The birthplace of sliced bread, Iowa is home to a handful of beautiful cities that around 3 million residents call home. If you are considering living in “The Hawkeye State” but don’t know what cities to consider, we compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa that saw the largest population increase from 2017 to 2021. From Ankeny to Dubuque, see what cities made the list. You may just decide to call one of them home.
#1: Ankeny, IA
Median sale price: $325,000
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,451
Ankeny, IA homes for sale
Ankeny, IA apartments for rent
The fastest-growing city in Iowa is Ankeny, IA. The city is well known for its being a northern suburb of Des Moines and for being minutes from some of central Iowa’s top recreation areas, Saylorville Lake and Big Creek State Park. Ankeny currently has a population of around 70,300, which is an increase of 13% from 2017.
Many people call Ankeny home because of the handful of parks, including Ankeny Miracle Park, Hawkeye Park, and Sawgrass Park. While exploring Ankeny, locals are drawn to a diverse arts and entertainment scene with museums like Ankeny Art Center and entertainment venues such as Ankeny Community Theatre. There are also a number of delicious restaurants to fill you up like Yanni’s Grill & Vineyard, Jethro’s BBQ n’ LakeHouse, and District 36 Wine Bar & Grille.
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Get prequalified#2: West Des Moines, IA
Median sale price: $305,000
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $965
West Des Moines, IA homes for sale
West Des Moines, IA apartments for rent
The largest suburb of Des Moines, West Des Moines, IA takes the number two of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa. West Des Moines saw a 6% increase in population to its current population of around 69,800.
There are many unique things to do in the city, such as lounging at American Legion Park, grabbing a bite to eat at Cooper’s on 5th, Gilroy’s Kitchen, or Maxie’s Restaurant & Lounge, exploring the Des Moines Children’s Museum or watching a show at Staplin Performing Arts Center.
#3: Urbandale, IA
Median sale price: $339,455
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,622
Urbandale, IA homes for sale
Urbandale, IA apartments for rent
Urbandale, IA is well known for its affordable housing and for being a top commuter town to Des Moines. There are countless things to do in the city that are sure to excite. If you are itching to try a local restaurant, check out The Urban Grill, El Barco Mexican Restaurant, and 100th St. Corner Cafe. Also, be sure to take a walk through one of the numerous parks like Walker Johnston Park, Lions Park, and Northview Park.
Urbandale saw a 5% increase in population and has a population of around 46,000.
#4: Sioux City, IA
Median sale price: $220,000
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $950
Sioux City, IA homes for sale
Sioux City, IA apartments for rent
Sioux City, IA is known for its diverse culture and history. The city has a strong Native American presence and is home to the Sioux City Public Museum, which houses a collection of Native American artifacts. It is also known for its food scene, which features a variety of local and regional restaurants.
Sioux City clocks in as the fourth fastest-growing city in Iowa. It saw a 4% increase to its current population of nearly 85,600.
There are a lot of unique activities in Sioux City, from playing sports at Bacon Creek Park, Riverside Park, and Grandview Park to grabbing a bite to eat at Table 32, Johnnie Mars Family Restaurant, and La Juanita. If you love the arts and entertainment, check out Sioux City Public Museum, Sergeant Floyd River Museum, LaunchPAD Children’s Museum, Sioux City Orpheum, Sioux City Community Theatre, and The Marquee.
#5: Cedar Rapids, IA
Median sale price: $192,000
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $870
Cedar Rapids, IA homes for sale
Cedar Rapids, IA apartments for rent
Looking for a great place to live? Look no further than Cedar Rapids, IA. The city is best known for being the second largest city in Iowa and is the fifth fastest-growing city in Iowa. Cedar Rapids saw a 3% increase in population since 2017 and currently has around 136,500 residents.
Wondering what’s there to do in Cedar Rapids? Check out these fun activities: Taking a stroll through Cedar Park and Gemenskap Park, visiting the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, watching a show at the Tailgators or Paramount Theatre, or eating delicious food at Black Sheep Social Club, 30hop, and The Map Room.
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Get prequalified#6: Dubuque, IA
Median sale price: $199,000
Dubuque, IA homes for sale
Dubuque, IA apartments for rent
Taking the last spot on our list is Dubuque, IA, which is best known for being the first city in the United States to be designated as a UNESCO City of Media Arts. You’ll find a lot of unique activities in Dubuque, such as trying delicious food at 1st & Main, Brazen Open Kitchen, and Copper Kettle, visiting a museum like the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, playing sports atEagle Point Park, Louis Murphy Park, and Washington Park, or catching an event at The Lift, Smokestack, and Five Flags Center.
The city grew 1% since 2017 to its current population of around 59,100.
Methodology: Population growth was calculated over a 5-year span (2017 vs. 2021). Only cities with a population of over 50,000 were used, as anything smaller is considered a town. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during August 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com during August 2022.
