RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most sparsely populated, Iowa cities · 2020

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

01Clinton, IAIA24,049687−12%

02Eldridge, IAIA6,954689+62%

03Clear Lake, IAIA7,601713−6%

04Osceola, IAIA5,679746+16%

05Cherokee, IAIA5,122761−3%

06Bondurant, IAIA9,647777+299%

07Atlantic, IAIA6,676819−6%

08Webster City, IAIA7,815850−4%

09DeWitt, IAIA5,704886+9%

10Waverly, IAIA10,561923+16%

11Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239938+100%

12Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013948−2%

13Mason City, IAIA26,853981−6%

14Polk City, IAIA6,630983+136%

15Independence, IAIA6,3121,006+1%

16Vinton, IAIA5,0041,011−3%

17Spencer, IAIA11,2181,034+0%

18Manchester, IAIA5,3571,046−4%

19Decorah, IAIA7,4171,047−7%

20Clarinda, IAIA5,2731,053−6%

21Tiffin, IAIA7,1561,056+363%

22Fort Madison, IAIA9,9351,064−4%

23Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5001,075+6%

24Keokuk, IAIA9,5101,088−13%

25Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,093−2%

26Estherville, IAIA5,8071,096−11%

27Norwalk, IAIA15,0041,099+86%

28Waukee, IAIA34,8901,099+367%

29Centerville, IAIA5,3271,119−9%

30Pella, IAIA10,9921,120+6%

31Winterset, IAIA5,5201,138+12%

32Adel, IAIA7,0981,141+79%

33Sheldon, IAIA5,5751,148+12%

34Nevada, IAIA6,9741,164+4%

35Algona, IAIA5,3091,185−4%

36Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5251,203+28%

37Charles City, IAIA7,0131,208−5%

38Oelwein, IAIA5,7571,230−12%

39Johnston, IAIA25,0651,235+178%

40Le Mars, IAIA10,7601,238+14%

41Denison, IAIA8,2141,279+14%

42Grimes, IAIA17,4051,282+202%

43Sioux Center, IAIA8,8641,304+37%

44Muscatine, IAIA23,1641,308+5%

45Perry, IAIA8,2081,352+3%

46Maquoketa, IAIA6,0271,357+0%

47Orange City, IAIA6,4681,360+12%

48Washington, IAIA7,2611,360+4%

49Boone, IAIA12,4711,363−3%

50Cedar Falls, IAIA41,2401,383+13%

51Indianola, IAIA16,8291,385+22%

52Newton, IAIA15,7411,400+1%

53Fairfield, IAIA9,2201,424−1%

54Red Oak, IAIA5,3881,425−10%

55Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4931,436+6%

56Marshalltown, IAIA27,5361,437+6%

57Creston, IAIA7,3351,452−1%

58West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,453+48%

59Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,457+1%

60Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,462+8%

61Hiawatha, IAIA7,4321,507+11%

62Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8371,554−1%

63Ottumwa, IAIA25,3191,589+2%

64Davenport, IAIA100,3581,591+3%

65Knoxville, IAIA7,4691,645−2%

66Altoona, IAIA22,7961,649+89%

67Burlington, IAIA23,3361,664−11%

68Grinnell, IAIA9,4301,681+5%

69Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,3241,687+51%

70Carroll, IAIA10,0851,730+2%

71Glenwood, IAIA5,2871,736−5%

72Coralville, IAIA23,9601,762+48%

73Bettendorf, IAIA40,7101,836+25%

74Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9351,857+14%

75Asbury, IAIA6,0351,870+143%

76Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,910+3%

77Urbandale, IAIA48,5702,021+57%

78Storm Lake, IAIA11,5902,076+12%

79Ankeny, IAIA77,8332,142+150%

80North Liberty, IAIA21,9762,149+282%

81Anamosa, IAIA5,9012,159−1%

82Marion, IAIA42,7322,325+58%

83Ames, IAIA68,2202,355+31%

84Des Moines, IAIA212,0862,429+8%

85Clive, IAIA19,8612,430+45%

86Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,904+20%

87Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0593,662+9%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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