# Iowa statistical areas

The U.S. State of Iowa currently has 31 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated seven combined statistical areas, nine metropolitan statistical areas, and 15 micropolitan statistical areas in Iowa. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA, comprising the area around Iowa's capital and largest city, Des Moines.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 31 United States statistical areas and 99 counties of the State of Iowa :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Polk County, Iowa | 505,255 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Dallas County, Iowa | 111,092 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Warren County, Iowa | 55,205 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Jasper County, Iowa | 37,919 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Madison County, Iowa | 16,971 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | Guthrie County, Iowa | 10,722 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Ames, IA MSA | 125,156 | Story County, Iowa | 98,566 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Ames, IA MSA | 125,156 | Boone County, Iowa | 26,590 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Pella, IA μSA | 33,770 | Marion County, Iowa | 33,770 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | Oskaloosa, IA μSA | 21,874 | Mahaska County, Iowa | 21,874 |
| Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | Cedar Rapids, IA MSA | 275,668 | Linn County, Iowa | 228,972 |
| Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | Cedar Rapids, IA MSA | 275,668 | Benton County, Iowa | 25,796 |
| Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | Cedar Rapids, IA MSA | 275,668 | Jones County, Iowa | 20,900 |
| Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | Iowa City, IA MSA | 180,088 | Johnson County, Iowa | 157,528 |
| Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | Iowa City, IA MSA | 180,088 | Washington County, Iowa | 22,560 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | 379,441 174,270 (IA) | Scott County, Iowa | 174,270 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | 379,441 174,270 (IA) | Rock Island County, Illinois | 141,236 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | 379,441 174,270 (IA) | Henry County, Illinois | 48,448 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | 379,441 174,270 (IA) | Mercer County, Illinois | 15,487 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Clinton, IA μSA | 46,158 | Clinton County, Iowa | 46,158 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 262,646 (IA) | Muscatine, IA μSA | 42,218 | Muscatine County, Iowa | 42,218 |
| none | none | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA | 168,162 | Black Hawk County, Iowa | 130,471 |
| none | none | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA | 168,162 | Bremer County, Iowa | 25,307 |
| none | none | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA | 168,162 | Grundy County, Iowa | 12,384 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 131,673 (IA) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 105,951 (IA) | Woodbury County, Iowa | 105,951 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 131,673 (IA) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 105,951 (IA) | Dakota County, Nebraska | 21,268 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 131,673 (IA) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 105,951 (IA) | Union County, South Dakota | 17,183 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 131,673 (IA) | Le Mars, IA μSA | 25,722 | Plymouth County, Iowa | 25,722 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Douglas County, Nebraska | 589,540 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Sarpy County, Nebraska | 199,886 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | 93,179 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Cass County, Nebraska | 27,446 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Saunders County, Nebraska | 23,463 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Washington County, Nebraska | 21,152 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Harrison County, Iowa | 14,670 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 122,482 (IA) | Mills County, Iowa | 14,633 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 122,482 (IA) | Fremont, NE μSA | 37,187 | Dodge County, Nebraska | 37,187 |
