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

Rank City Current Population 2010 Growth
1 Des Moines 212,421.0 202,095 5.1%
2 Cedar Rapids 137,264.0 125,450 9.4%
3 Davenport 100,913.0 98,325 2.6%
4 Sioux City 86,101.0 82,106 4.9%
5 Iowa City 75,752.0 66,758 13.5%
6 Ankeny 72,615.0 42,211 72.0%
7 West Des Moines 71,083.0 54,731 29.9%
8 Ames 67,669.0 57,343 18.0%
9 Waterloo 67,008.0 67,893 -1.3%
10 Council Bluffs 62,586.0 61,340 2.0%
11 Dubuque 59,174.0 57,504 2.9%
12 Urbandale 46,595.0 37,503 24.2%
13 Marion 41,896.0 33,293 25.8%
14 Cedar Falls 40,888.0 38,178 7.1%
15 Bettendorf 39,647.0 32,490 22.0%
16 Waukee 29,236.0 12,305 137.6%
17 Marshalltown 27,626.0 27,096 2.0%
18 Mason City 27,050.0 28,125 -3.8%
19 Ottumwa 25,430.0 24,889 2.2%
20 Fort Dodge 24,827.0 25,323 -2.0%
21 Johnston 24,384.0 15,723 55.1%
22 Clinton 24,322.0 27,016 -10.0%
23 Burlington 23,728.0 25,604 -7.3%
24 Muscatine 23,489.0 22,819 2.9%
25 Coralville 23,234.0 18,186 27.8%
26 Altoona 21,495.0 13,757 56.2%
27 North Liberty 21,125.0 11,889 77.7%
28 Clive 19,012.0 14,950 27.2%
29 Grimes 16,366.0 7,653 113.9%
30 Indianola 16,044.0 14,546 10.3%
31 Newton 15,700.0 15,371 2.1%
32 Norwalk 14,183.0 8,622 64.5%
33 Boone 12,424.0 12,764 -2.7%
34 Oskaloosa 11,504.0 11,393 1.0%
35 Storm Lake 11,428.0 10,357 10.3%
36 Spencer 11,400.0 11,193 1.8%
37 Pleasant Hill 11,136.0 8,100 37.5%
38 Pella 10,720.0 10,359 3.5%
39 Le Mars 10,640.0 9,719 9.5%
40 Waverly 10,494.0 9,754 7.6%
41 Carroll 10,208.0 10,047 1.6%
42 Fort Madison 10,133.0 11,096 -8.7%
43 Keokuk 9,662.0 10,802 -10.6%
44 Grinnell 9,505.0 9,265 2.6%
45 Fairfield 9,456.0 9,451 0.1%
46 Mount Pleasant 8,951.0 8,743 2.4%
47 Bondurant 8,560.0 3,486 145.6%
48 Sioux Center 8,454.0 6,916 22.2%
49 Denison 8,260.0 8,077 2.3%
50 Perry 7,985.0 7,706 3.6%
51 Webster City 7,769.0 8,125 -4.4%
52 Clear Lake 7,607.0 7,799 -2.5%
53 Decorah 7,535.0 8,115 -7.1%
54 Knoxville 7,473.0 7,459 0.2%
55 Creston 7,435.0 7,738 -3.9%
56 Washington 7,290.0 7,261 0.4%
57 Charles City 7,232.0 7,667 -5.7%
58 Hiawatha 7,206.0 6,932 4.0%
59 Nevada 6,983.0 6,753 3.4%
60 Eldridge 6,818.0 5,319 28.2%
61 Atlantic 6,763.0 7,078 -4.5%
62 Adel 6,430.0 3,640 76.6%
63 Orange City 6,426.0 5,967 7.7%
64 Independence 6,164.0 5,987 3.0%
65 Maquoketa 6,075.0 6,135 -1.0%
66 Polk City 6,037.0 3,231 86.8%
67 Asbury 5,989.0 3,852 55.5%
