Most Asian cities in Iowa research summary. We analyzed Iowa’s most recent Census data to determine the most Asian cities in Iowa based on the percentage of Asian residents. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most Asian city in Iowa is Storm Lake based on the most recent Census data.
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Storm Lake is 15.32% Asian.
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The least Asian city in Iowa is Winterset.
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Winterset is 0.0% Asian.
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Iowa is 2.5% Asian.
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Iowa is the 30th most Asian state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the cities in Iowa with the largest Asian population in 2024:
Which city in Iowa had the largest Asian population? Storm Lake took the number one overall spot for the largest Asian in Iowa for 2024. 15.32% of Storm Lake identify as Asian.
Read below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.
To see where Iowa ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.
And if you already knew these places were Asian, check out the best places to live in Iowa or the most diverse places in Iowa.
The 10 Most Asian Cities In Iowa For 2024
/10
Population: 11,194
% Asian: 15.32%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,715
More on Storm Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 66,265
% Asian: 10.08%
# Of Asian Residents: 6,678
More on Ames: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,494
% Asian: 9.42%
# Of Asian Residents: 2,120
More on Coralville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,474
% Asian: 8.7%
# Of Asian Residents: 824
More on Fairfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 74,878
% Asian: 7.8%
# Of Asian Residents: 5,839
More on Iowa City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 38,997
% Asian: 6.7%
# Of Asian Residents: 2,612
More on Bettendorf: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 213,164
% Asian: 6.53%
# Of Asian Residents: 13,930
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,045
% Asian: 6.49%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,626
More on Waukee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,576
% Asian: 6.15%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,143
More on Clive: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,179
% Asian: 6.1%
# Of Asian Residents: 438
More on Hiawatha: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Iowa With The Largest Asian Population For 2024
We used Saturday Night Science to compare Census data on race across every place in Iowa.
The Census’s most recently available data comes from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as Asian alone.
We limited our analysis to cities with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 76 cities.
We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Asian. The percentages ranked from 15.3% to 0.0%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of Asian population, with a higher score being more Asian than a lower score. Storm Lake took the distinction of being the most Asian, while Winterset was the least Asian city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cities in Iowa with the largest Asian population.
Read on for more information on how the cities in Iowa ranked by population of Asian residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: Asian Populations Across Iowa
If you’re looking for a breakdown of Asian populations across Iowa according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.
