100 Biggest Cities In Iowa For 2025

Using the latest Census data, we detail the 100 biggest cities in Iowa. You can all see a comprehensive list of all 288 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: 212,464.0
Population 2010: 202,095
Growth: 5.1%
More on Des Moines: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Population: 136,859.0
Population 2010: 125,450
Growth: 9.1%
More on Cedar Rapids: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Population: 101,083.0
Population 2010: 98,325
Growth: 2.8%
More on Davenport: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Population: 85,651.0
Population 2010: 82,106
Growth: 4.3%
More on Sioux City: Data | 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: 75,264.0
Population 2010: 66,758
Growth: 12.7%
More on Iowa City: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Population: 70,542.0
Population 2010: 42,211
Growth: 67.1%
More on Ankeny: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Population: 69,893.0
Population 2010: 54,731
Growth: 27.7%
More on West Des Moines: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Population: 66,947.0
Population 2010: 67,893
Growth: -1.4%
More on Waterloo: Data | Real Estate

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

Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Population: 66,112.0
Population 2010: 57,343
Growth: 15.3%
More on Ames: Data | 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: 62,564.0
Population 2010: 61,340
Growth: 2.0%
More on Council Bluffs: Data | 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? Buffalo Center, 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 Moines212,464.0202,0955.1%
2Cedar Rapids136,859.0125,4509.1%
3Davenport101,083.098,3252.8%
4Sioux City85,651.082,1064.3%
5Iowa City75,264.066,75812.7%
6Ankeny70,542.042,21167.1%
7West Des Moines69,893.054,73127.7%
8Waterloo66,947.067,893-1.4%
9Ames66,112.057,34315.3%
10Council Bluffs62,564.061,3402.0%
11Dubuque59,271.057,5043.1%
12Urbandale46,026.037,50322.7%
13Marion41,690.033,29325.2%
14Cedar Falls40,662.038,1786.5%
15Bettendorf39,297.032,49021.0%
16Marshalltown27,491.027,0961.5%
17Mason City27,135.028,125-3.5%
18Waukee26,974.012,305119.2%
19Ottumwa25,352.024,8891.9%
20Fort Dodge24,788.025,323-2.1%
21Clinton24,425.027,016-9.6%
22Johnston24,196.015,72353.9%
23Burlington23,800.025,604-7.0%
24Muscatine23,567.022,8193.3%
25Coralville22,846.018,18625.6%
26North Liberty20,782.011,88974.8%
27Altoona20,592.013,75749.7%
28Clive18,776.014,95025.6%
29Indianola15,918.014,5469.4%
30Grimes15,810.07,653106.6%
31Newton15,696.015,3712.1%
32Norwalk13,610.08,62257.9%
33Boone12,445.012,764-2.5%
34Oskaloosa11,492.011,3930.9%
35Spencer11,393.011,1931.8%
36Storm Lake11,275.010,3578.9%
37Pleasant Hill10,796.08,10033.3%
38Pella10,624.010,3592.6%
39Le Mars10,597.09,7199.0%
40Waverly10,446.09,7547.1%
41Carroll10,261.010,0472.1%
42Fort Madison10,221.011,096-7.9%
43Keokuk9,748.010,802-9.8%
44Grinnell9,527.09,2652.8%
45Fairfield9,438.09,451-0.1%
46Mount Pleasant9,093.08,7434.0%
47Sioux Center8,335.06,91620.5%
48Denison8,247.08,0772.1%
49Bondurant8,061.03,486131.2%
50Perry7,928.07,7062.9%
51Webster City7,769.08,125-4.4%
52Clear Lake7,603.07,799-2.5%
53Decorah7,597.08,115-6.4%
54Knoxville7,493.07,4590.5%
55Creston7,466.07,738-3.5%
56Charles City7,321.07,667-4.5%
57Washington7,314.07,2610.7%
