Census ACS 2023 · 42 cities
Most Educated Cities in Iowa
Educational attainment is one of the strongest predictors of income and economic opportunity. In Iowa, Ames city has the highest bachelor's degree rate at 63.5%. Cities with more educated populations tend to attract knowledge-economy employers, have higher incomes, and offer more cultural amenities. Compare education levels across all 42 major cities in Iowa.
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | City | Bachelor's+ | Median Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines city | 54.6% | $84,925 | 69,893 |
| 2 | Waverly city | 43.9% | $78,429 | 10,446 |
| 3 | Waukee city | 56.7% | $106,728 | 26,974 |
| 4 | Waterloo city | 22.6% | $56,344 | 66,947 |
| 5 | Urbandale city | 51.4% | $113,086 | 46,026 |
| 6 | Storm Lake city | 18.9% | $58,341 | 11,275 |
| 7 | Spencer city | 28.2% | $57,068 | 11,393 |
| 8 | Sioux City city | 21.7% | $65,473 | 85,651 |
| 9 | Pleasant Hill city | 32.2% | $86,890 | 10,796 |
| 10 | Pella city | 47.8% | $81,201 | 10,624 |
| 11 | Ottumwa city | 20.1% | $56,994 | 25,352 |
| 12 | Oskaloosa city | 26.0% | $62,172 | 11,492 |
| 13 | Norwalk city | 40.2% | $94,583 | 13,610 |
| 14 | North Liberty city | 53.3% | $103,933 | 20,782 |
| 15 | Newton city | 18.8% | $56,321 | 15,696 |
| 16 | Muscatine city | 21.2% | $59,332 | 23,567 |
| 17 | Mason City city | 21.3% | $62,369 | 27,135 |
| 18 | Marshalltown city | 19.7% | $68,854 | 27,491 |
| 19 | Marion city | 39.2% | $87,105 | 41,690 |
| 20 | Le Mars city | 24.3% | $72,381 | 10,597 |
| 21 | Johnston city | 57.9% | $103,430 | 24,196 |
| 22 | Iowa City city | 60.7% | $57,533 | 75,264 |
| 23 | Indianola city | 33.5% | $78,125 | 15,918 |
| 24 | Grimes city | 47.6% | $104,497 | 15,810 |
| 25 | Fort Madison city | 19.1% | $49,359 | 10,221 |
| 26 | Fort Dodge city | 20.1% | $61,769 | 24,788 |
| 27 | Dubuque city | 33.6% | $64,985 | 59,271 |
| 28 | Des Moines city | 29.0% | $63,966 | 212,464 |
| 29 | Davenport city | 30.0% | $64,497 | 101,083 |
| 30 | Council Bluffs city | 21.7% | $64,092 | 62,564 |
| 31 | Coralville city | 57.3% | $66,508 | 22,846 |
| 32 | Clive city | 59.5% | $131,082 | 18,776 |
| 33 | Clinton city | 21.6% | $57,493 | 24,425 |
| 34 | Cedar Rapids city | 32.9% | $67,859 | 136,859 |
| 35 | Cedar Falls city | 49.2% | $74,165 | 40,662 |
| 36 | Carroll city | 25.6% | $59,323 | 10,261 |
| 37 | Burlington city | 23.0% | $55,274 | 23,800 |
| 38 | Boone city | 25.0% | $67,269 | 12,445 |
| 39 | Bettendorf city | 51.3% | $102,917 | 39,297 |
| 40 | Ankeny city | 53.2% | $106,603 | 70,542 |
| 41 | Ames city | 63.5% | $60,102 | 66,112 |
| 42 | Altoona city | 32.6% | $87,123 | 20,592 |
More Rankings for Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
Ames city is the #1 ranked city in Iowa by bachelor's degree rate, with a value of 63.5% according to Census ACS 2023 data.
Iowa has 42 cities with 10,000+ population tracked in Census ACS 2023 data.
All data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Data from the American Community Survey 2023 5-Year estimates. Covers cities with populations of 10,000 or more in Iowa.