100 Biggest Cities In Iowa For 2026

Using the latest Census data, we detail the 100 biggest cities in Iowa. You can all see a comprehensive list of all 279 cities and places in Iowa.

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.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

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:

The 10 Biggest Cities In Iowa

Des Moines, IA
Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Population: 212,421.0
Population 2010: 202,095
Growth: 5.1%
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cedar Rapids, IA
Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Population: 137,264.0
Population 2010: 125,450
Growth: 9.4%
More on Cedar Rapids: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Davenport, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Ctjf83 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Population: 100,913.0
Population 2010: 98,325
Growth: 2.6%
More on Davenport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Sioux City, IA
Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Population: 86,101.0
Population 2010: 82,106
Growth: 4.9%
More on Sioux City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Iowa City, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Population: 75,752.0
Population 2010: 66,758
Growth: 13.5%
More on Iowa City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Ankeny, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Population: 72,615.0
Population 2010: 42,211
Growth: 72.0%
More on Ankeny: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

West Des Moines, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Iowahwyman | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Population: 71,083.0
Population 2010: 54,731
Growth: 29.9%
More on West Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Ames, IA
Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 1)
Population: 67,669.0
Population 2010: 57,343
Growth: 18.0%
More on Ames: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Waterloo, IA
Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 1)
Population: 67,008.0
Population 2010: 67,893
Growth: -1.3%
More on Waterloo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Council Bluffs, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Jared Winkler | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Population: 62,586.0
Population 2010: 61,340
Growth: 2.0%
More on Council Bluffs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

How We Determined The Largest Cities In Iowa

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? Winfield, 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.

Now on to numbers 11-100 Biggest in Iowa

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:

Detailed List Of The Biggest Cities In Iowa

RankCityCurrent Population2010Growth
1Des Moines212,421.0202,0955.1%
2Cedar Rapids137,264.0125,4509.4%
3Davenport100,913.098,3252.6%
4Sioux City86,101.082,1064.9%
5Iowa City75,752.066,75813.5%
6Ankeny72,615.042,21172.0%
7West Des Moines71,083.054,73129.9%
8Ames67,669.057,34318.0%
9Waterloo67,008.067,893-1.3%
10Council Bluffs62,586.061,3402.0%
11Dubuque59,174.057,5042.9%
12Urbandale46,595.037,50324.2%
13Marion41,896.033,29325.8%
14Cedar Falls40,888.038,1787.1%
15Bettendorf39,647.032,49022.0%
16Waukee29,236.012,305137.6%
17Marshalltown27,626.027,0962.0%
18Mason City27,050.028,125-3.8%
19Ottumwa25,430.024,8892.2%
20Fort Dodge24,827.025,323-2.0%
21Johnston24,384.015,72355.1%
22Clinton24,322.027,016-10.0%
23Burlington23,728.025,604-7.3%
24Muscatine23,489.022,8192.9%
25Coralville23,234.018,18627.8%
26Altoona21,495.013,75756.2%
27North Liberty21,125.011,88977.7%
28Clive19,012.014,95027.2%
29Grimes16,366.07,653113.9%
30Indianola16,044.014,54610.3%
31Newton15,700.015,3712.1%
32Norwalk14,183.08,62264.5%
33Boone12,424.012,764-2.7%
34Oskaloosa11,504.011,3931.0%
35Storm Lake11,428.010,35710.3%
36Spencer11,400.011,1931.8%
37Pleasant Hill11,136.08,10037.5%
38Pella10,720.010,3593.5%
39Le Mars10,640.09,7199.5%
40Waverly10,494.09,7547.6%
41Carroll10,208.010,0471.6%
42Fort Madison10,133.011,096-8.7%
43Keokuk9,662.010,802-10.6%
44Grinnell9,505.09,2652.6%
45Fairfield9,456.09,4510.1%
46Mount Pleasant8,951.08,7432.4%
47Bondurant8,560.03,486145.6%
48Sioux Center8,454.06,91622.2%
49Denison8,260.08,0772.3%
50Perry7,985.07,7063.6%
51Webster City7,769.08,125-4.4%
52Clear Lake7,607.07,799-2.5%
53Decorah7,535.08,115-7.1%
54Knoxville7,473.07,4590.2%
55Creston7,435.07,738-3.9%
56Washington7,290.07,2610.4%
57Charles City7,232.07,667-5.7%
58Hiawatha7,206.06,9324.0%
59Nevada6,983.06,7533.4%
60Eldridge6,818.05,31928.2%
61Atlantic6,763.07,078-4.5%
62Adel6,430.03,64076.6%
63Orange City6,426.05,9677.7%
64Independence6,164.05,9873.0%
65Maquoketa6,075.06,135-1.0%
66Polk City6,037.03,23186.8%
67Asbury5,989.03,85255.5%
68Estherville5,839.06,388-8.6%
69Oelwein5,834.06,433-9.3%
70Tiffin5,737.01,986188.9%
71Anamosa5,629.05,634-0.1%
72Osceola5,523.04,87813.2%
73Spirit Lake5,518.04,74916.2%
74Red Oak5,510.05,814-5.2%
75Sheldon5,474.05,0468.5%
76Winterset5,416.05,1385.4%
77Algona5,377.05,569-3.4%
78Centerville5,372.05,593-4.0%
79Clarinda5,353.05,566-3.8%
80Manchester5,191.05,1870.1%
81Sergeant Bluff5,171.04,03128.3%
82Cherokee5,154.05,205-1.0%
83Glenwood5,144.05,354-3.9%
84Windsor Heights5,143.04,8356.4%
85Iowa Falls5,038.05,195-3.0%
86Vinton4,948.05,262-6.0%
87Shenandoah4,892.05,222-6.3%
88Harlan4,891.05,140-4.8%
89Humboldt4,771.04,6482.6%
90Le Claire4,735.03,56133.0%
91Camanche4,550.04,4033.3%
92Huxley4,544.03,13245.1%
93Evansdale4,518.04,666-3.2%
94Mount Vernon4,513.04,3753.2%
95Dyersville4,423.04,0708.7%
96Hampton4,306.04,420-2.6%
97Forest City4,290.04,1603.1%
98Carlisle4,255.03,77512.7%
99Chariton4,242.04,429-4.2%
100Jefferson4,152.04,360-4.8%
101Monticello4,071.03,7857.6%
102Rock Valley4,059.03,27424.0%
103Cresco3,908.03,8671.1%
104Waukon3,792.03,931-3.5%
105West Liberty3,776.03,6593.2%
106Carter Lake3,767.03,6762.5%
107Albia3,663.03,746-2.2%
108Emmetsburg3,648.03,898-6.4%
109Eagle Grove3,593.03,601-0.2%
110Osage3,561.03,597-1.0%
111New Hampton3,453.03,585-3.7%
112Story City3,398.03,3930.1%
113Saylorville3,366.03,1058.4%
114Williamsburg3,360.03,01511.4%
115Robins3,332.02,90614.7%
116Milford3,311.02,84416.4%
117West Burlington3,189.02,9777.1%
118Solon3,152.01,92463.8%
119Tipton3,106.03,209-3.2%
120Tama3,051.02,8706.3%
121Garner3,049.03,102-1.7%
122Postville2,979.01,99649.2%
123Wilton2,920.02,8014.2%
124Fairfax2,900.01,64176.7%
125Onawa2,839.03,005-5.5%
126Grundy Center2,809.02,6735.1%
127Madrid2,808.02,50512.1%
128Sibley2,803.02,804-0.0%
129Clarion2,770.02,861-3.2%
130Bloomfield2,742.02,6304.3%
131Marengo2,725.02,5467.0%
132Hudson2,699.02,33415.6%
133Belmond2,694.02,28717.8%
134Kalona2,692.02,4499.9%
135Missouri Valley2,666.02,886-7.6%
136Rock Rapids2,661.02,5374.9%
137Hawarden2,658.02,5364.8%
138Eldora2,617.02,774-5.7%