| none | none | Dubuque, IA MSA | 98,887 | Dubuque County, Iowa | 98,887 |
| Burlington-Fort Madison, IA-IL CSA | 76,906 70,818 (IA) | Burlington, IA-IL μSA | 44,341 38,253 (IA) | Des Moines County, Iowa | 38,253 |
| Burlington-Fort Madison, IA-IL CSA | 76,906 70,818 (IA) | Burlington, IA-IL μSA | 44,341 38,253 (IA) | Henderson County, Illinois | 6,088 |
| Burlington-Fort Madison, IA-IL CSA | 76,906 70,818 (IA) | Fort Madison, IA μSA | 32,565 | Lee County, Iowa | 32,565 |
| none | none | Mason City, IA μSA | 49,703 | Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | 42,406 |
| none | none | Mason City, IA μSA | 49,703 | Worth County, Iowa | 7,297 |
| none | none | Marshalltown, IA μSA | 40,014 | Marshall County, Iowa | 40,014 |
| none | none | Fort Dodge, IA μSA | 36,485 | Webster County, Iowa | 36,485 |
| none | none | Ottumwa, IA μSA | 35,166 | Wapello County, Iowa | 35,166 |
| Spencer-Spirit Lake, IA CSA | 34,567 | Spirit Lake, IA μSA | 18,056 | Dickinson County, Iowa | 18,056 |
| Spencer-Spirit Lake, IA CSA | 34,567 | Spencer, IA μSA | 16,511 | Clay County, Iowa | 16,511 |
| none | none | Storm Lake, IA μSA | 20,567 | Buena Vista County, Iowa | 20,567 |
| none | none | Carroll, IA μSA | 20,522 | Carroll County, Iowa | 20,522 |
| none | none | none | none | Sioux County, Iowa | 36,246 |
| none | none | none | none | Buchanan County, Iowa | 20,691 |
| none | none | none | none | Winneshiek County, Iowa | 19,815 |
| none | none | none | none | Henry County, Iowa | 19,547 |
| none | none | none | none | Jackson County, Iowa | 19,342 |
| none | none | none | none | Fayette County, Iowa | 19,210 |
| none | none | none | none | Poweshiek County, Iowa | 18,453 |
| none | none | none | none | Cedar County, Iowa | 18,302 |
| none | none | none | none | Delaware County, Iowa | 17,600 |
| none | none | none | none | Clayton County, Iowa | 16,969 |
| none | none | none | none | Tama County, Iowa | 16,833 |
| none | none | none | none | Hardin County, Iowa | 16,463 |
| none | none | none | none | Iowa County, Iowa | 16,381 |
| none | none | none | none | Crawford County, Iowa | 16,013 |
| none | none | none | none | Jefferson County, Iowa | 15,440 |
| none | none | none | none | Floyd County, Iowa | 15,326 |
| none | none | none | none | Page County, Iowa | 15,014 |
| none | none | none | none | Hamilton County, Iowa | 14,729 |
| none | none | none | none | Kossuth County, Iowa | 14,396 |
| none | none | none | none | Butler County, Iowa | 14,172 |
| none | none | none | none | Allamakee County, Iowa | 14,074 |
| none | none | none | none | O'Brien County, Iowa | 14,012 |
| none | none | none | none | Cass County, Iowa | 13,130 |
| none | none | none | none | Wright County, Iowa | 12,656 |
| none | none | none | none | Lyon County, Iowa | 12,324 |
| none | none | none | none | Appanoose County, Iowa | 12,119 |
| none | none | none | none | Union County, Iowa | 11,906 |
| none | none | none | none | Shelby County, Iowa | 11,806 |
| none | none | none | none | Chickasaw County, Iowa | 11,658 |
| none | none | none | none | Cherokee County, Iowa | 11,605 |
| none | none | none | none | Hancock County, Iowa | 10,615 |
| none | none | none | none | Winnebago County, Iowa | 10,571 |
| none | none | none | none | Mitchell County, Iowa | 10,518 |
| none | none | none | none | Louisa County, Iowa | 10,513 |
| none | none | none | none | Montgomery County, Iowa | 10,139 |
| none | none | none | none | Keokuk County, Iowa | 9,914 |
| none | none | none | none | Franklin County, Iowa | 9,875 |
| none | none | none | none | Calhoun County, Iowa | 9,763 |
| none | none | none | none | Sac County, Iowa | 9,686 |
| none | none | none | none | Clarke County, Iowa | 9,588 |
| none | none | none | none | Humboldt County, Iowa | 9,500 |
| none | none | none | none | Howard County, Iowa | 9,376 |
| none | none | none | none | Emmet County, Iowa | 9,229 |
| none | none | none | none | Davis County, Iowa | 9,169 |
| none | none | none | none | Palo Alto County, Iowa | 8,810 |
| none | none | none | none | Lucas County, Iowa | 8,747 |
| none | none | none | none | Greene County, Iowa | 8,584 |
| none | none | none | none | Monona County, Iowa | 8,493 |
| none | none | none | none | Decatur County, Iowa | 7,665 |
| none | none | none | none | Monroe County, Iowa | 7,504 |
