RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most unemployed people, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS 2020

01Des Moines, IAIA212,0866,755−5%

02Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9352,779−4%

03Davenport, IAIA100,3582,452+0%

04Ames, IAIA68,2202,364−14%

05Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,099+0%

06Sioux City, IAIA86,3561,992−7%

07Waterloo, IAIA66,9191,808−23%

08Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,430−4%

09Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,338−16%

10West Des Moines, IAIA74,2241,008+4%

11Cedar Falls, IAIA41,240919−4%

12Altoona, IAIA22,796865+62%

13Ankeny, IAIA77,833804−18%

14Marion, IAIA42,732781−8%

15Fort Dodge, IAIA24,837745+88%

16Marshalltown, IAIA27,536742+2%

17Urbandale, IAIA48,570738−23%

18Waukee, IAIA34,890595+44%

19Ottumwa, IAIA25,319578−8%

20Fairfield, IAIA9,220531+16%

21Muscatine, IAIA23,164488−11%

22Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239482+56%

23Bettendorf, IAIA40,710474−8%

24Newton, IAIA15,741453+45%

25Burlington, IAIA23,336452−28%

26Clinton, IAIA24,049429−31%

27North Liberty, IAIA21,976409+42%

28Clive, IAIA19,861408+34%

29Mason City, IAIA26,853397−28%

30Fort Madison, IAIA9,935344+2%

31Indianola, IAIA16,829332+16%

32Coralville, IAIA23,960287+9%

33Oskaloosa, IAIA11,493282+17%

34Webster City, IAIA7,815277+133%

35Johnston, IAIA25,065267+57%

36Norwalk, IAIA15,004264+2%

37Storm Lake, IAIA11,590263−43%

38Spencer, IAIA11,218261−17%

39Maquoketa, IAIA6,027254−12%

40Denison, IAIA8,214233−24%

41Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013226+124%

42Keokuk, IAIA9,510218−41%

43Grinnell, IAIA9,430195−37%

44Waverly, IAIA10,561194+0%

45Grimes, IAIA17,405192−62%

46Knoxville, IAIA7,469189+95%

47Oelwein, IAIA5,757187+939%

48Osceola, IAIA5,679180+463%

49Decorah, IAIA7,417171+16%

50Perry, IAIA8,208168−55%

51Charles City, IAIA7,013166−4%

52Le Mars, IAIA10,760166+25%

53Hiawatha, IAIA7,432141−56%

54Boone, IAIA12,471139+43%

55Carroll, IAIA10,085130+2%

56Clarinda, IAIA5,273127−16%

57Washington, IAIA7,261125−30%

58Creston, IAIA7,335124+41%

59Anamosa, IAIA5,901115−48%

60DeWitt, IAIA5,704112−11%

61Polk City, IAIA6,630105+1%

62Manchester, IAIA5,357104+197%

63Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52598+654%

64Clear Lake, IAIA7,60196−14%

65Orange City, IAIA6,46892−12%

66Adel, IAIA7,09889−37%

67Centerville, IAIA5,32789−49%

68Winterset, IAIA5,52083+38%

69Independence, IAIA6,31280+19%

70Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50073−30%

71Nevada, IAIA6,97473+630%

72Red Oak, IAIA5,38869−39%

73Pella, IAIA10,99266−19%

74Glenwood, IAIA5,28765−42%

75Cherokee, IAIA5,12264−10%

76Vinton, IAIA5,00459+69%

77Sioux Center, IAIA8,86458+346%

78Algona, IAIA5,30953−61%

79Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32450−59%

80Bondurant, IAIA9,64744+214%

81Atlantic, IAIA6,67641+58%

82Eldridge, IAIA6,95437−57%

83Asbury, IAIA6,03536−70%

84Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05936−69%

85Estherville, IAIA5,80735−67%

86Sheldon, IAIA5,57518−36%

87Tiffin, IAIA7,15613−70%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES