Waukee is the fastest growing city in Iowa

(The Center Square) – Several large cities in Iowa are experiencing population growth, including one of the fastest-growing in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to newly released data showing population changes in places with 20,000 or more residents from 2020 to 2023, Waukee ranked 11th nationwide. The city’s population grew by 32.1% from April 2020 to July 2023 – 7,684 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The U.S. city with the highest percentage change in population was Forney, Texas, at 51.2%.

In Iowa, Ankeny experienced a population boost, gaining 6,396 more residents since 2020, representing a 9.4% increase.

Coralville City grew by 5.7%, with an additional 1,265 residents since 2020.

Meanwhile, West Des Moines added 3,477 people to its population, growing from 68,728 residents in 2020 to 72,205 in 2023, an increase of 5.1%.

Urbandale’s population increased by 2.5% to 1,147, Johnston City’s population increased by 2.4% to 582, and Marion’s population increased by 1.6% to 677.

Iowa City grew by 1.1%, with a boost of 853 more residents since 2020. Springdale added 904 residents in that time frame and Cedar Falls grew by a modest 11 residents.

However, Iowa’s large cities didn’t all experience growth. Decreases were observed in 14 large cities, though none of the percentage changes for declines were as large as the growth experienced elsewhere.

Muscatine lost 458 residents from 2020 to 2023, a decline of 1.9%. Burlington’s population decreased by 1.8%, losing 423 residents.

Des Moines’s population declined by 1.7% to 3,743. Mason’s population decreased by 434, or 1.6%. Waterloo saw a 1.1% decrease to 713 residents. Ames also shrank by 1.1% to 742 residents.

Fort Dodge lost 279 residents, Ottumwa’s population decreased by 291, and Dubuque’s population decreased by 800.

In Davenport, the population decreased by 1,373 residents. Clinton’s population shrank by 0.9%, losing 228 residents since 2020. Council Bluffs lost 393 residents, a decrease of 0.6%.

On a smaller scale, Sioux City lost 57 residents, and Marshalltown’s population decreased by 10.

In general, the South was the big winner in terms of population growth over the last few years, according to the Census Bureau data, with thirteen of the 15 fastest-growing cities being in the southern states.