| none | none | none | none | Adair County, Iowa | 7,389 |
| none | none | none | none | Van Buren County, Iowa | 7,266 |
| none | none | none | none | Pocahontas County, Iowa | 6,976 |
| none | none | none | none | Ida County, Iowa | 6,833 |
| none | none | none | none | Wayne County, Iowa | 6,557 |
| none | none | none | none | Fremont County, Iowa | 6,458 |
| none | none | none | none | Osceola County, Iowa | 5,978 |
| none | none | none | none | Taylor County, Iowa | 5,924 |
| none | none | none | none | Audubon County, Iowa | 5,534 |
| none | none | none | none | Ringgold County, Iowa | 4,642 |
| none | none | none | none | Adams County, Iowa | 3,544 |
| State of Iowa | State of Iowa | State of Iowa | State of Iowa | State of Iowa | 3,207,004 |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 24 core-based statistical areas of the State of Iowa :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | 737,164 | +3.90% | 709,466 | +16.98% | 606,475 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids, IA MSA | 275,668 | −0.31% | 276,520 | +7.20% | 257,940 |
| 3 | Iowa City, IA MSA | 180,088 | +2.66% | 175,419 | +14.96% | 152,586 |
| 4 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA (IA) | 174,270 | −0.23% | 174,669 | +5.72% | 165,224 |
| 5 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA | 168,162 | −0.18% | 168,461 | +0.38% | 167,819 |
| 6 | Ames, IA MSA | 125,156 | −0.08% | 125,252 | +8.12% | 115,848 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE-IA MSA (IA) | 122,482 | −0.20% | 122,733 | −0.33% | 123,145 |
| 8 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA (IA) | 105,951 | +0.01% | 105,941 | +3.69% | 102,172 |
| 9 | Dubuque, IA MSA | 98,887 | −0.38% | 99,266 | +5.99% | 93,653 |
| 10 | Mason City, IA μSA | 49,703 | −1.71% | 50,570 | −2.28% | 51,749 |
| 11 | Clinton, IA μSA | 46,158 | −0.65% | 46,460 | −5.41% | 49,116 |
| 12 | Muscatine, IA μSA | 42,218 | −2.35% | 43,235 | +1.15% | 42,745 |
| 13 | Marshalltown, IA μSA | 40,014 | −0.23% | 40,105 | −1.34% | 40,648 |
| 14 | Burlington, IA-IL μSA (IA) | 38,253 | −1.69% | 38,910 | −3.51% | 40,325 |
| 15 | Fort Dodge, IA μSA | 36,485 | −1.39% | 36,999 | −2.67% | 38,013 |
| 16 | Ottumwa, IA μSA | 35,166 | −0.76% | 35,437 | −0.53% | 35,625 |
| 17 | Pella, IA μSA | 33,770 | +1.07% | 33,414 | +0.32% | 33,309 |
| 18 | Fort Madison, IA μSA | 32,565 | −2.95% | 33,555 | −6.43% | 35,862 |
| 19 | Le Mars, IA μSA | 25,722 | +0.09% | 25,698 | +2.85% | 24,986 |
| 20 | Oskaloosa, IA μSA | 21,874 | −1.42% | 22,190 | −0.85% | 22,381 |
| 21 | Storm Lake, IA μSA | 20,567 | −1.23% | 20,823 | +2.78% | 20,260 |
| 22 | Carroll, IA μSA | 20,522 | −1.15% | 20,760 | −0.27% | 20,816 |
| 23 | Spirit Lake, IA μSA | 18,056 | +1.99% | 17,703 | +6.22% | 16,667 |
| 24 | Spencer, IA μSA | 16,511 | +0.78% | 16,384 | −1.70% | 16,667 |
| | Burlington, IA-IL μSA | 44,341 | −2.11% | 45,297 | −4.95% | 47,656 |
| | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | 379,441 | −1.27% | 384,324 | +1.49% | 378,666 |
| | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 | +1.69% | 967,604 | +11.82% | 865,350 |
| | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 | +0.05% | 144,334 | +4.91% | 137,577 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The seven combined statistical areas of the State of Iowa :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA CSA | 917,964 | +3.10% | 890,322 | +14.44% | 778,013 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA CSA | 455,756 | +0.84% | 451,939 | +10.09% | 410,526 |
| 3 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA (IA) | 262,646 | −0.65% | 264,364 | +2.83% | 257,085 |
| 4 | Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA (IA) | 131,673 | +0.03% | 131,639 | +3.52% | 127,158 |
| 5 | Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA (IA) | 122,482 | −0.20% | 122,733 | −0.33% | 123,145 |
| 6 | Burlington-Fort Madison, IA-IL CSA (IA) | 70,818 | −2.27% | 72,465 | −4.89% | 76,187 |
| 7 | Spencer-Spirit Lake, IA CSA | 34,567 | +1.41% | 34,087 | +2.26% | 33,334 |
| | Burlington-Fort Madison, IA-IL CSA | 76,906 | −2.47% | 78,852 | −5.59% | 83,518 |
| | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL CSA | 467,817 | −1.31% | 474,019 | +0.74% | 470,527 |
| | Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 | +1.63% | 1,004,771 | +11.39% | 902,041 |
| | Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 | +0.05% | 170,032 | +4.59% | 162,563 |