RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most unemployed people, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2020 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. The median across all 87 is 220.

IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLowest unemployment Highest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS –

01Des Moines, IAIA212,0867,145–

02Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9352,905–

03Ames, IAIA68,2202,755–

04Davenport, IAIA100,3582,444–

05Waterloo, IAIA66,9192,354–

06Sioux City, IAIA86,3562,142–

07Iowa City, IAIA76,2292,090–

08Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6801,598–

09Dubuque, IAIA59,1481,493–

10Ankeny, IAIA77,833977–

11West Des Moines, IAIA74,224965–

12Cedar Falls, IAIA41,240961–

13Urbandale, IAIA48,570959–

14Marion, IAIA42,732848–

15Marshalltown, IAIA27,536725–

16Burlington, IAIA23,336632–

17Ottumwa, IAIA25,319628–

18Clinton, IAIA24,049621–

19Mason City, IAIA26,853550–

20Muscatine, IAIA23,164549–

21Altoona, IAIA22,796533–

22Bettendorf, IAIA40,710518–

23Grimes, IAIA17,405504–

24Storm Lake, IAIA11,590459–

25Fairfield, IAIA9,220457–

26Waukee, IAIA34,890414–

27Fort Dodge, IAIA24,837397–

28Perry, IAIA8,208371–

29Keokuk, IAIA9,510369–

30Fort Madison, IAIA9,935336–

31Hiawatha, IAIA7,432317–

32Spencer, IAIA11,218316–

33Newton, IAIA15,741313–

34Grinnell, IAIA9,430309–

35Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,239308–

36Denison, IAIA8,214306–

37Clive, IAIA19,861305–

38Maquoketa, IAIA6,027290–

39North Liberty, IAIA21,976289–

40Indianola, IAIA16,829286–

41Coralville, IAIA23,960264–

42Norwalk, IAIA15,004260–

43Oskaloosa, IAIA11,493241–

44Anamosa, IAIA5,901220–

45Waverly, IAIA10,561194–

46Washington, IAIA7,261179–

47Centerville, IAIA5,327174–

48Charles City, IAIA7,013173–

49Johnston, IAIA25,065170–

50Clarinda, IAIA5,273151–

51Decorah, IAIA7,417147–

52Adel, IAIA7,098142–

53Algona, IAIA5,309136–

54Le Mars, IAIA10,760133–

55Carroll, IAIA10,085127–

56DeWitt, IAIA5,704126–

57Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,324121–

58Asbury, IAIA6,035119–

59Webster City, IAIA7,815119–

60Windsor Heights, IAIA5,059117–

61Red Oak, IAIA5,388113–

62Glenwood, IAIA5,287113–

63Clear Lake, IAIA7,601112–

64Estherville, IAIA5,807107–

65Orange City, IAIA6,468105–

66Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,500105–

67Polk City, IAIA6,630104–

68Iowa Falls, IAIA5,013101–

69Boone, IAIA12,47197–

70Knoxville, IAIA7,46997–

71Creston, IAIA7,33588–

72Eldridge, IAIA6,95486–

73Pella, IAIA10,99281–

74Cherokee, IAIA5,12271–

75Independence, IAIA6,31267–

76Winterset, IAIA5,52060–

77Tiffin, IAIA7,15644–

78Vinton, IAIA5,00435–

79Manchester, IAIA5,35735–

80Osceola, IAIA5,67932–

81Sheldon, IAIA5,57528–

82Atlantic, IAIA6,67626–

83Oelwein, IAIA5,75718–

84Bondurant, IAIA9,64714–

85Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52513–

86Sioux Center, IAIA8,86413–

87Nevada, IAIA6,97410–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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