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 14.68% 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 2.4% Asian.
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Iowa is the 3most 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 2025:
Which city in Iowa had the largest Asian population? Storm Lake took the number one overall spot for the largest Asian in Iowa for 2025. 14.68% 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 2025
/10
Population: 11,275
% Asian: 14.68%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,655
More on Storm Lake: Data
/10
Population: 22,846
% Asian: 10.2%
# Of Asian Residents: 2,331
More on Coralville: Data
/10
Population: 66,112
% Asian: 9.4%
# Of Asian Residents: 6,213
More on Ames: Data
/10
Population: 69,893
% Asian: 7.25%
# Of Asian Residents: 5,065
More on West Des Moines: Data
/10
Population: 24,196
% Asian: 7.17%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,735
More on Johnston: Data
/10
Population: 39,297
% Asian: 6.98%
# Of Asian Residents: 2,743
More on Bettendorf: Data
/10
Population: 75,264
% Asian: 6.77%
# Of Asian Residents: 5,092
More on Iowa City: Data
/10
Population: 9,438
% Asian: 6.74%
# Of Asian Residents: 636
More on Fairfield: Data
/10
Population: 26,974
% Asian: 6.48%
# Of Asian Residents: 1,747
More on Waukee: Data
/10
Population: 212,464
% Asian: 6.15%
# Of Asian Residents: 13,069
More on Des Moines: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Iowa With The Largest Asian Population For 2025
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 2019-2023 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 14.7% 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 2025. 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, Coralville, Ames, West Des Moines, Johnston, Bettendorf, Iowa City, Fairfield, Waukee, and Des Moines.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least Asian places in Iowa:
- Winterset
- Creston
- Maquoketa
For more Iowa reading, check out:
Table: Asian Population By City In Iowa
| Rank | City | Population | Asian Population | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storm Lake | 11,275 | 1,655 | 14.68% |
| 2 | Coralville | 22,846 | 2,331 | 10.2% |
| 3 | Ames | 66,112 | 6,213 | 9.4% |
| 4 | West Des Moines | 69,893 | 5,065 | 7.25% |
| 5 | Johnston | 24,196 | 1,735 | 7.17% |
| 6 | Bettendorf | 39,297 | 2,743 | 6.98% |
| 7 | Iowa City | 75,264 | 5,092 | 6.77% |
| 8 | Fairfield | 9,438 | 636 | 6.74% |
| 9 | Waukee | 26,974 | 1,747 | 6.48% |
| 10 | Des Moines | 212,464 | 13,069 | 6.15% |
| 11 | Hiawatha | 7,178 | 435 | 6.06% |
| 12 | Urbandale | 46,026 | 2,498 | 5.43% |
| 13 | Marshalltown | 27,491 | 1,408 | 5.12% |
| 14 | North Liberty | 20,782 | 1,019 | 4.9% |
| 15 | Clive | 18,776 | 914 | 4.87% |
| 16 | Grinnell | 9,527 | 375 | 3.94% |
| 17 | Pleasant Hill | 10,796 | 389 | 3.6% |
| 18 | Grimes | 15,810 | 563 | 3.56% |
| 19 | Denison | 8,247 | 275 | 3.33% |
| 20 | Cedar Falls | 40,662 | 1,343 | 3.3% |
| 21 | Ankeny | 70,542 | 2,148 | 3.04% |
| 22 | Charles City | 7,321 | 216 | 2.95% |
| 23 | Sioux City | 85,651 | 2,392 | 2.79% |
| 24 | Webster City | 7,769 | 210 | 2.7% |
| 25 | Waterloo | 66,947 | 1,758 | 2.63% |
| 26 | Eldridge | 6,743 | 171 | 2.54% |
| 27 | Cedar Rapids | 136,859 | 3,466 | 2.53% |
| 28 | Clear Lake | 7,603 | 174 | 2.29% |
| 29 | Davenport | 101,083 | 1,959 | 1.94% |
| 30 | Marion | 41,690 | 761 | 1.83% |
| 31 | Ottumwa | 25,352 | 456 | 1.8% |
| 32 | Pella | 10,624 | 186 | 1.75% |
| 33 | Oskaloosa | 11,492 | 199 | 1.73% |
| 34 | Waverly | 10,446 | 175 | 1.68% |
| 35 | Fort Dodge | 24,788 | 401 | 1.62% |
| 36 | Clarinda | 5,366 | 86 | 1.6% |
| 37 | Indianola | 15,918 | 255 | 1.6% |
| 38 | Altoona | 20,592 | 305 | 1.48% |
| 39 | Anamosa | 5,553 | 81 | 1.46% |
| 40 | Dubuque | 59,271 | 859 | 1.45% |
| 41 | Burlington | 23,800 | 340 | 1.43% |
| 42 | Sioux Center | 8,335 | 116 | 1.39% |
| 43 | Mount Pleasant | 9,093 | 124 | 1.36% |
| 44 | Sheldon | 5,386 | 71 | 1.32% |
| 45 | Decorah | 7,597 | 97 | 1.28% |
| 46 | Mason City | 27,135 | 336 | 1.24% |
| 47 | Council Bluffs | 62,564 | 746 | 1.19% |
| 48 | Cherokee | 5,157 | 61 | 1.18% |
| 49 | Washington | 7,314 | 79 | 1.08% |
| 50 | Knoxville | 7,493 | 76 | 1.01% |
| 51 | Red Oak | 5,542 | 52 | 0.94% |
| 52 | Carroll | 10,261 | 92 | 0.9% |
| 53 | Oelwein | 5,878 | 42 | 0.71% |
| 54 | Muscatine | 23,567 | 160 | 0.68% |
| 55 | Orange City | 6,312 | 39 | 0.62% |
| 56 | Atlantic | 6,773 | 40 | 0.59% |
| 57 | Independence | 6,149 | 34 | 0.55% |
| 58 | Iowa Falls | 5,062 | 26 | 0.51% |
| 59 | Algona | 5,414 | 27 | 0.5% |
| 60 | Spencer | 11,393 | 47 | 0.41% |
| 61 | Estherville | 5,865 | 19 | 0.32% |
| 62 | Centerville | 5,377 | 14 | 0.26% |
| 63 | Clinton | 24,425 | 62 | 0.25% |
| 64 | Fort Madison | 10,221 | 21 | 0.21% |
| 65 | Le Mars | 10,597 | 18 | 0.17% |
| 66 | Norwalk | 13,610 | 23 | 0.17% |
| 67 | Keokuk | 9,748 | 12 | 0.12% |
| 68 | Boone | 12,445 | 14 | 0.11% |
| 69 | Newton | 15,696 | 11 | 0.07% |
| 70 | Nevada | 6,952 | 1 | 0.01% |
| 71 | Perry | 7,928 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 72 | Glenwood | 5,118 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 73 | Manchester | 5,144 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 74 | Maquoketa | 6,105 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 75 | Creston | 7,466 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 76 | Winterset | 5,384 | 0 | 0.0% |