

05Waukee, IAIA34,890633+169%

06Osceola, IAIA5,679679+6%

07Adel, IAIA7,098683+7%

08Grimes, IAIA17,405687+62%

09Clear Lake, IAIA7,601721−5%

10Clinton, IAIA24,049755−3%

11Norwalk, IAIA15,004768+30%

12Cherokee, IAIA5,122769−2%

13Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239812+73%

14DeWitt, IAIA5,704855+5%

15Atlantic, IAIA6,676858−2%

16Webster City, IAIA7,815877−1%

17Waverly, IAIA10,561877+10%

18Johnston, IAIA25,065887+100%

19Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013973+1%

20Independence, IAIA6,312990−1%

21Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001,005−1%

22Mason City, IAIA26,8531,008−4%

23Spencer, IAIA11,2181,026−1%

24Manchester, IAIA5,3571,070−1%

25Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,071+14%

26Vinton, IAIA5,0041,076+3%

27Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,080+6%

28Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,093−2%

29Winterset, IAIA5,5201,103+9%

30Pella, IAIA10,9921,108+5%

31Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,111−0%

32Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,117+17%

33Decorah, IAIA7,4171,122−1%

34Nevada, IAIA6,9741,143+2%

35Centerville, IAIA5,3271,143−7%

36Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,145+3%

37Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,151+6%

38Estherville, IAIA5,8071,181−4%

39Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,185−6%

40West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,197+22%

41Algona, IAIA5,3091,200−3%

42Altoona, IAIA22,7961,225+41%

43Charles City, IAIA7,0131,250−2%

44Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,258+1%

45Denison, IAIA8,2141,267+13%

46Indianola, IAIA16,8291,293+14%

47Orange City, IAIA6,4681,303+8%

48Asbury, IAIA6,0351,312+70%

49Perry, IAIA8,2081,329+1%

50Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,333−4%

51Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,334+9%

52Washington, IAIA7,2611,344+3%

53Newton, IAIA15,7411,355−2%

54Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,360+0%

55Boone, IAIA12,4711,385−1%

56North Liberty, IAIA21,9761,404+149%

57Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,404−3%

58Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,422+27%

59Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,424+5%

60Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,431−0%

61Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,435+6%

62Ankeny, IAIA77,8331,438+68%

63Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,448+7%

64Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,463−7%

65Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,474+8%

66Coralville, IAIA23,9601,493+25%

67Creston, IAIA7,3351,510+3%

68Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,558+0%

69Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,559+6%

70Davenport, IAIA100,3581,559+1%

71Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,575+0%

72Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,584−5%

73Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,620+1%

74Carroll, IAIA10,0851,694−0%

75Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,703+5%

76Urbandale, IAIA48,5701,750+36%

77Burlington, IAIA23,3361,781−4%

78Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,803−2%

79Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,845−0%

80Marion, IAIA42,7321,946+32%

81Storm Lake, IAIA11,5901,953+5%

82Clive, IAIA19,8612,018+20%

83Ames, IAIA68,2202,091+16%

84Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,192+1%

85Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,307+2%

86Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,634+9%

87Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0593,389+1%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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