The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Iowa For 2024


The most diverse cities in Iowa are Storm Lake and Denison for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Iowa

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 84 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 2024:

  1. Storm Lake
  2. Denison
  3. Marshalltown
  4. Des Moines
  5. Sioux City
  6. Perry
  7. Coralville
  8. Waterloo
  9. Osceola
  10. Davenport

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 2024

Storm Lake, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Scott A. Miller | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 11,194
HHI: 3,022
% White: 34.5%
% African American: 4.2%
% Hispanic: 39.5%
% Asian: 15.3%
More on Storm Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Denison, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Billwhittaker (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 8,316
HHI: 4,207
% White: 41.0%
% African American: 4.0%
% Hispanic: 49.9%
% Asian: 3.9%
More on Denison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Marshalltown, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Kepper66 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 27,511
HHI: 4,267
% White: 55.7%
% African American: 2.3%
% Hispanic: 33.6%
% Asian: 5.2%
More on Marshalltown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Des Moines, IA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 213,164
HHI: 4,410
% White: 63.4%
% African American: 11.4%
% Hispanic: 14.3%
% Asian: 6.5%
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Sioux City, IA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 85,469
HHI: 4,609
% White: 64.0%
% African American: 5.1%
% Hispanic: 21.4%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on Sioux City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Perry, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Richc80 | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,875
HHI: 4,835
% White: 62.0%
% African American: 3.8%
% Hispanic: 31.2%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Perry: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Coralville, IA

Source: Wikipedia User American007 (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 22,494
HHI: 4,919
% White: 67.8%
% African American: 13.9%
% Hispanic: 4.2%
% Asian: 9.4%
More on Coralville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Waterloo, IA

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 67,256
HHI: 4,975
% White: 67.8%
% African American: 17.5%
% Hispanic: 7.1%
% Asian: 2.7%
More on Waterloo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Osceola, IA

Source: Wikipedia User en:User:Cburnett | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,455
HHI: 5,177
% White: 66.7%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 26.5%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Osceola: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Davenport, IA

Source: Wikipedia User Ctjf83 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 101,448
HHI: 5,464
% White: 72.3%
% African American: 10.8%
% Hispanic: 9.1%
% Asian: 1.9%
More on Davenport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Iowa for 2024

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 2018-2022 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
* Not Hispanic or latino

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 84 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 3,022 (Storm Lake) to 9,585 (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 2024. 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, Denison, Marshalltown, Des Moines, Sioux City, Perry, Coralville, Waterloo, Osceola, and Davenport.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Iowa:

  1. Polk City
  2. Winterset
  3. Norwalk

For more Iowa reading, check out:

