We all love the biggest cities that the Hawkeye State has to offer. You know the places like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids which make all the headlines.
But there are a bunch of other great large cities in Iowa that don't get as much love.
We're going to change that right now.
Using the most recent Census data, we can tell you about all the places in Iowa with a focus on the biggest. We update the data each year and this is our fourth time doing this.
You can click here to see a full table of the full of the 100 biggest cities in Iowa, along with every other place over 1,000 people big. It is sortable by clicking on the headers.
Read on below to see more on the biggest cities. Or for more reading on places to live in Iowa, check out:
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Population: 213,545
Population 2010: 202,095
Growth: 5.7%
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Population: 136,512
Population 2010: 125,450
Growth: 8.8%
More on Cedar Rapids: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Population: 101,725
Population 2010: 98,325
Growth: 3.5%
More on Davenport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Population: 85,081
Population 2010: 82,106
Growth: 3.6%
More on Sioux City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Population: 74,240
Population 2010: 66,758
Growth: 11.2%
More on Iowa City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Population: 67,695
Population 2010: 67,893
Growth: -0.3%
More on Waterloo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Population: 67,640
Population 2010: 54,731
Growth: 23.6%
More on West Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 1)
Population: 66,346
Population 2010: 42,211
Growth: 57.2%
More on Ankeny: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 1)
Population: 65,522
Population 2010: 57,343
Growth: 14.3%
More on Ames: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Population: 62,617
Population 2010: 61,340
Growth: 2.1%
More on Council Bluffs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
We've been ranking and dissecting cities in the Hawkeye State for over 4 years now -- making this actually the fourth time we've run the numbers. We always use the best data, the US Census. In this case, that means we are using the American Community Survey.
It what is probably the most simple analysis we run each year, we ranked every place in Iowa from biggest to smallest. The biggest city this year? That would be Des Moines.
The smallest? Merrill, although there are places smaller than 1,000 people not listed here, so keep that in mind as we take a look at the top ten.
We hope that you find the big city, or really any city, that's right for you. Below is a list of the rest of the biggest cities along with every other place in Iowa.