68 Estherville 5,839.0 6,388 -8.6%
69 Oelwein 5,834.0 6,433 -9.3%
70 Tiffin 5,737.0 1,986 188.9%
71 Anamosa 5,629.0 5,634 -0.1%
72 Osceola 5,523.0 4,878 13.2%
73 Spirit Lake 5,518.0 4,749 16.2%
74 Red Oak 5,510.0 5,814 -5.2%
75 Sheldon 5,474.0 5,046 8.5%
76 Winterset 5,416.0 5,138 5.4%
77 Algona 5,377.0 5,569 -3.4%
78 Centerville 5,372.0 5,593 -4.0%
79 Clarinda 5,353.0 5,566 -3.8%
80 Manchester 5,191.0 5,187 0.1%
81 Sergeant Bluff 5,171.0 4,031 28.3%
82 Cherokee 5,154.0 5,205 -1.0%
83 Glenwood 5,144.0 5,354 -3.9%
84 Windsor Heights 5,143.0 4,835 6.4%
85 Iowa Falls 5,038.0 5,195 -3.0%
86 Vinton 4,948.0 5,262 -6.0%
87 Shenandoah 4,892.0 5,222 -6.3%
88 Harlan 4,891.0 5,140 -4.8%
89 Humboldt 4,771.0 4,648 2.6%
90 Le Claire 4,735.0 3,561 33.0%
91 Camanche 4,550.0 4,403 3.3%
92 Huxley 4,544.0 3,132 45.1%
93 Evansdale 4,518.0 4,666 -3.2%
94 Mount Vernon 4,513.0 4,375 3.2%
95 Dyersville 4,423.0 4,070 8.7%
96 Hampton 4,306.0 4,420 -2.6%
97 Forest City 4,290.0 4,160 3.1%
98 Carlisle 4,255.0 3,775 12.7%
99 Chariton 4,242.0 4,429 -4.2%
100 Jefferson 4,152.0 4,360 -4.8%
101 Monticello 4,071.0 3,785 7.6%
102 Rock Valley 4,059.0 3,274 24.0%
103 Cresco 3,908.0 3,867 1.1%
104 Waukon 3,792.0 3,931 -3.5%
105 West Liberty 3,776.0 3,659 3.2%
106 Carter Lake 3,767.0 3,676 2.5%
107 Albia 3,663.0 3,746 -2.2%
108 Emmetsburg 3,648.0 3,898 -6.4%
109 Eagle Grove 3,593.0 3,601 -0.2%
110 Osage 3,561.0 3,597 -1.0%
111 New Hampton 3,453.0 3,585 -3.7%
112 Story City 3,398.0 3,393 0.1%
113 Saylorville 3,366.0 3,105 8.4%
114 Williamsburg 3,360.0 3,015 11.4%
115 Robins 3,332.0 2,906 14.7%
116 Milford 3,311.0 2,844 16.4%
117 West Burlington 3,189.0 2,977 7.1%
118 Solon 3,152.0 1,924 63.8%
119 Tipton 3,106.0 3,209 -3.2%
120 Tama 3,051.0 2,870 6.3%
121 Garner 3,049.0 3,102 -1.7%
122 Postville 2,979.0 1,996 49.2%
123 Wilton 2,920.0 2,801 4.2%
124 Fairfax 2,900.0 1,641 76.7%
125 Onawa 2,839.0 3,005 -5.5%
126 Grundy Center 2,809.0 2,673 5.1%
127 Madrid 2,808.0 2,505 12.1%
128 Sibley 2,803.0 2,804 -0.0%
129 Clarion 2,770.0 2,861 -3.2%
130 Bloomfield 2,742.0 2,630 4.3%
131 Marengo 2,725.0 2,546 7.0%
132 Hudson 2,699.0 2,334 15.6%
133 Belmond 2,694.0 2,287 17.8%
134 Kalona 2,692.0 2,449 9.9%
135 Missouri Valley 2,666.0 2,886 -7.6%
136 Rock Rapids 2,661.0 2,537 4.9%
137 Hawarden 2,658.0 2,536 4.8%
138 Eldora 2,617.0 2,774 -5.7%
