100 Biggest Cities In Iowa For 2023

Using the latest Census data, we detail the 100 biggest cities in Iowa. You can all see a comprehensive list of all 283 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: 213,545
Population 2010: 202,095
Growth: 5.7%
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cedar Rapids, IA
Source: Wikipedia User Davumaya | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Population: 62,617
Population 2010: 61,340
Growth: 2.1%
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? 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.

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 Moines213,545202,0955.7%
2Cedar Rapids136,512125,4508.8%
3Davenport101,72598,3253.5%
4Sioux City85,08182,1063.6%
5Iowa City74,24066,75811.2%
6Waterloo67,69567,893-0.3%
7West Des Moines67,64054,73123.6%
8Ankeny66,34642,21157.2%
9Ames65,52257,34314.3%
10Council Bluffs62,61761,3402.1%
11Dubuque59,37957,5043.3%
12Urbandale45,03737,50320.1%
13Marion41,02333,29323.2%
14Cedar Falls40,50038,1786.1%
15Bettendorf38,63132,49018.9%
16Marshalltown27,57027,0961.7%
17Mason City27,38528,125-2.6%
18Ottumwa25,37924,8892.0%
19Fort Dodge24,82625,323-2.0%
20Clinton24,65127,016-8.8%
21Burlington24,16025,604-5.6%
22Muscatine23,75922,8194.1%
23Waukee23,44112,30590.5%
24Johnston23,41815,72348.9%
25Coralville22,22618,18622.2%
26North Liberty19,97611,88968.0%
27Altoona19,34513,75740.6%
28Clive18,32314,95022.6%
29Newton15,68815,3712.1%
30Indianola15,54414,5466.9%
31Grimes14,8427,65393.9%
32Norwalk12,5928,62246.0%
33Boone12,50912,764-2.0%
34Oskaloosa11,55211,3931.4%
35Spencer11,29211,1930.9%
36Storm Lake11,16610,3577.8%
37Le Mars10,4629,7197.6%
38Pella10,41410,3590.5%
39Fort Madison10,34011,096-6.8%
40Waverly10,2789,7545.4%
41Carroll10,26110,0472.1%
42Pleasant Hill10,2038,10026.0%
43Keokuk9,97710,802-7.6%
44Fairfield9,6539,4512.1%
45Grinnell9,4819,2652.3%
46Mount Pleasant8,9968,7432.9%
47Denison8,3238,0773.0%
48Sioux Center8,0906,91617.0%
49Perry7,8367,7061.7%
50Webster City7,8258,125-3.7%
51Decorah7,7678,115-4.3%
52Clear Lake7,6737,799-1.6%
53Creston7,5947,738-1.9%
54Knoxville7,5377,4591.0%
55Charles City7,3997,667-3.5%
56Washington7,3147,2610.7%
57Hiawatha7,1846,9323.6%
58Bondurant7,1633,486105.5%
59Nevada7,0176,7533.9%
60Atlantic6,7957,078-4.0%
61Eldridge6,6345,31924.7%
62Orange City6,2145,9674.1%
63Maquoketa6,1236,135-0.2%
64Independence6,0885,9871.7%
65Oelwein5,9616,433-7.3%
66Estherville5,9046,388-7.6%
67Adel5,8673,64061.2%
68Asbury5,7953,85250.4%
69Red Oak5,5765,814-4.1%
70Clarinda5,4985,566-1.2%
71Sheldon5,4755,0468.5%
72Osceola5,4124,87810.9%
73Algona5,4075,569-2.9%
74Polk City5,3863,23166.7%
75Centerville5,3535,593-4.3%
76Anamosa5,3325,634-5.4%
77Winterset5,3095,1383.3%
78Spirit Lake5,3014,74911.6%
79Glenwood5,2245,354-2.4%