Have fun snacking around in the Hawkeye State!
For more reading on Iowa, check out:
Rank | City | Current Population | 2010 | Growth | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Des Moines | 213,545 | 202,095 | 5.7% | |||||
2 | Cedar Rapids | 136,512 | 125,450 | 8.8% | |||||
3 | Davenport | 101,725 | 98,325 | 3.5% | |||||
4 | Sioux City | 85,081 | 82,106 | 3.6% | |||||
5 | Iowa City | 74,240 | 66,758 | 11.2% | |||||
6 | Waterloo | 67,695 | 67,893 | -0.3% | |||||
7 | West Des Moines | 67,640 | 54,731 | 23.6% | |||||
8 | Ankeny | 66,346 | 42,211 | 57.2% | |||||
9 | Ames | 65,522 | 57,343 | 14.3% | |||||
10 | Council Bluffs | 62,617 | 61,340 | 2.1% | |||||
11 | Dubuque | 59,379 | 57,504 | 3.3% | |||||
12 | Urbandale | 45,037 | 37,503 | 20.1% | |||||
13 | Marion | 41,023 | 33,293 | 23.2% | |||||
14 | Cedar Falls | 40,500 | 38,178 | 6.1% | |||||
15 | Bettendorf | 38,631 | 32,490 | 18.9% | |||||
16 | Marshalltown | 27,570 | 27,096 | 1.7% | |||||
17 | Mason City | 27,385 | 28,125 | -2.6% | |||||
18 | Ottumwa | 25,379 | 24,889 | 2.0% | |||||
19 | Fort Dodge | 24,826 | 25,323 | -2.0% | |||||
20 | Clinton | 24,651 | 27,016 | -8.8% | |||||
21 | Burlington | 24,160 | 25,604 | -5.6% | |||||
22 | Muscatine | 23,759 | 22,819 | 4.1% | |||||
23 | Waukee | 23,441 | 12,305 | 90.5% | |||||
24 | Johnston | 23,418 | 15,723 | 48.9% | |||||
25 | Coralville | 22,226 | 18,186 | 22.2% | |||||
26 | North Liberty | 19,976 | 11,889 | 68.0% | |||||
27 | Altoona | 19,345 | 13,757 | 40.6% | |||||
28 | Clive | 18,323 | 14,950 | 22.6% | |||||
29 | Newton | 15,688 | 15,371 | 2.1% | |||||
30 | Indianola | 15,544 | 14,546 | 6.9% | |||||
31 | Grimes | 14,842 | 7,653 | 93.9% | |||||
32 | Norwalk | 12,592 | 8,622 | 46.0% | |||||
33 | Boone | 12,509 | 12,764 | -2.0% | |||||
34 | Oskaloosa | 11,552 | 11,393 | 1.4% | |||||
35 | Spencer | 11,292 | 11,193 | 0.9% | |||||
36 | Storm Lake | 11,166 | 10,357 | 7.8% | |||||
37 | Le Mars | 10,462 | 9,719 | 7.6% | |||||
38 | Pella | 10,414 | 10,359 | 0.5% | |||||
39 | Fort Madison | 10,340 | 11,096 | -6.8% | |||||
40 | Waverly | 10,278 | 9,754 | 5.4% | |||||
41 | Carroll | 10,261 | 10,047 | 2.1% | |||||
42 | Pleasant Hill | 10,203 | 8,100 | 26.0% | |||||
43 | Keokuk | 9,977 | 10,802 | -7.6% | |||||
44 | Fairfield | 9,653 | 9,451 | 2.1% | |||||
45 | Grinnell | 9,481 | 9,265 | 2.3% | |||||
46 | Mount Pleasant | 8,996 | 8,743 | 2.9% | |||||
47 | Denison | 8,323 | 8,077 | 3.0% | |||||
48 | Sioux Center | 8,090 | 6,916 | 17.0% | |||||
49 | Perry | 7,836 | 7,706 | 1.7% | |||||
50 | Webster City | 7,825 | 8,125 | -3.7% | |||||
51 | Decorah | 7,767 | 8,115 | -4.3% | |||||
52 | Clear Lake | 7,673 | 7,799 | -1.6% | |||||