139 West Branch 2,594.0 2,468 5.1%
140 Mitchellville 2,579.0 2,529 2.0%
141 Center Point 2,562.0 2,428 5.5%
142 Jesup 2,561.0 2,592 -1.2%
143 West Union 2,489.0 2,614 -4.8%
144 Park View 2,437.0 2,428 0.4%
145 Rockwell City 2,401.0 2,357 1.9%
146 Belle Plaine 2,380.0 2,607 -8.7%
147 Denver 2,379.0 1,827 30.2%
148 Cascade 2,375.0 2,272 4.5%
149 New London 2,338.0 1,760 32.8%
150 Hull 2,317.0 1,955 18.5%
151 Bellevue 2,259.0 2,289 -1.3%
152 Alta 2,250.0 1,917 17.4%
153 Atkins 2,225.0 1,719 29.4%
154 Colfax 2,210.0 2,743 -19.4%
155 Lamoni 2,207.0 2,501 -11.8%
156 Ely 2,186.0 1,624 34.6%
157 Dallas Center 2,161.0 2,085 3.6%
158 Audubon 2,130.0 2,177 -2.2%
159 Monroe 2,120.0 1,868 13.5%
160 Columbus Junction 2,110.0 2,024 4.2%
161 Sumner 2,106.0 2,031 3.7%
162 Lake Mills 2,088.0 2,162 -3.4%
163 La Porte City 2,071.0 2,637 -21.5%
164 Peosta 2,040.0 1,511 35.0%
165 Northwood 2,040.0 1,962 4.0%
166 Granger 1,979.0 1,035 91.2%
167 Blue Grass 1,972.0 1,382 42.7%
168 Ida Grove 1,967.0 2,158 -8.9%
169 Toledo 1,966.0 2,595 -24.2%
170 Sigourney 1,954.0 2,101 -7.0%
171 Durant 1,946.0 1,907 2.0%
172 Mediapolis 1,928.0 1,812 6.4%
173 Leon 1,899.0 2,105 -9.8%
174 Pleasantville 1,899.0 1,605 18.3%
175 Greenfield 1,894.0 1,973 -4.0%
176 Epworth 1,894.0 1,809 4.7%
177 Farley 1,889.0 1,508 25.3%
178 Sac City 1,885.0 2,294 -17.8%
179 Britt 1,882.0 2,110 -10.8%
180 Ogden 1,859.0 2,410 -22.9%
181 Remsen 1,823.0 2,018 -9.7%
182 Mount Ayr 1,816.0 1,659 9.5%
183 Guttenberg 1,782.0 1,784 -0.1%
184 Parkersburg 1,766.0 1,947 -9.3%
185 Wapello 1,765.0 2,343 -24.7%
186 Pocahontas 1,763.0 1,698 3.8%
187 Walcott 1,725.0 1,570 9.9%
188 Reinbeck 1,715.0 1,963 -12.6%
189 Lisbon 1,714.0 1,885 -9.1%
190 Prairie City 1,711.0 1,311 30.5%
191 Lake City 1,693.0 1,682 0.7%
192 Guthrie Center 1,689.0 1,562 8.1%
193 Akron 1,689.0 1,512 11.7%
194 Moville 1,670.0 1,743 -4.2%
195 Stuart 1,655.0 1,649 0.4%
196 Manson 1,645.0 1,648 -0.2%
197 Urbana 1,639.0 1,409 16.3%
198 Corydon 1,628.0 1,410 15.5%
199 Van Meter 1,628.0 1,199 35.8%
200 Shell Rock 1,625.0 1,335 21.7%
201 Nashua 1,622.0 1,646 -1.5%
202 Holstein 1,600.0 1,474 8.5%
203 Panora 1,579.0 1,228 28.6%
204 Lenox 1,569.0 1,315 19.3%
205 Corning 1,567.0 1,674 -6.4%
206 Roland 1,559.0 1,349 15.6%
207 Hartley 1,553.0 1,796 -13.5%
208 Manning 1,533.0 1,713 -10.5%
209 Monona 1,531.0 1,844 -17.0%