80Windsor Heights5,2084,8357.7%
81Iowa Falls5,1545,195-0.8%
82Cherokee5,1415,205-1.2%
83Manchester5,0775,187-2.1%
84Vinton4,9515,262-5.9%
85Sergeant Bluff4,9174,03122.0%
86Harlan4,9125,140-4.4%
87Shenandoah4,8745,222-6.7%
88Humboldt4,7444,6482.1%
89Le Claire4,6143,56129.6%
90Evansdale4,5994,666-1.4%
91Camanche4,5454,4033.2%
92Mount Vernon4,4984,3752.8%
93Tiffin4,4821,986125.7%
94Hampton4,3274,420-2.1%
95Huxley4,2933,13237.1%
96Forest City4,2844,1603.0%
97Dyersville4,2764,0705.1%
98Chariton4,1934,429-5.3%
99Jefferson4,1784,360-4.2%
100Carlisle4,0633,7757.6%
101Rock Valley4,0183,27422.7%
102Monticello3,9943,7855.5%
103Cresco3,8723,8670.1%
104West Liberty3,8473,6595.1%
105Waukon3,8153,931-3.0%
106Carter Lake3,7963,6763.3%
107Albia3,6923,746-1.4%
108Emmetsburg3,6703,898-5.8%
109Eagle Grove3,5973,601-0.1%
110Osage3,5813,597-0.4%
111New Hampton3,4523,585-3.7%
112Story City3,4003,3930.2%
113Robins3,3442,90615.1%
114Williamsburg3,3223,01510.2%
115Milford3,2562,84414.5%
116West Burlington3,1902,9777.2%
117Tipton3,1433,209-2.1%
118Tama3,0722,8707.0%
119Garner3,0683,102-1.1%
120Solon2,9591,92453.8%
121Saylorville2,9163,105-6.1%
122Wilton2,9162,8014.1%
123Onawa2,8943,005-3.7%
124Park View2,8702,42818.2%
125Clarion2,8262,861-1.2%
126Sibley2,8172,8040.5%
127Fairfax2,7941,64170.3%
128Grundy Center2,7832,6734.1%
129Madrid2,7822,50511.1%
130Marengo2,7142,5466.6%
131Postville2,7111,99635.8%
132Missouri Valley2,6832,886-7.0%
133Hawarden2,6752,5365.5%
134Eldora2,6732,774-3.6%
135Bloomfield2,6652,6301.3%
136Kalona2,6312,4497.4%
137Rock Rapids2,6042,5372.6%
138Mitchellville2,5892,5292.4%
139West Union2,5852,614-1.1%
140Center Point2,5822,4286.3%
141Hudson2,5412,3348.9%
142New London2,5351,76044.0%
143Jesup2,5352,592-2.2%
144Belmond2,4632,2877.7%
145Belle Plaine2,4192,607-7.2%
146Rockwell City2,3622,3570.2%
147La Porte City2,3492,637-10.9%
148Bellevue2,3452,2892.4%
149West Branch2,2892,468-7.3%
150Lamoni2,2852,501-8.6%
151Hull2,2481,95515.0%
152Atkins2,2411,71930.4%
153Ely2,1631,62433.2%
154Peosta2,1611,51143.0%
155Northwood2,1581,96210.0%
156Sumner2,1492,0315.8%
157Alta2,1441,91711.8%
158Columbus Junction2,1322,0245.3%
159Cascade2,1102,272-7.1%
160Lake Mills2,1012,162-2.8%
161Mediapolis2,0951,81215.6%
162Toledo2,0882,595-19.5%
163Audubon2,0652,177-5.1%
164Ida Grove2,0622,158-4.4%
165Granger1,9731,03590.6%
166Colfax1,9572,743-28.7%
167Lisbon1,9241,8852.1%
168Britt1,9222,110-8.9%
169Wapello1,9142,343-18.3%
170Sac City1,8952,294-17.4%
171Pleasantville1,8881,60517.6%
172Walcott1,8791,57019.7%
173Ogden1,8752,410-22.2%
174Denver1,8731,8272.5%
175Blue Grass1,8641,38234.9%
176Remsen1,8572,018-8.0%
177Mount Ayr1,8321,65910.4%
178Durant1,8291,907-4.1%
179Prairie City1,8241,31139.1%
180Monroe1,8221,868-2.5%
181Sigourney1,8052,101-14.1%