58Hiawatha7,178.06,9323.5%
59Nevada6,952.06,7532.9%
60Atlantic6,773.07,078-4.3%
61Eldridge6,743.05,31926.8%
62Orange City6,312.05,9675.8%
63Adel6,259.03,64072.0%
64Independence6,149.05,9872.7%
65Maquoketa6,105.06,135-0.5%
66Asbury5,949.03,85254.4%
67Oelwein5,878.06,433-8.6%
68Estherville5,865.06,388-8.2%
69Polk City5,833.03,23180.5%
70Anamosa5,553.05,634-1.4%
71Red Oak5,542.05,814-4.7%
72Osceola5,495.04,87812.6%
73Spirit Lake5,469.04,74915.2%
74Algona5,414.05,569-2.8%
75Sheldon5,386.05,0466.7%
76Winterset5,384.05,1384.8%
77Centerville5,377.05,593-3.9%
78Clarinda5,366.05,566-3.6%
79Tiffin5,271.01,986165.4%
80Windsor Heights5,171.04,8356.9%
81Cherokee5,157.05,205-0.9%
82Manchester5,144.05,187-0.8%
83Glenwood5,118.05,354-4.4%
84Sergeant Bluff5,090.04,03126.3%
85Iowa Falls5,062.05,195-2.6%
86Vinton4,948.05,262-6.0%
87Shenandoah4,913.05,222-5.9%
88Harlan4,896.05,140-4.7%
89Humboldt4,761.04,6482.4%
90Le Claire4,718.03,56132.5%
91Camanche4,562.04,4033.6%
92Mount Vernon4,551.04,3754.0%
93Evansdale4,530.04,666-2.9%
94Huxley4,440.03,13241.8%
95Dyersville4,357.04,0707.1%
96Hampton4,311.04,420-2.5%
97Forest City4,280.04,1602.9%
98Chariton4,235.04,429-4.4%
99Carlisle4,187.03,77510.9%
100Jefferson4,164.04,360-4.5%
101Rock Valley4,061.03,27424.0%
102Monticello4,055.03,7857.1%
103Cresco3,901.03,8670.9%
104Waukon3,796.03,931-3.4%
105West Liberty3,795.03,6593.7%
106Carter Lake3,773.03,6762.6%
107Albia3,688.03,746-1.5%
108Emmetsburg3,651.03,898-6.3%
109Eagle Grove3,588.03,601-0.4%
110Osage3,578.03,597-0.5%
111Saylorville3,559.03,10514.6%
112New Hampton3,462.03,585-3.4%
113Story City3,363.03,393-0.9%
114Robins3,349.02,90615.2%
115Williamsburg3,347.03,01511.0%
116Milford3,315.02,84416.6%
117West Burlington3,184.02,9777.0%
118Tipton3,111.03,209-3.1%
119Solon3,092.01,92460.7%
120Tama3,079.02,8707.3%
121Garner3,062.03,102-1.3%
122Wilton2,943.02,8015.1%
123Fairfax2,865.01,64174.6%
124Onawa2,862.03,005-4.8%
125Park View2,861.02,42817.8%
126Marengo2,823.02,54610.9%
127Sibley2,821.02,8040.6%
128Madrid2,803.02,50511.9%
129Grundy Center2,794.02,6734.5%
130Postville2,787.01,99639.6%
131Clarion2,775.02,861-3.0%
132Bloomfield2,723.02,6303.5%
133Missouri Valley2,685.02,886-7.0%
134Kalona2,679.02,4499.4%
135Belmond2,678.02,28717.1%
136Hawarden2,674.02,5365.4%
137Rock Rapids2,653.02,5374.6%
138Eldora2,622.02,774-5.5%
139Hudson2,614.02,33412.0%
140Jesup2,596.02,5920.2%
141Center Point2,575.02,4286.1%
142Cascade2,565.02,27212.9%
143Mitchellville2,557.02,5291.1%
144West Branch2,526.02,4682.4%
145Rockwell City2,449.02,3573.9%
146Belle Plaine2,412.02,607-7.5%
147New London2,402.01,76036.5%
148West Union2,393.02,614-8.5%
149Atkins2,347.01,71936.5%
150Alta2,344.01,91722.3%
151Bellevue2,256.02,289-1.4%
152Hull2,248.01,95515.0%
153Denver2,216.01,82721.3%
154Northwood2,170.01,96210.6%
155La Porte City2,170.02,637-17.7%
156Sumner2,159.02,0316.3%
157Columbus Junction2,129.02,0245.2%
158Lamoni2,121.02,501-15.2%
159Colfax2,089.02,743-23.8%
160Toledo2,079.02,595-19.9%
161Monroe2,074.01,86811.0%
162Audubon2,069.02,177-5.0%
163Dallas Center2,058.02,085-1.3%
164Lake Mills2,054.02,162-5.0%
165Ely2,033.01,62425.2%
166Epworth1,991.01,80910.1%
167Wapello1,935.02,343-17.4%
168Mediapolis1,930.01,8126.5%
169Peosta1,922.01,51127.2%
170Britt1,919.02,110-9.1%
171Granger1,919.01,03585.4%
172Ida Grove1,904.02,158-11.8%
173Durant1,904.01,907-0.2%
