Highest Poverty in Iowa

Top 84 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · United States · Iowa

Highest Poverty — Iowa

1 Atlantic 20.1%

2 Denison 19.1%

3 Cherokee 18.6%

4 Anamosa 18.5%

5 Centerville 17.3%

6 Muscatine 14.9%

7 Ottumwa 14.0%

8 Clinton 13.8%

9 Oelwein 13.5%

10 Creston 13.1%

11 Keokuk 13.0%

12 Red Oak 12.7%

13 Washington 12.4%

14 Burlington 12.3%

15 Hiawatha 12.1%

16 Webster City 12.0%

17 Mount Pleasant 12.0%

18 Sioux City 11.6%

19 Waterloo 11.5%

20 Des Moines 11.1%

21 Fort Madison 11.0%

22 Osceola 10.7%

23 Marshalltown 10.4%

24 Davenport 10.3%

25 Sheldon 10.2%

26 Maquoketa 10.1%

27 Fairfield 9.8%

28 Manchester 9.6%

29 Charles City 8.8%

30 Council Bluffs 8.7%

31 Perry 8.5%

32 Oskaloosa 8.3%

33 Clarinda 8.2%

34 Estherville 8.1%

35 Nevada 8.0%

36 Spencer 8.0%

37 Sergeant Bluff 8.0%

38 Iowa City 7.8%

39 Winterset 7.5%

40 Carroll 7.5%

41 Orange City 7.4%

42 Coralville 7.4%

43 Mason City 7.3%

44 Pleasant Hill 7.3%

45 Cedar Rapids 7.1%

46 Fort Dodge 7.0%

47 Dubuque 6.9%

48 Independence 6.6%

49 Newton 6.4%

50 Marion 6.1%

51 Le Mars 6.0%

52 Algona 5.9%

53 Cedar Falls 5.7%

54 Waukee 5.7%

55 Waverly 5.6%

56 West Des Moines 5.6%

57 Knoxville 5.5%

58 Johnston 5.3%

59 Ames 5.2%

60 Asbury 5.1%

61 Bettendorf 4.9%

62 Grimes 4.9%

63 Storm Lake 4.8%

64 Polk City 4.8%

65 Urbandale 4.5%

66 Decorah 4.5%

67 Bondurant 4.4%

68 Grinnell 4.4%

69 Adel 4.4%

70 Windsor Heights 4.3%

71 Altoona 3.8%

72 DeWitt 3.7%

73 Indianola 3.5%

74 Clive 3.2%

75 Boone 2.8%

76 Ankeny 2.6%

77 Tiffin 2.6%

78 Iowa Falls 2.5%

79 Spirit Lake 2.5%

80 North Liberty 1.8%

81 Pella 1.3%

82 Norwalk 1.0%

83 Clear Lake 1.0%

84 Glenwood 0.5%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Iowa face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Atlantic has a poverty rate of 20.1%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Atlantic, 20.1% of residents — roughly 1 in 5 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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