53 | Creston | 7,594 | 7,738 | -1.9% | |||||
54 | Knoxville | 7,537 | 7,459 | 1.0% | |||||
55 | Charles City | 7,399 | 7,667 | -3.5% | |||||
56 | Washington | 7,314 | 7,261 | 0.7% | |||||
57 | Hiawatha | 7,184 | 6,932 | 3.6% | |||||
58 | Bondurant | 7,163 | 3,486 | 105.5% | |||||
59 | Nevada | 7,017 | 6,753 | 3.9% | |||||
60 | Atlantic | 6,795 | 7,078 | -4.0% | |||||
61 | Eldridge | 6,634 | 5,319 | 24.7% | |||||
62 | Orange City | 6,214 | 5,967 | 4.1% | |||||
63 | Maquoketa | 6,123 | 6,135 | -0.2% | |||||
64 | Independence | 6,088 | 5,987 | 1.7% | |||||
65 | Oelwein | 5,961 | 6,433 | -7.3% | |||||
66 | Estherville | 5,904 | 6,388 | -7.6% | |||||
67 | Adel | 5,867 | 3,640 | 61.2% | |||||
68 | Asbury | 5,795 | 3,852 | 50.4% | |||||
69 | Red Oak | 5,576 | 5,814 | -4.1% | |||||
70 | Clarinda | 5,498 | 5,566 | -1.2% | |||||
71 | Sheldon | 5,475 | 5,046 | 8.5% | |||||
72 | Osceola | 5,412 | 4,878 | 10.9% | |||||
73 | Algona | 5,407 | 5,569 | -2.9% | |||||
74 | Polk City | 5,386 | 3,231 | 66.7% | |||||
75 | Centerville | 5,353 | 5,593 | -4.3% | |||||
76 | Anamosa | 5,332 | 5,634 | -5.4% | |||||
77 | Winterset | 5,309 | 5,138 | 3.3% | |||||
78 | Spirit Lake | 5,301 | 4,749 | 11.6% | |||||
79 | Glenwood | 5,224 | 5,354 | -2.4% | |||||
80 | Windsor Heights | 5,208 | 4,835 | 7.7% | |||||
81 | Iowa Falls | 5,154 | 5,195 | -0.8% | |||||
82 | Cherokee | 5,141 | 5,205 | -1.2% | |||||
83 | Manchester | 5,077 | 5,187 | -2.1% | |||||
84 | Vinton | 4,951 | 5,262 | -5.9% | |||||
85 | Sergeant Bluff | 4,917 | 4,031 | 22.0% | |||||
86 | Harlan | 4,912 | 5,140 | -4.4% | |||||
87 | Shenandoah | 4,874 | 5,222 | -6.7% | |||||
88 | Humboldt | 4,744 | 4,648 | 2.1% | |||||
89 | Le Claire | 4,614 | 3,561 | 29.6% | |||||
90 | Evansdale | 4,599 | 4,666 | -1.4% | |||||
91 | Camanche | 4,545 | 4,403 | 3.2% | |||||
92 | Mount Vernon | 4,498 | 4,375 | 2.8% | |||||
93 | Tiffin | 4,482 | 1,986 | 125.7% | |||||
94 | Hampton | 4,327 | 4,420 | -2.1% | |||||
95 | Huxley | 4,293 | 3,132 | 37.1% | |||||
96 | Forest City | 4,284 | 4,160 | 3.0% | |||||
97 | Dyersville | 4,276 | 4,070 | 5.1% | |||||
98 | Chariton | 4,193 | 4,429 | -5.3% | |||||
99 | Jefferson | 4,178 | 4,360 | -4.2% | |||||
100 | Carlisle | 4,063 | 3,775 | 7.6% | |||||
101 | Rock Valley | 4,018 | 3,274 | 22.7% | |||||
102 | Monticello | 3,994 | 3,785 | 5.5% | |||||
103 | Cresco | 3,872 | 3,867 | 0.1% | |||||
104 | West Liberty | 3,847 | 3,659 | 5.1% | |||||
105 | Waukon | 3,815 | 3,931 | -3.0% | |||||
106 | Carter Lake | 3,796 | 3,676 | 3.3% | |||||
107 | Albia | 3,692 | 3,746 | -1.4% | |||||
108 | Emmetsburg | 3,670 | 3,898 | -5.8% | |||||
109 | Eagle Grove | 3,597 | 3,601 | -0.1% | |||||
110 | Osage | 3,581 | 3,597 | -0.4% | |||||
111 | New Hampton | 3,452 | 3,585 | -3.7% | |||||
