Racial diversity in Iowa is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Iowa where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Iowa?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 85 cities in Iowa to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Iowa for 2025:
So what city is the most diverse in Iowa? According to the most Census data, Storm Lake took the number one over all spot for diversity in Iowa.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Iowa ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Iowa reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Iowa For 2025
/10
Population: 11,275
HHI: 3,084
% White: 34.0%
% African American: 3.8%
% Hispanic: 41.0%
% Asian: 14.7%
More on Storm Lake: Data
/10
Population: 212,464
HHI: 4,255
% White: 61.7%
% African American: 11.8%
% Hispanic: 16.0%
% Asian: 6.2%
More on Des Moines: Data
/10
Population: 27,491
HHI: 4,265
% White: 56.0%
% African American: 2.0%
% Hispanic: 33.1%
% Asian: 5.1%
More on Marshalltown: Data
/10
Population: 8,247
HHI: 4,293
% White: 43.6%
% African American: 2.9%
% Hispanic: 48.7%
% Asian: 3.3%
More on Denison: Data
/10
Population: 22,846
HHI: 4,480
% White: 64.1%
% African American: 14.5%
% Hispanic: 6.1%
% Asian: 10.2%
More on Coralville: Data
/10
Population: 85,651
HHI: 4,542
% White: 63.3%
% African American: 5.4%
% Hispanic: 21.9%
% Asian: 2.8%
More on Sioux City: Data
/10
Population: 66,947
HHI: 4,881
% White: 67.1%
% African American: 16.9%
% Hispanic: 7.6%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on Waterloo: Data
/10
Population: 5,495
HHI: 5,138
% White: 66.4%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 26.3%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Osceola:
/10
Population: 7,928
HHI: 5,249
% White: 66.0%
% African American: 1.9%
% Hispanic: 29.9%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Perry: Data
/10
Population: 25,352
HHI: 5,351
% White: 71.0%
% African American: 4.3%
% Hispanic: 16.4%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Ottumwa: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Iowa for 2025
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Iowa.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2019-2023 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- 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*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 85 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 3,084 (Storm Lake) to 9,279 (Polk City).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Storm Lake took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Polk City was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Iowa.
Summary: Diversity Across Iowa
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Iowa, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Iowa are Storm Lake, Des Moines, Marshalltown, Denison, Coralville, Sioux City, Waterloo, Osceola, Perry, and Ottumwa.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Iowa:
- Polk City
- Winterset
- Norwalk
For more Iowa reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Iowa
- Cheapest Places To Live In Iowa
- Most Dangerous Cities In Iowa
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Iowa
- Safest Places In Iowa
- Worst Places To Live In Iowa
Race By City In Iowa For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storm Lake, IA | 11,275 | 3,084 | 34.0% | 3.8% | 41.0% | 14.7% |
