Largest Cities in Iowa

Top 86 cities ranked by largest cities

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All Countries · United States · Iowa

Largest Cities — Iowa

1 Des Moines 212,464

2 Cedar Rapids 136,859

3 Davenport 101,083

4 Sioux City 85,651

5 Iowa City 75,264

6 Ankeny 70,542

7 West Des Moines 69,893

8 Waterloo 66,947

9 Ames 66,112

10 Council Bluffs 62,564

11 Dubuque 59,271

12 Urbandale 46,026

13 Marion 41,690

14 Cedar Falls 40,662

15 Bettendorf 39,297

16 Marshalltown 27,491

17 Mason City 27,135

18 Waukee 26,974

19 Ottumwa 25,352

20 Fort Dodge 24,788

21 Clinton 24,425

22 Johnston 24,196

23 Burlington 23,800

24 Muscatine 23,567

25 Coralville 22,846

26 North Liberty 20,782

27 Altoona 20,592

28 Clive 18,776

29 Indianola 15,918

30 Grimes 15,810

31 Newton 15,696

32 Norwalk 13,610

33 Boone 12,445

34 Oskaloosa 11,492

35 Spencer 11,393

36 Storm Lake 11,275

37 Pleasant Hill 10,796

38 Pella 10,624

39 Le Mars 10,597

40 Waverly 10,446

41 Carroll 10,261

42 Fort Madison 10,221

43 Keokuk 9,748

44 Grinnell 9,527

45 Fairfield 9,438

46 Mount Pleasant 9,093

47 Sioux Center 8,335

48 Denison 8,247

49 Bondurant 8,061

50 Perry 7,928

51 Webster City 7,769

52 Clear Lake 7,603

53 Decorah 7,597

54 Knoxville 7,493

55 Creston 7,466

56 Charles City 7,321

57 Washington 7,314

58 Hiawatha 7,178

59 Nevada 6,952

60 Atlantic 6,773

61 Eldridge 6,743

62 Orange City 6,312

63 Adel 6,259

64 Independence 6,149

65 Maquoketa 6,105

66 Asbury 5,949

67 Oelwein 5,878

68 Estherville 5,865

69 Polk City 5,833

70 Anamosa 5,553

71 Red Oak 5,542

72 DeWitt 5,535

73 Osceola 5,495

74 Spirit Lake 5,469

75 Algona 5,414

76 Sheldon 5,386

77 Winterset 5,384

78 Centerville 5,377

79 Clarinda 5,366

80 Tiffin 5,271

81 Windsor Heights 5,171

82 Cherokee 5,157

83 Manchester 5,144

84 Glenwood 5,118

85 Sergeant Bluff 5,090

86 Iowa Falls 5,062

The largest cities in Iowa represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Des Moines leads with a population of 212,464, followed by Cedar Rapids and Davenport. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. IA dominates the top 10 with 10 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

1. Des Moines's population is larger than that of many small nations.
2. IA has 10 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 7,928 — larger than most cities worldwide.
4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 611,321.

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