210 Earlham 1,528.0 1,845 -17.2%
211 Traer 1,519.0 1,681 -9.6%
212 Dysart 1,519.0 1,520 -0.1%
213 Ackley 1,482.0 1,550 -4.4%
214 Kingsley 1,472.0 1,317 11.8%
215 Woodbine 1,471.0 1,603 -8.2%
216 Coon Rapids 1,467.0 1,181 24.2%
217 Alton 1,459.0 1,077 35.5%
218 Brooklyn 1,459.0 1,322 10.4%
219 Wellman 1,454.0 1,484 -2.0%
220 Avoca 1,444.0 1,555 -7.1%
221 Palo 1,438.0 912 57.7%
222 State Center 1,412.0 1,436 -1.7%
223 Montezuma 1,410.0 1,617 -12.8%
224 Oakland 1,408.0 1,626 -13.4%
225 Slater 1,401.0 1,583 -11.5%
226 Logan 1,392.0 1,571 -11.4%
227 University Heights 1,384.0 1,111 24.6%
228 Gilbert 1,381.0 1,054 31.0%
229 Dike 1,365.0 1,095 24.7%
230 Nora Springs 1,363.0 1,557 -12.5%
231 Central City 1,356.0 1,250 8.5%
232 Walnut 1,342.0 851 57.7%
233 Greene 1,339.0 1,177 13.8%
234 Bedford 1,336.0 1,651 -19.1%
235 Walford 1,329.0 1,519 -12.5%
236 Sanborn 1,323.0 1,302 1.6%
237 Malvern 1,323.0 1,158 14.2%
238 Manly 1,320.0 1,181 11.8%
239 Fayette 1,309.0 1,481 -11.6%
240 Elkader 1,293.0 1,281 0.9%
241 Fairbank 1,275.0 1,236 3.2%
242 Strawberry Point 1,267.0 1,246 1.7%
243 Baxter 1,247.0 1,153 8.2%
244 Clarksville 1,237.0 1,558 -20.6%
245 Lone Tree 1,218.0 1,333 -8.6%
246 Laurens 1,206.0 1,402 -14.0%
247 St. Ansgar 1,206.0 1,205 0.1%
248 Wayland 1,191.0 903 31.9%
249 Conrad 1,191.0 932 27.8%
250 Lake Park 1,184.0 1,115 6.2%
251 Swisher 1,182.0 862 37.1%
252 Marcus 1,180.0 979 20.5%
253 New Sharon 1,180.0 1,262 -6.5%
254 Melcher-Dallas 1,176.0 1,276 -7.8%
255 Springville 1,172.0 1,042 12.5%
256 Dunlap 1,170.0 992 17.9%
257 Glidden 1,169.0 1,132 3.3%
258 Clarence 1,166.0 896 30.1%
259 Eddyville 1,163.0 898 29.5%
260 Tripoli 1,156.0 1,301 -11.1%
261 Larchwood 1,136.0 900 26.2%
262 Treynor 1,126.0 1,041 8.2%
263 Neola 1,116.0 810 37.8%
264 Lansing 1,115.0 971 14.8%
265 Aplington 1,111.0 1,020 8.9%
266 Buffalo 1,097.0 1,244 -11.8%
267 Graettinger 1,096.0 1,027 6.7%
268 Jewell Junction 1,084.0 1,006 7.8%
269 George 1,064.0 1,293 -17.7%
270 Sheffield 1,053.0 1,277 -17.5%
271 Fruitland 1,049.0 1,349 -22.2%
272 Villisca 1,048.0 1,354 -22.6%
273 Preston 1,044.0 996 4.8%
274 De Soto 1,041.0 929 12.1%
275 Winthrop 1,040.0 905 14.9%
276 Sully 1,022.0 1,007 1.5%
277 Sloan 1,018.0 1,046 -2.7%
278 Primghar 1,014.0 982 3.3%
279 Winfield 1,007.0 1,433 -29.7%

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