174Ogden1,902.02,410-21.1%
175Remsen1,897.02,018-6.0%
176Walcott1,895.01,57020.7%
177Pleasantville1,883.01,60517.3%
178Blue Grass1,867.01,38235.1%
179Sigourney1,866.02,101-11.2%
180Moville1,840.01,7435.6%
181Greenfield1,826.01,973-7.5%
182Farley1,809.01,50820.0%
183Reinbeck1,805.01,963-8.0%
184Leon1,795.02,105-14.7%
185Sac City1,782.02,294-22.3%
186Lisbon1,782.01,885-5.5%
187Parkersburg1,747.01,947-10.3%
188Mount Ayr1,739.01,6594.8%
189Guttenberg1,675.01,784-6.1%
190Akron1,660.01,5129.8%
191Manson1,653.01,6480.3%
192Lake City1,652.01,682-1.8%
193Prairie City1,649.01,31125.8%
194Stuart1,642.01,649-0.4%
195Shell Rock1,634.01,33522.4%
196Nashua1,634.01,646-0.7%
197Urbana1,628.01,40915.5%
198Monona1,618.01,844-12.3%
199Guthrie Center1,603.01,5622.6%
200Hartley1,588.01,796-11.6%
201Dysart1,575.01,5203.6%
202Corning1,573.01,674-6.0%
203Corydon1,566.01,41011.1%
204Brooklyn1,565.01,32218.4%
205Ackley1,554.01,5500.3%
206Holstein1,552.01,4745.3%
207State Center1,548.01,4367.8%
208Wellman1,539.01,4843.7%
209Pocahontas1,536.01,698-9.5%
210Panora1,520.01,22823.8%
211Sanborn1,510.01,30216.0%
212Fairbank1,509.01,23622.1%
213Oakland1,500.01,626-7.7%
214Slater1,498.01,583-5.4%
215Manning1,474.01,713-14.0%
216Lenox1,474.01,31512.1%
217Van Meter1,469.01,19922.5%
218Traer1,464.01,681-12.9%
219Roland1,458.01,3498.1%
220Kingsley1,427.01,3178.4%
221Woodbine1,418.01,603-11.5%
222Strawberry Point1,415.01,24613.6%
223Malvern1,415.01,15822.2%
224Earlham1,406.01,845-23.8%
225Coon Rapids1,403.01,18118.8%
226Nora Springs1,394.01,557-10.5%
227Greene1,390.01,17718.1%
228Bedford1,389.01,651-15.9%
229Avoca1,369.01,555-12.0%
230Logan1,362.01,571-13.3%
231Alton1,350.01,07725.3%
232Walnut1,339.085157.3%
233Walford1,318.01,519-13.2%
234Dunlap1,318.099232.9%
235Gilbert1,300.01,05423.3%
236Manly1,288.01,1819.1%
237Lone Tree1,285.01,333-3.6%
238Central City1,266.01,2501.3%
239Dike1,258.01,09514.9%
240Montezuma1,257.01,617-22.3%
241Tripoli1,256.01,301-3.5%
242Baxter1,251.01,1538.5%
243Elkader1,249.01,281-2.5%
244Clarksville1,248.01,558-19.9%
245Fayette1,242.01,481-16.1%
246Marcus1,236.097926.3%
247Laurens1,234.01,402-12.0%
248University Heights1,232.01,11110.9%
249Treynor1,228.01,04118.0%
250Melcher-Dallas1,228.01,276-3.8%
251Jewell Junction1,225.01,00621.8%
252Clarence1,223.089636.5%
253Springville1,210.01,04216.1%
254Sheffield1,204.01,277-5.7%
255Lake Park1,191.01,1156.8%
256Palo1,173.091228.6%
257Conrad1,170.093225.5%
258St. Ansgar1,156.01,205-4.1%
259Glidden1,153.01,1321.9%
260New Sharon1,147.01,262-9.1%
261Wayland1,140.090326.2%
262Lansing1,111.097114.4%
263Fruitland1,107.01,349-17.9%
264Neola1,098.081035.6%
265Sully1,092.01,0078.4%
266Buffalo1,090.01,244-12.4%
267Eddyville1,085.089820.8%
268Winthrop1,081.090519.4%
269Larchwood1,076.090019.6%
270Winfield1,065.01,433-25.7%
271Swisher1,064.086223.4%
272Anita1,060.01,0491.0%
273Preston1,057.09966.1%
274George1,049.01,293-18.9%
275Fredericksburg1,040.087019.5%
276Riverside1,040.089116.7%
277Graettinger1,038.01,0271.1%
278Hamburg1,034.01,156-10.6%
279Allison1,028.01,0091.9%
280Lake View1,021.01,301-21.5%
281Griswold1,020.09754.6%
282Keosauqua1,014.01,184-14.4%
283Janesville1,012.09427.4%
284Newhall1,012.072240.2%
285Aplington1,012.01,020-0.8%
286Villisca1,004.01,354-25.8%
287Woodward1,002.01,165-14.0%
288Buffalo Center1,000.01,002-0.2%

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