| 2 | Des Moines, IA | 212,464 | 4,255 | 61.7% | 11.8% | 16.0% | 6.2% |
| 3 | Marshalltown, IA | 27,491 | 4,265 | 56.0% | 2.0% | 33.1% | 5.1% |
| 4 | Denison, IA | 8,247 | 4,293 | 43.6% | 2.9% | 48.7% | 3.3% |
| 5 | Coralville, IA | 22,846 | 4,480 | 64.1% | 14.5% | 6.1% | 10.2% |
| 6 | Sioux City, IA | 85,651 | 4,542 | 63.3% | 5.4% | 21.9% | 2.8% |
| 7 | Waterloo, IA | 66,947 | 4,881 | 67.1% | 16.9% | 7.6% | 2.6% |
| 8 | Osceola, IA | 5,495 | 5,138 | 66.4% | 0.0% | 26.3% | 0.7% |
| 9 | Perry, IA | 7,928 | 5,249 | 66.0% | 1.9% | 29.9% | 0.0% |
| 10 | Ottumwa, IA | 25,352 | 5,351 | 71.0% | 4.3% | 16.4% | 1.8% |
| 11 | Davenport, IA | 101,083 | 5,380 | 71.7% | 10.9% | 9.1% | 1.9% |
| 12 | Iowa City, IA | 75,264 | 5,430 | 72.4% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 6.8% |
| 13 | Muscatine, IA | 23,567 | 5,585 | 72.0% | 4.5% | 19.3% | 0.7% |
| 14 | Fairfield, IA | 9,438 | 5,782 | 74.9% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 6.7% |
| 15 | Clive, IA | 18,776 | 5,986 | 76.0% | 5.0% | 12.4% | 4.9% |
| 16 | Waukee, IA | 26,974 | 6,070 | 77.1% | 4.3% | 5.9% | 6.5% |
| 17 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 136,859 | 6,136 | 77.5% | 8.3% | 5.1% | 2.5% |
| 18 | Ames, IA | 66,112 | 6,168 | 77.6% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 19 | Webster City, IA | 7,769 | 6,226 | 77.1% | 1.9% | 16.4% | 2.7% |
| 20 | West Des Moines, IA | 69,893 | 6,245 | 78.3% | 3.6% | 6.1% | 7.2% |
| 21 | Tiffin, IA | 5,271 | 6,364 | 79.2% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 2.8% |
| 22 | Sheldon, IA | 5,386 | 6,378 | 78.2% | 2.3% | 15.7% | 1.3% |
| 23 | Mount Pleasant, IA | 9,093 | 6,391 | 79.0% | 5.4% | 10.2% | 1.4% |
| 24 | Windsor Heights, IA | 5,171 | 6,425 | 79.2% | 6.1% | 9.4% | 4.3% |
| 25 | Johnston, IA | 24,196 | 6,427 | 79.3% | 8.6% | 2.1% | 7.2% |
| 26 | North Liberty, IA | 20,782 | 6,436 | 79.6% | 4.6% | 5.8% | 4.9% |
| 27 | Urbandale, IA | 46,026 | 6,478 | 79.8% | 5.4% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| 28 | Hiawatha, IA | 7,178 | 6,632 | 80.9% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 6.1% |
| 29 | Sioux Center, IA | 8,335 | 6,634 | 79.7% | 0.5% | 16.9% | 1.4% |
| 30 | Fort Dodge, IA | 24,788 | 6,647 | 80.9% | 4.5% | 7.8% | 1.6% |
| 31 | Bettendorf, IA | 39,297 | 6,770 | 81.7% | 2.0% | 4.9% | 7.0% |
| 32 | Pleasant Hill, IA | 10,796 | 6,829 | 82.1% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 3.6% |
| 33 | Estherville, IA | 5,865 | 6,859 | 81.7% | 2.3% | 13.5% | 0.3% |
| 34 | Burlington, IA | 23,800 | 6,884 | 82.4% | 5.6% | 4.0% | 1.4% |
| 35 | Council Bluffs, IA | 62,564 | 6,956 | 82.6% | 2.5% | 10.6% | 1.2% |
| 36 | Le Mars, IA | 10,597 | 7,071 | 83.3% | 5.3% | 9.9% | 0.2% |
| 37 | Nevada, IA | 6,952 | 7,088 | 83.3% | 0.3% | 11.4% | 0.0% |
| 38 | Clarinda, IA | 5,366 | 7,137 | 84.1% | 4.5% | 3.3% | 1.6% |
| 39 | Washington, IA | 7,314 | 7,187 | 84.0% | 1.0% | 11.1% | 1.1% |
| 40 | Altoona, IA | 20,592 | 7,203 | 84.4% | 3.5% | 6.9% | 1.5% |
| 41 | Grimes, IA | 15,810 | 7,287 | 85.0% | 2.3% | 6.5% | 3.6% |
| 42 | Dubuque, IA | 59,271 | 7,342 | 85.4% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 1.4% |
| 43 | Fort Madison, IA | 10,221 | 7,392 | 85.6% | 4.6% | 6.0% | 0.2% |
| 44 | Charles City, IA | 7,321 | 7,449 | 86.0% | 2.0% | 6.2% | 3.0% |
| 45 | Adel, IA | 6,259 | 7,455 | 86.0% | 0.7% | 6.1% | 0.6% |
| 46 | Mason City, IA | 27,135 | 7,480 | 86.2% | 2.9% | 6.5% | 1.2% |