139West Branch2,594.02,4685.1%
140Mitchellville2,579.02,5292.0%
141Center Point2,562.02,4285.5%
142Jesup2,561.02,592-1.2%
143West Union2,489.02,614-4.8%
144Park View2,437.02,4280.4%
145Rockwell City2,401.02,3571.9%
146Belle Plaine2,380.02,607-8.7%
147Denver2,379.01,82730.2%
148Cascade2,375.02,2724.5%
149New London2,338.01,76032.8%
150Hull2,317.01,95518.5%
151Bellevue2,259.02,289-1.3%
152Alta2,250.01,91717.4%
153Atkins2,225.01,71929.4%
154Colfax2,210.02,743-19.4%
155Lamoni2,207.02,501-11.8%
156Ely2,186.01,62434.6%
157Dallas Center2,161.02,0853.6%
158Audubon2,130.02,177-2.2%
159Monroe2,120.01,86813.5%
160Columbus Junction2,110.02,0244.2%
161Sumner2,106.02,0313.7%
162Lake Mills2,088.02,162-3.4%
163La Porte City2,071.02,637-21.5%
164Peosta2,040.01,51135.0%
165Northwood2,040.01,9624.0%
166Granger1,979.01,03591.2%
167Blue Grass1,972.01,38242.7%
168Ida Grove1,967.02,158-8.9%
169Toledo1,966.02,595-24.2%
170Sigourney1,954.02,101-7.0%
171Durant1,946.01,9072.0%
172Mediapolis1,928.01,8126.4%
173Leon1,899.02,105-9.8%
174Pleasantville1,899.01,60518.3%
175Greenfield1,894.01,973-4.0%
176Epworth1,894.01,8094.7%
177Farley1,889.01,50825.3%
178Sac City1,885.02,294-17.8%
179Britt1,882.02,110-10.8%
180Ogden1,859.02,410-22.9%
181Remsen1,823.02,018-9.7%
182Mount Ayr1,816.01,6599.5%
183Guttenberg1,782.01,784-0.1%
184Parkersburg1,766.01,947-9.3%
185Wapello1,765.02,343-24.7%
186Pocahontas1,763.01,6983.8%
187Walcott1,725.01,5709.9%
188Reinbeck1,715.01,963-12.6%
189Lisbon1,714.01,885-9.1%
190Prairie City1,711.01,31130.5%
191Lake City1,693.01,6820.7%
192Guthrie Center1,689.01,5628.1%
193Akron1,689.01,51211.7%
194Moville1,670.01,743-4.2%
195Stuart1,655.01,6490.4%
196Manson1,645.01,648-0.2%
197Urbana1,639.01,40916.3%
198Corydon1,628.01,41015.5%
199Van Meter1,628.01,19935.8%
200Shell Rock1,625.01,33521.7%
201Nashua1,622.01,646-1.5%
202Holstein1,600.01,4748.5%
203Panora1,579.01,22828.6%
204Lenox1,569.01,31519.3%
205Corning1,567.01,674-6.4%
206Roland1,559.01,34915.6%
207Hartley1,553.01,796-13.5%
208Manning1,533.01,713-10.5%
209Monona1,531.01,844-17.0%
210Earlham1,528.01,845-17.2%
211Traer1,519.01,681-9.6%
212Dysart1,519.01,520-0.1%
213Ackley1,482.01,550-4.4%
214Kingsley1,472.01,31711.8%
215Woodbine1,471.01,603-8.2%
216Coon Rapids1,467.01,18124.2%
217Alton1,459.01,07735.5%
218Brooklyn1,459.01,32210.4%
219Wellman1,454.01,484-2.0%
220Avoca1,444.01,555-7.1%
221Palo1,438.091257.7%
222State Center1,412.01,436-1.7%
223Montezuma1,410.01,617-12.8%
224Oakland1,408.01,626-13.4%
225Slater1,401.01,583-11.5%
226Logan1,392.01,571-11.4%
227University Heights1,384.01,11124.6%
228Gilbert1,381.01,05431.0%
229Dike1,365.01,09524.7%
230Nora Springs1,363.01,557-12.5%
231Central City1,356.01,2508.5%
232Walnut1,342.085157.7%
233Greene1,339.01,17713.8%
234Bedford1,336.01,651-19.1%
235Walford1,329.01,519-12.5%
236Sanborn1,323.01,3021.6%
237Malvern1,323.01,15814.2%
238Manly1,320.01,18111.8%
239Fayette1,309.01,481-11.6%
240Elkader1,293.01,2810.9%
241Fairbank1,275.01,2363.2%
242Strawberry Point1,267.01,2461.7%
243Baxter1,247.01,1538.2%
244Clarksville1,237.01,558-20.6%
245Lone Tree1,218.01,333-8.6%
246Laurens1,206.01,402-14.0%
247St. Ansgar1,206.01,2050.1%
248Wayland1,191.090331.9%
249Conrad1,191.093227.8%
250Lake Park1,184.01,1156.2%
251Swisher1,182.086237.1%
252Marcus1,180.097920.5%
253New Sharon1,180.01,262-6.5%
254Melcher-Dallas1,176.01,276-7.8%
255Springville1,172.01,04212.5%
256Dunlap1,170.099217.9%
257Glidden1,169.01,1323.3%
258Clarence1,166.089630.1%
259Eddyville1,163.089829.5%
260Tripoli1,156.01,301-11.1%
261Larchwood1,136.090026.2%
262Treynor1,126.01,0418.2%
263Neola1,116.081037.8%
264Lansing1,115.097114.8%
265Aplington1,111.01,0208.9%
266Buffalo1,097.01,244-11.8%
267Graettinger1,096.01,0276.7%
268Jewell Junction1,084.01,0067.8%
269George1,064.01,293-17.7%
270Sheffield1,053.01,277-17.5%
271Fruitland1,049.01,349-22.2%
272Villisca1,048.01,354-22.6%
273Preston1,044.09964.8%
274De Soto1,041.092912.1%
275Winthrop1,040.090514.9%
276Sully1,022.01,0071.5%
277Sloan1,018.01,046-2.7%
278Primghar1,014.09823.3%
279Winfield1,007.01,433-29.7%

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