The most Asian cities in Iowa are Storm Lake, Ames, Coralville, Fairfield, Iowa City, Bettendorf, Des Moines, Waukee, Clive, and Hiawatha.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least Asian places in Iowa:
- Winterset
- Cherokee
- Maquoketa
For more Iowa reading, check out:
Table: Asian Population By City In Iowa
| Rank | City | Population | Asian Population | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storm Lake | 11,194 | 1,715 | 15.32% |
| 2 | Ames | 66,265 | 6,678 | 10.08% |
| 3 | Coralville | 22,494 | 2,120 | 9.42% |
| 4 | Fairfield | 9,474 | 824 | 8.7% |
| 5 | Iowa City | 74,878 | 5,839 | 7.8% |
| 6 | Bettendorf | 38,997 | 2,612 | 6.7% |
| 7 | Des Moines | 213,164 | 13,930 | 6.53% |
| 8 | Waukee | 25,045 | 1,626 | 6.49% |
| 9 | Clive | 18,576 | 1,143 | 6.15% |
| 10 | Hiawatha | 7,179 | 438 | 6.1% |
| 11 | West Des Moines | 68,744 | 4,160 | 6.05% |
| 12 | Johnston | 23,856 | 1,391 | 5.83% |
| 13 | Urbandale | 45,591 | 2,382 | 5.22% |
| 14 | Marshalltown | 27,511 | 1,427 | 5.19% |
| 15 | North Liberty | 20,393 | 958 | 4.7% |
| 16 | Grinnell | 9,511 | 401 | 4.22% |
| 17 | Clear Lake | 7,642 | 319 | 4.17% |
| 18 | Pleasant Hill | 10,456 | 423 | 4.05% |
| 19 | Denison | 8,316 | 327 | 3.93% |
| 20 | Cedar Falls | 40,686 | 1,563 | 3.84% |
| 21 | Mount Pleasant | 9,214 | 338 | 3.67% |
| 22 | Ankeny | 68,392 | 2,154 | 3.15% |
| 23 | Charles City | 7,364 | 231 | 3.14% |
| 24 | Webster City | 7,787 | 220 | 2.83% |
| 25 | Cedar Rapids | 136,929 | 3,673 | 2.68% |
| 26 | Waterloo | 67,256 | 1,790 | 2.66% |
| 27 | Grimes | 15,402 | 407 | 2.64% |
| 28 | Eldridge | 6,693 | 175 | 2.61% |
| 29 | Sioux City | 85,469 | 2,204 | 2.58% |
| 30 | Clarinda | 5,371 | 122 | 2.27% |
| 31 | Anamosa | 5,493 | 111 | 2.02% |
| 32 | Davenport | 101,448 | 1,918 | 1.89% |
| 33 | Ottumwa | 25,359 | 474 | 1.87% |
| 34 | Waverly | 10,399 | 181 | 1.74% |
| 35 | Oskaloosa | 11,492 | 197 | 1.71% |
| 36 | Marion | 41,401 | 701 | 1.69% |
| 37 | Indianola | 15,845 | 264 | 1.67% |
| 38 | Fort Dodge | 24,850 | 403 | 1.62% |
| 39 | Burlington | 23,976 | 364 | 1.52% |
| 40 | Pella | 10,556 | 157 | 1.49% |
| 41 | Dubuque | 59,315 | 866 | 1.46% |
| 42 | Decorah | 7,611 | 110 | 1.45% |
| 43 | Council Bluffs | 62,670 | 767 | 1.22% |
| 44 | Altoona | 20,017 | 230 | 1.15% |
| 45 | Sheldon | 5,417 | 58 | 1.07% |
| 46 | Knoxville | 7,523 | 78 | 1.04% |
| 47 | Creston | 7,519 | 76 | 1.01% |
| 48 | Sioux Center | 8,227 | 82 | 1.0% |
| 49 | Washington | 7,329 | 70 | 0.96% |
| 50 | Muscatine | 23,671 | 189 | 0.8% |
| 51 | Mason City | 27,271 | 210 | 0.77% |
| 52 | Carroll | 10,270 | 67 | 0.65% |
| 53 | Atlantic | 6,770 | 44 | 0.65% |
| 54 | Algona | 5,443 | 31 | 0.57% |
| 55 | Iowa Falls | 5,095 | 29 | 0.57% |
| 56 | Red Oak | 5,563 | 25 | 0.45% |
| 57 | Spencer | 11,351 | 49 | 0.43% |
| 58 | Estherville | 5,881 | 21 | 0.36% |
| 59 | Orange City | 6,278 | 20 | 0.32% |
| 60 | Fort Madison | 10,293 | 32 | 0.31% |
| 61 | Perry | 7,875 | 24 | 0.3% |
| 62 | Clinton | 24,524 | 65 | 0.27% |
| 63 | Norwalk | 13,057 | 33 | 0.25% |
| 64 | Le Mars | 10,549 | 20 | 0.19% |
| 65 | Glenwood | 5,128 | 8 | 0.16% |
| 66 | Centerville | 5,393 | 6 | 0.11% |
| 67 | Newton | 15,692 | 15 | 0.1% |
| 68 | Oelwein | 5,934 | 1 | 0.02% |
| 69 | Nevada | 6,933 | 1 | 0.01% |
| 70 | Boone | 12,482 | 1 | 0.01% |
| 71 | Keokuk | 9,868 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 72 | Manchester | 5,112 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 73 | Independence | 6,106 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 74 | Maquoketa | 6,123 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 75 | Cherokee | 5,154 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 76 | Winterset | 5,366 | 0 | 0.0% |