112 | Story City | 3,400 | 3,393 | 0.2% | |||||
113 | Robins | 3,344 | 2,906 | 15.1% | |||||
114 | Williamsburg | 3,322 | 3,015 | 10.2% | |||||
115 | Milford | 3,256 | 2,844 | 14.5% | |||||
116 | West Burlington | 3,190 | 2,977 | 7.2% | |||||
117 | Tipton | 3,143 | 3,209 | -2.1% | |||||
118 | Tama | 3,072 | 2,870 | 7.0% | |||||
119 | Garner | 3,068 | 3,102 | -1.1% | |||||
120 | Solon | 2,959 | 1,924 | 53.8% | |||||
121 | Saylorville | 2,916 | 3,105 | -6.1% | |||||
122 | Wilton | 2,916 | 2,801 | 4.1% | |||||
123 | Onawa | 2,894 | 3,005 | -3.7% | |||||
124 | Park View | 2,870 | 2,428 | 18.2% | |||||
125 | Clarion | 2,826 | 2,861 | -1.2% | |||||
126 | Sibley | 2,817 | 2,804 | 0.5% | |||||
127 | Fairfax | 2,794 | 1,641 | 70.3% | |||||
128 | Grundy Center | 2,783 | 2,673 | 4.1% | |||||
129 | Madrid | 2,782 | 2,505 | 11.1% | |||||
130 | Marengo | 2,714 | 2,546 | 6.6% | |||||
131 | Postville | 2,711 | 1,996 | 35.8% | |||||
132 | Missouri Valley | 2,683 | 2,886 | -7.0% | |||||
133 | Hawarden | 2,675 | 2,536 | 5.5% | |||||
134 | Eldora | 2,673 | 2,774 | -3.6% | |||||
135 | Bloomfield | 2,665 | 2,630 | 1.3% | |||||
136 | Kalona | 2,631 | 2,449 | 7.4% | |||||
137 | Rock Rapids | 2,604 | 2,537 | 2.6% | |||||
138 | Mitchellville | 2,589 | 2,529 | 2.4% | |||||
139 | West Union | 2,585 | 2,614 | -1.1% | |||||
140 | Center Point | 2,582 | 2,428 | 6.3% | |||||
141 | Hudson | 2,541 | 2,334 | 8.9% | |||||
142 | New London | 2,535 | 1,760 | 44.0% | |||||
143 | Jesup | 2,535 | 2,592 | -2.2% | |||||
144 | Belmond | 2,463 | 2,287 | 7.7% | |||||
145 | Belle Plaine | 2,419 | 2,607 | -7.2% | |||||
146 | Rockwell City | 2,362 | 2,357 | 0.2% | |||||
147 | La Porte City | 2,349 | 2,637 | -10.9% | |||||
148 | Bellevue | 2,345 | 2,289 | 2.4% | |||||
149 | West Branch | 2,289 | 2,468 | -7.3% | |||||
150 | Lamoni | 2,285 | 2,501 | -8.6% | |||||
151 | Hull | 2,248 | 1,955 | 15.0% | |||||
152 | Atkins | 2,241 | 1,719 | 30.4% | |||||
153 | Ely | 2,163 | 1,624 | 33.2% | |||||
154 | Peosta | 2,161 | 1,511 | 43.0% | |||||
155 | Northwood | 2,158 | 1,962 | 10.0% | |||||
156 | Sumner | 2,149 | 2,031 | 5.8% | |||||
157 | Alta | 2,144 | 1,917 | 11.8% | |||||
158 | Columbus Junction | 2,132 | 2,024 | 5.3% | |||||
159 | Cascade | 2,110 | 2,272 | -7.1% | |||||
160 | Lake Mills | 2,101 | 2,162 | -2.8% | |||||
161 | Mediapolis | 2,095 | 1,812 | 15.6% | |||||
162 | Toledo | 2,088 | 2,595 | -19.5% | |||||
163 | Audubon | 2,065 | 2,177 | -5.1% | |||||
164 | Ida Grove | 2,062 | 2,158 | -4.4% | |||||
165 | Granger | 1,973 | 1,035 | 90.6% | |||||
166 | Colfax | 1,957 | 2,743 | -28.7% | |||||
167 | Lisbon | 1,924 | 1,885 | 2.1% | |||||
168 | Britt | 1,922 | 2,110 | -8.9% | |||||
169 | Wapello | 1,914 | 2,343 | -18.3% | |||||
170 | Sac City | 1,895 | 2,294 | -17.4% | |||||