182Epworth1,8041,809-0.3%
183Parkersburg1,7651,947-9.3%
184Oakland1,7611,6268.3%
185Reinbeck1,7521,963-10.7%
186Corydon1,7491,41024.0%
187Dallas Center1,7412,085-16.5%
188Lake City1,7381,6823.3%
189Leon1,7162,105-18.5%
190Moville1,7121,743-1.8%
191Manson1,7071,6483.6%
192Ackley1,7061,55010.1%
193Farley1,6901,50812.1%
194Greenfield1,6711,973-15.3%
195Brooklyn1,6621,32225.7%
196Stuart1,6331,649-1.0%
197State Center1,6311,43613.6%
198Shell Rock1,6161,33521.0%
199Corning1,6071,674-4.0%
200Guttenberg1,5781,784-11.5%
201Dysart1,5781,5203.8%
202Nora Springs1,5681,5570.7%
203Guthrie Center1,5561,562-0.4%
204Hartley1,5531,796-13.5%
205Monona1,5481,844-16.1%
206Slater1,5401,583-2.7%
207Panora1,5371,22825.2%
208Fairbank1,5341,23624.1%
209Logan1,5321,571-2.5%
210Van Meter1,5281,19927.4%
211Akron1,5271,5121.0%
212Manning1,5101,713-11.9%
213Nashua1,5051,646-8.6%
214Walford1,4981,519-1.4%
215Holstein1,4951,4741.4%
216Lenox1,4831,31512.8%
217Strawberry Point1,4791,24618.7%
218Wellman1,4741,484-0.7%
219Urbana1,4701,4094.3%
220Pocahontas1,4651,698-13.7%
221Kingsley1,4331,3178.8%
222Traer1,4241,681-15.3%
223Woodbine1,4091,603-12.1%
224Roland1,3861,3492.7%
225University Heights1,3811,11124.3%
226Alton1,3801,07728.1%
227Manly1,3771,18116.6%
228Clarksville1,3661,558-12.3%
229Sanborn1,3641,3024.8%
230Bedford1,3601,651-17.6%
231Earlham1,3431,845-27.2%
232Montezuma1,3371,617-17.3%
233Jewell Junction1,3351,00632.7%
234Tripoli1,3041,3010.2%
235Laurens1,3011,402-7.2%
236Elkader1,2701,281-0.9%
237Springville1,2651,04221.4%
238Coon Rapids1,2631,1816.9%
239Avoca1,2631,555-18.8%
240Fruitland1,2321,349-8.7%
241Hamburg1,2171,1565.3%
242Melcher-Dallas1,2131,276-4.9%
243Lake Park1,2061,1158.2%
244Central City1,1971,250-4.2%
245Dike1,1951,0959.1%
246Wayland1,18790331.5%
247Dunlap1,17999218.9%
248New Sharon1,1591,262-8.2%
249Sloan1,1591,04610.8%
250Woodward1,1561,165-0.8%
251Greene1,1541,177-2.0%
252Villisca1,1531,354-14.8%
253Newhall1,15072259.3%
254Fayette1,1391,481-23.1%
255Malvern1,1291,158-2.5%
256St. Ansgar1,1241,205-6.7%
257Allison1,1201,00911.0%
258Swisher1,11886229.7%
259Conrad1,11093219.1%
260Marcus1,10697913.0%
261George1,1051,293-14.5%
262Eddyville1,10189822.6%
263Lone Tree1,0941,333-17.9%
264Preston1,0869969.0%
265Gilbert1,0821,0542.7%
266Griswold1,08197510.9%
267Buffalo Center1,0801,0027.8%
268Palo1,08091218.4%
269Clarence1,07189619.5%
270Riverside1,06789119.8%
271Fredericksburg1,06487022.3%
272Janesville1,05994212.4%
273Sheffield1,0471,277-18.0%
274Mapleton1,0391,314-20.9%
275De Soto1,03792911.6%
276Winthrop1,03690514.5%
277Danville1,0279498.2%
278Winfield1,0241,433-28.5%
279Lawton1,0159378.3%
280Long Grove1,0129486.8%
281Schleswig1,00884219.7%
282Underwood1,00389312.3%
283Merrill1,00180324.7%

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