| 47 | Grinnell, IA | 9,527 | 7,546 | 86.6% | 2.0% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| 48 | Clinton, IA | 24,425 | 7,588 | 86.8% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 0.3% |
| 49 | Anamosa, IA | 5,553 | 7,715 | 87.6% | 6.1% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| 50 | Ankeny, IA | 70,542 | 7,773 | 88.0% | 1.9% | 4.0% | 3.0% |
| 51 | Algona, IA | 5,414 | 7,804 | 87.9% | 0.2% | 8.5% | 0.5% |
| 52 | Eldridge, IA | 6,743 | 7,875 | 88.4% | 0.6% | 6.5% | 2.5% |
| 53 | Marion, IA | 41,690 | 7,880 | 88.6% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| 54 | Newton, IA | 15,696 | 7,890 | 88.6% | 1.6% | 5.1% | 0.1% |
| 55 | Bondurant, IA | 8,061 | 7,917 | 88.7% | 5.7% | 3.9% | 1.0% |
| 56 | Keokuk, IA | 9,748 | 8,005 | 89.3% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 0.1% |
| 57 | Red Oak, IA | 5,542 | 8,060 | 89.6% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 0.9% |
| 58 | Oelwein, IA | 5,878 | 8,071 | 89.6% | 0.2% | 2.8% | 0.7% |
| 59 | Cherokee, IA | 5,157 | 8,086 | 89.7% | 0.4% | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| 60 | Sergeant Bluff, IA | 5,090 | 8,101 | 89.8% | 1.0% | 2.8% | 3.6% |
| 61 | Waverly, IA | 10,446 | 8,115 | 89.9% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| 62 | Cedar Falls, IA | 40,662 | 8,117 | 89.9% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 3.3% |
| 63 | Iowa Falls, IA | 5,062 | 8,137 | 89.8% | 1.3% | 8.2% | 0.5% |
| 64 | Spencer, IA | 11,393 | 8,204 | 90.4% | 0.7% | 5.5% | 0.4% |
| 65 | Boone, IA | 12,445 | 8,243 | 90.6% | 1.2% | 4.4% | 0.1% |
| 66 | Glenwood, IA | 5,118 | 8,252 | 90.5% | 0.1% | 8.2% | 0.0% |
| 67 | Spirit Lake, IA | 5,469 | 8,304 | 90.9% | 0.2% | 3.3% | 0.0% |
| 68 | Orange City, IA | 6,312 | 8,369 | 91.3% | 0.6% | 4.2% | 0.6% |
| 69 | Indianola, IA | 15,918 | 8,424 | 91.7% | 0.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% |
| 70 | Asbury, IA | 5,949 | 8,425 | 91.7% | 2.5% | 0.9% | 3.8% |
| 71 | Oskaloosa, IA | 11,492 | 8,441 | 91.8% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| 72 | Carroll, IA | 10,261 | 8,493 | 92.0% | 1.1% | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 73 | Centerville, IA | 5,377 | 8,525 | 92.2% | 0.7% | 3.2% | 0.3% |
| 74 | Independence, IA | 6,149 | 8,644 | 92.9% | 1.6% | 3.0% | 0.6% |
| 75 | Clear Lake, IA | 7,603 | 8,651 | 92.9% | 0.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% |
| 76 | Pella, IA | 10,624 | 8,658 | 93.0% | 0.7% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| 77 | Decorah, IA | 7,597 | 8,670 | 93.0% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| 78 | Manchester, IA | 5,144 | 8,688 | 93.1% | 0.0% | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| 79 | Knoxville, IA | 7,493 | 8,709 | 93.2% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 1.0% |
| 80 | Maquoketa, IA | 6,105 | 8,745 | 93.4% | 2.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| 81 | Creston, IA | 7,466 | 8,746 | 93.4% | 0.4% | 2.5% | 0.0% |
| 82 | Atlantic, IA | 6,773 | 8,955 | 94.6% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.6% |
| 83 | Norwalk, IA | 13,610 | 9,014 | 94.9% | 0.1% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| 84 | Winterset, IA | 5,384 | 9,208 | 95.9% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.0% |
| 85 | Polk City, IA | 5,833 | 9,279 | 96.3% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 0.0% |