171 | Pleasantville | 1,888 | 1,605 | 17.6% | |||||
172 | Walcott | 1,879 | 1,570 | 19.7% | |||||
173 | Ogden | 1,875 | 2,410 | -22.2% | |||||
174 | Denver | 1,873 | 1,827 | 2.5% | |||||
175 | Blue Grass | 1,864 | 1,382 | 34.9% | |||||
176 | Remsen | 1,857 | 2,018 | -8.0% | |||||
177 | Mount Ayr | 1,832 | 1,659 | 10.4% | |||||
178 | Durant | 1,829 | 1,907 | -4.1% | |||||
179 | Prairie City | 1,824 | 1,311 | 39.1% | |||||
180 | Monroe | 1,822 | 1,868 | -2.5% | |||||
181 | Sigourney | 1,805 | 2,101 | -14.1% | |||||
182 | Epworth | 1,804 | 1,809 | -0.3% | |||||
183 | Parkersburg | 1,765 | 1,947 | -9.3% | |||||
184 | Oakland | 1,761 | 1,626 | 8.3% | |||||
185 | Reinbeck | 1,752 | 1,963 | -10.7% | |||||
186 | Corydon | 1,749 | 1,410 | 24.0% | |||||
187 | Dallas Center | 1,741 | 2,085 | -16.5% | |||||
188 | Lake City | 1,738 | 1,682 | 3.3% | |||||
189 | Leon | 1,716 | 2,105 | -18.5% | |||||
190 | Moville | 1,712 | 1,743 | -1.8% | |||||
191 | Manson | 1,707 | 1,648 | 3.6% | |||||
192 | Ackley | 1,706 | 1,550 | 10.1% | |||||
193 | Farley | 1,690 | 1,508 | 12.1% | |||||
194 | Greenfield | 1,671 | 1,973 | -15.3% | |||||
195 | Brooklyn | 1,662 | 1,322 | 25.7% | |||||
196 | Stuart | 1,633 | 1,649 | -1.0% | |||||
197 | State Center | 1,631 | 1,436 | 13.6% | |||||
198 | Shell Rock | 1,616 | 1,335 | 21.0% | |||||
199 | Corning | 1,607 | 1,674 | -4.0% | |||||
200 | Guttenberg | 1,578 | 1,784 | -11.5% | |||||
201 | Dysart | 1,578 | 1,520 | 3.8% | |||||
202 | Nora Springs | 1,568 | 1,557 | 0.7% | |||||
203 | Guthrie Center | 1,556 | 1,562 | -0.4% | |||||
204 | Hartley | 1,553 | 1,796 | -13.5% | |||||
205 | Monona | 1,548 | 1,844 | -16.1% | |||||
206 | Slater | 1,540 | 1,583 | -2.7% | |||||
207 | Panora | 1,537 | 1,228 | 25.2% | |||||
208 | Fairbank | 1,534 | 1,236 | 24.1% | |||||
209 | Logan | 1,532 | 1,571 | -2.5% | |||||
210 | Van Meter | 1,528 | 1,199 | 27.4% | |||||
211 | Akron | 1,527 | 1,512 | 1.0% | |||||
212 | Manning | 1,510 | 1,713 | -11.9% | |||||
213 | Nashua | 1,505 | 1,646 | -8.6% | |||||
214 | Walford | 1,498 | 1,519 | -1.4% | |||||
215 | Holstein | 1,495 | 1,474 | 1.4% | |||||
216 | Lenox | 1,483 | 1,315 | 12.8% | |||||
217 | Strawberry Point | 1,479 | 1,246 | 18.7% | |||||
218 | Wellman | 1,474 | 1,484 | -0.7% | |||||
219 | Urbana | 1,470 | 1,409 | 4.3% | |||||
220 | Pocahontas | 1,465 | 1,698 | -13.7% | |||||
221 | Kingsley | 1,433 | 1,317 | 8.8% | |||||
222 | Traer | 1,424 | 1,681 | -15.3% | |||||
223 | Woodbine | 1,409 | 1,603 | -12.1% | |||||
224 | Roland | 1,386 | 1,349 | 2.7% | |||||
225 | University Heights | 1,381 | 1,111 | 24.3% | |||||
226 | Alton | 1,380 | 1,077 | 28.1% | |||||
227 | Manly | 1,377 | 1,181 | 16.6% | |||||
228 | Clarksville | 1,366 | 1,558 | -12.3% | |||||