Race By City In Iowa For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Storm Lake, IA 11,194 3,022 34.5% 4.2% 39.5% 15.3%
2 Denison, IA 8,316 4,207 41.0% 4.0% 49.9% 3.9%
3 Marshalltown, IA 27,511 4,267 55.7% 2.3% 33.6% 5.2%
4 Des Moines, IA 213,164 4,410 63.4% 11.4% 14.3% 6.5%
5 Sioux City, IA 85,469 4,609 64.0% 5.1% 21.4% 2.6%
6 Perry, IA 7,875 4,835 62.0% 3.8% 31.2% 0.3%
7 Coralville, IA 22,494 4,919 67.8% 13.9% 4.2% 9.4%
8 Waterloo, IA 67,256 4,975 67.8% 17.5% 7.1% 2.7%
9 Osceola, IA 5,455 5,177 66.7% 0.0% 26.5% 0.7%
10 Davenport, IA 101,448 5,464 72.3% 10.8% 9.1% 1.9%
11 Iowa City, IA 74,878 5,547 73.2% 8.4% 6.7% 7.8%
12 Muscatine, IA 23,671 5,554 71.6% 4.1% 20.1% 0.8%
13 Ottumwa, IA 25,359 5,690 73.7% 4.1% 14.9% 1.9%
14 Fairfield, IA 9,474 5,856 75.4% 7.9% 4.6% 8.7%
15 Clive, IA 18,576 6,122 77.2% 5.0% 9.8% 6.2%
16 Johnston, IA 23,856 6,183 77.6% 10.4% 3.1% 5.8%
17 Estherville, IA 5,881 6,279 77.8% 4.7% 13.7% 0.4%
18 Ames, IA 66,265 6,279 78.3% 3.2% 3.9% 10.1%
19 Cedar Rapids, IA 136,929 6,285 78.5% 8.4% 4.3% 2.7%
20 Windsor Heights, IA 5,200 6,299 78.5% 5.4% 8.7% 6.1%
21 North Liberty, IA 20,393 6,323 78.8% 4.4% 6.4% 4.7%
22 Mount Pleasant, IA 9,214 6,346 78.9% 5.2% 8.4% 3.7%
23 West Des Moines, IA 68,744 6,367 79.1% 4.4% 5.7% 6.1%
24 Hiawatha, IA 7,179 6,525 80.2% 3.5% 5.9% 6.1%
25 Waukee, IA 25,045 6,603 80.7% 3.4% 4.8% 6.5%
26 Fort Dodge, IA 24,850 6,683 81.1% 4.9% 7.4% 1.6%
27 Webster City, IA 7,787 6,700 81.0% 2.1% 11.4% 2.8%
28 Urbandale, IA 45,591 6,810 82.0% 4.3% 5.7% 5.2%
29 Pleasant Hill, IA 10,456 6,892 82.5% 4.8% 5.7% 4.0%
30 Bettendorf, IA 38,997 6,912 82.6% 1.7% 5.0% 6.7%
31 Burlington, IA 23,976 7,015 83.3% 5.7% 4.6% 1.5%
32 Council Bluffs, IA 62,670 7,073 83.4% 2.0% 10.3% 1.2%
33 Sioux Center, IA 8,227 7,121 83.3% 0.6% 13.2% 1.0%
34 Sheldon, IA 5,417 7,129 83.5% 2.4% 12.4% 1.1%
35 Washington, IA 7,329 7,189 84.0% 1.2% 10.6% 1.0%
36 Charles City, IA 7,364 7,255 84.7% 2.0% 7.3% 3.1%
37 Eldridge, IA 6,693 7,434 85.8% 0.7% 7.7% 2.6%
38 Dubuque, IA 59,315 7,509 86.4% 4.0% 2.8% 1.5%
39 Clinton, IA 24,524 7,552 86.6% 5.1% 4.8% 0.3%
40 Clarinda, IA 5,371 7,553 86.7% 3.1% 4.2% 2.3%
41 Le Mars, IA 10,549 7,564 86.5% 3.7% 7.8% 0.2%
42 Keokuk, IA 9,868 7,593 86.8% 4.4% 4.7% 0.0%
43 Altoona, IA 20,017 7,651 87.2% 3.4% 4.5% 1.1%
44 Anamosa, IA 5,493 7,663 87.2% 6.4% 2.0% 2.0%
45 Fort Madison, IA 10,293 7,666 87.2% 4.0% 5.9% 0.3%
46 Mason City, IA 27,271 7,689 87.4% 2.2% 6.6% 0.8%
47 Grinnell, IA 9,511 7,753 87.8% 2.0% 3.5% 4.2%
48 Algona, IA 5,443 7,777 87.8% 1.1% 7.7% 0.6%
49 Ankeny, IA 68,392 7,893 88.6% 1.0% 3.8% 3.1%
50 Sergeant Bluff, IA 5,007 7,961 89.0% 0.0% 4.9% 4.2%
51 Bondurant, IA 7,617 7,966 89.0% 5.9% 3.4% 1.0%
52 Adel, IA 6,090 7,983 89.1% 0.9% 3.6% 0.6%
53 Marion, IA 41,401 7,998 89.3% 2.6% 3.3% 1.7%
54 Nevada, IA 6,933 8,052 89.4% 0.3% 7.0% 0.0%
55 Waverly, IA 10,399 8,069 89.7% 2.5% 3.4% 1.7%
56 Grimes, IA 15,402 8,071 89.6% 1.0% 5.1% 2.6%
57 Oelwein, IA 5,934 8,092 89.7% 0.7% 2.4% 0.0%
58 Clear Lake, IA 7,642 8,112 89.9% 0.5% 3.2% 4.2%
59 Newton, IA 15,692 8,121 89.9% 2.2% 4.2% 0.1%
60 Red Oak, IA 5,563 8,134 90.0% 0.8% 0.3% 0.4%
61 Cedar Falls, IA 40,686 8,171 90.2% 1.2% 2.8% 3.8%
62 Asbury, IA 5,890 8,216 90.5% 3.2% 1.3% 3.8%
63 Glenwood, IA 5,128 8,240 90.4% 0.2% 8.4% 0.2%
64 Centerville, IA 5,393 8,270 90.7% 0.1% 4.5% 0.1%
65 Oskaloosa, IA 11,492 8,276 90.9% 2.5% 3.1% 1.7%
66 Spencer, IA 11,351 8,323 91.1% 0.6% 4.8% 0.4%
67 Independence, IA 6,106 8,327 91.1% 2.2% 4.5% 0.0%
68 Boone, IA 12,482 8,422 91.6% 1.3% 3.7% 0.0%
69 Indianola, IA 15,845 8,428 91.7% 0.7% 2.5% 1.7%
70 Spirit Lake, IA 5,409 8,447 91.7% 0.2% 2.4% 0.0%
71 Decorah, IA 7,611 8,520 92.2% 1.1% 3.2% 1.4%
72 Knoxville, IA 7,523 8,520 92.2% 0.4% 3.2% 1.0%
73 Carroll, IA 10,270 8,530 92.2% 1.7% 3.9% 0.7%
74 Maquoketa, IA 6,123 8,573 92.5% 2.0% 1.2% 0.0%
75 Pella, IA 10,556 8,653 92.9% 0.7% 3.1% 1.5%
76 Atlantic, IA 6,770 8,664 93.0% 1.4% 3.5% 0.6%
77 Iowa Falls, IA 5,095 8,674 93.0% 0.7% 5.4% 0.6%
78 Orange City, IA 6,278 8,699 93.2% 0.8% 2.3% 0.3%
79 Manchester, IA 5,112 8,787 93.6% 0.0% 2.1% 0.0%
80 Creston, IA 7,519 8,865 94.1% 0.3% 1.5% 1.0%
81 Cherokee, IA 5,154 8,951 94.5% 0.3% 1.5% 0.0%
82 Norwalk, IA 13,057 9,042 95.1% 1.0% 1.2% 0.3%
83 Winterset, IA 5,366 9,170 95.7% 1.4% 1.6% 0.0%
84 Polk City, IA 5,604 9,585 97.9% 0.7% 0.2% 0.0%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.