Most Populated Cities in Iowa
Cities ranked by total population · 50 cities · Updated 2026-04-05
This ranking shows the most populated cities in Iowa based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. All 50 cities are sorted by total population from highest to lowest. Des Moines leads the ranking with a value of 212,464 and a population of 212,464.
The top three cities are Des Moines (212,464), Cedar Rapids (136,859), and Davenport (101,083). Data is updated nightly from official Census APIs. Click any city name to view its full demographic profile, or see the national most populated cities ranking to compare across all 50 states. You can also explore all cities in Iowa.
| Rank | City | Value | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Des Moines | 212,464 | 212,464 |
| #2 | Cedar Rapids | 136,859 | 136,859 |
| #3 | Davenport | 101,083 | 101,083 |
| #4 | Sioux City | 85,651 | 85,651 |
| #5 | Iowa City | 75,264 | 75,264 |
| #6 | Ankeny | 70,542 | 70,542 |
| #7 | West Des Moines | 69,893 | 69,893 |
| #8 | Waterloo | 66,947 | 66,947 |
| #9 | Ames | 66,112 | 66,112 |
| #10 | Council Bluffs | 62,564 | 62,564 |
| #11 | Dubuque | 59,271 | 59,271 |
| #12 | Urbandale | 46,026 | 46,026 |
| #13 | Marion | 41,690 | 41,690 |
| #14 | Cedar Falls | 40,662 | 40,662 |
| #15 | Bettendorf | 39,297 | 39,297 |
| #16 | Marshalltown | 27,491 | 27,491 |
| #17 | Mason City | 27,135 | 27,135 |
| #18 | Waukee | 26,974 | 26,974 |
| #19 | Ottumwa | 25,352 | 25,352 |
| #20 | Fort Dodge | 24,788 | 24,788 |
| #21 | Clinton | 24,425 | 24,425 |
| #22 | Johnston | 24,196 | 24,196 |
| #23 | Burlington | 23,800 | 23,800 |
| #24 | Muscatine | 23,567 | 23,567 |
| #25 | Coralville | 22,846 | 22,846 |
| #26 | North Liberty | 20,782 | 20,782 |
| #27 | Altoona | 20,592 | 20,592 |
| #28 | Clive | 18,776 | 18,776 |
| #29 | Indianola | 15,918 | 15,918 |
| #30 | Grimes | 15,810 | 15,810 |
| #31 | Newton | 15,696 | 15,696 |
| #32 | Norwalk | 13,610 | 13,610 |
| #33 | Boone | 12,445 | 12,445 |
| #34 | Oskaloosa | 11,492 | 11,492 |
| #35 | Spencer | 11,393 | 11,393 |
| #36 | Storm Lake | 11,275 | 11,275 |
| #37 | Pleasant Hill | 10,796 | 10,796 |
| #38 | Pella | 10,624 | 10,624 |
| #39 | Le Mars | 10,597 | 10,597 |
| #40 | Waverly | 10,446 | 10,446 |
| #41 | Carroll | 10,261 | 10,261 |
| #42 | Fort Madison | 10,221 | 10,221 |
| #43 | Keokuk | 9,748 | 9,748 |
| #44 | Grinnell | 9,527 | 9,527 |
| #45 | Fairfield | 9,438 | 9,438 |
| #46 | Mount Pleasant | 9,093 | 9,093 |
| #47 | Sioux Center | 8,335 | 8,335 |
| #48 | Denison | 8,247 | 8,247 |
| #49 | Bondurant | 8,061 | 8,061 |
| #50 | Perry | 7,928 | 7,928 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the most populated in Iowa?
Des Moines ranks #1 for most populated cities in Iowa with a value of 212,464 and a population of 212,464.
How many cities are ranked for most populated cities in Iowa?
There are 50 cities ranked for most populated cities in Iowa. Rankings are based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
How does Iowa compare to other states for most populated cities?
You can compare Iowa's city rankings to other states or view the national ranking at our national most populated cities page, which lists the top 100 cities across all 50 states.