229 | Sanborn | 1,364 | 1,302 | 4.8% | |||||
230 | Bedford | 1,360 | 1,651 | -17.6% | |||||
231 | Earlham | 1,343 | 1,845 | -27.2% | |||||
232 | Montezuma | 1,337 | 1,617 | -17.3% | |||||
233 | Jewell Junction | 1,335 | 1,006 | 32.7% | |||||
234 | Tripoli | 1,304 | 1,301 | 0.2% | |||||
235 | Laurens | 1,301 | 1,402 | -7.2% | |||||
236 | Elkader | 1,270 | 1,281 | -0.9% | |||||
237 | Springville | 1,265 | 1,042 | 21.4% | |||||
238 | Coon Rapids | 1,263 | 1,181 | 6.9% | |||||
239 | Avoca | 1,263 | 1,555 | -18.8% | |||||
240 | Fruitland | 1,232 | 1,349 | -8.7% | |||||
241 | Hamburg | 1,217 | 1,156 | 5.3% | |||||
242 | Melcher-Dallas | 1,213 | 1,276 | -4.9% | |||||
243 | Lake Park | 1,206 | 1,115 | 8.2% | |||||
244 | Central City | 1,197 | 1,250 | -4.2% | |||||
245 | Dike | 1,195 | 1,095 | 9.1% | |||||
246 | Wayland | 1,187 | 903 | 31.5% | |||||
247 | Dunlap | 1,179 | 992 | 18.9% | |||||
248 | New Sharon | 1,159 | 1,262 | -8.2% | |||||
249 | Sloan | 1,159 | 1,046 | 10.8% | |||||
250 | Woodward | 1,156 | 1,165 | -0.8% | |||||
251 | Greene | 1,154 | 1,177 | -2.0% | |||||
252 | Villisca | 1,153 | 1,354 | -14.8% | |||||
253 | Newhall | 1,150 | 722 | 59.3% | |||||
254 | Fayette | 1,139 | 1,481 | -23.1% | |||||
255 | Malvern | 1,129 | 1,158 | -2.5% | |||||
256 | St. Ansgar | 1,124 | 1,205 | -6.7% | |||||
257 | Allison | 1,120 | 1,009 | 11.0% | |||||
258 | Swisher | 1,118 | 862 | 29.7% | |||||
259 | Conrad | 1,110 | 932 | 19.1% | |||||
260 | Marcus | 1,106 | 979 | 13.0% | |||||
261 | George | 1,105 | 1,293 | -14.5% | |||||
262 | Eddyville | 1,101 | 898 | 22.6% | |||||
263 | Lone Tree | 1,094 | 1,333 | -17.9% | |||||
264 | Preston | 1,086 | 996 | 9.0% | |||||
265 | Gilbert | 1,082 | 1,054 | 2.7% | |||||
266 | Griswold | 1,081 | 975 | 10.9% | |||||
267 | Buffalo Center | 1,080 | 1,002 | 7.8% | |||||
268 | Palo | 1,080 | 912 | 18.4% | |||||
269 | Clarence | 1,071 | 896 | 19.5% | |||||
270 | Riverside | 1,067 | 891 | 19.8% | |||||
271 | Fredericksburg | 1,064 | 870 | 22.3% | |||||
272 | Janesville | 1,059 | 942 | 12.4% | |||||
273 | Sheffield | 1,047 | 1,277 | -18.0% | |||||
274 | Mapleton | 1,039 | 1,314 | -20.9% | |||||
275 | De Soto | 1,037 | 929 | 11.6% | |||||
276 | Winthrop | 1,036 | 905 | 14.5% | |||||
277 | Danville | 1,027 | 949 | 8.2% | |||||
278 | Winfield | 1,024 | 1,433 | -28.5% | |||||
279 | Lawton | 1,015 | 937 | 8.3% | |||||
280 | Long Grove | 1,012 | 948 | 6.8% | |||||
281 | Schleswig | 1,008 | 842 | 19.7% | |||||
282 | Underwood | 1,003 | 893 | 12.3% | |||||
283 | Merrill | 1,001 | 803 | 24.7% | |||||
HomeSnacks is based in Durham, NC.
We aim to deliver bite-sized pieces of infotainment about where you live.
We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine quality of life for places across the nation.