TownTapestry
Sign inJoin
IAIowa rankings

Most walkable towns in Iowa

Ranked by street connectivity: intersections per square mile, the standard walkability measure the EPA uses. 142 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Ames
Iowa · Most walkable

Where Ames lands: #64 of 142

57.3 / sq mi · Visit Ames →

Sibley 1 Sibley 100 / sq mi Dead ends 6.3% Madrid 2 Madrid 99.9 / sq mi Dead ends 22.4% Windsor Heights 3 Windsor Heights 92.4 / sq mi Dead ends 10.2%
#TownIntersections per sq miDead endsStreet miles
1 Sibley Sibley2,803 people 100 / sq mi 6.3% 27.1 mi
2 Madrid Madrid2,808 people 99.9 / sq mi 22.4% 18.7 mi
3 Windsor Heights Windsor Heights5,143 people 92.4 / sq mi 10.2% 23.5 mi
4 Red Oak Red Oak5,510 people 89.6 / sq mi 10.8% 48.6 mi
5 Osage Osage3,561 people 87.8 / sq mi 8.8% 33.7 mi
6 Tipton Tipton3,106 people 87.2 / sq mi 13.7% 26.0 mi
7 Map of Solon Solon3,152 people 85.8 / sq mi 20.7% 21.6 mi
8 Creston Creston7,435 people 84.0 / sq mi 6.4% 67.6 mi
9 Anamosa Anamosa5,629 people 83.8 / sq mi 17.3% 30.8 mi
10 Carter Lake Carter Lake3,767 people 83.3 / sq mi 15.7% 25.4 mi
11 Bloomfield Bloomfield2,742 people 81.4 / sq mi 12.7% 28.9 mi
12 Garner Garner3,049 people 81.0 / sq mi 12.3% 28.0 mi
13 Knoxville Knoxville7,473 people 80.9 / sq mi 12.3% 56.9 mi
14 Clive Clive19,012 people 79.4 / sq mi 19.6% 102.3 mi
15 Albia Albia3,663 people 78.9 / sq mi 13.8% 36.8 mi
16 Shenandoah Shenandoah4,892 people 78.6 / sq mi 13.6% 42.3 mi
17 Spirit Lake Spirit Lake5,518 people 77.7 / sq mi 12% 55.9 mi
18 Marion Marion41,896 people 76.9 / sq mi 14.6% 222.6 mi
19 Carroll Carroll10,208 people 76.0 / sq mi 9.2% 75.5 mi
20 Emmetsburg Emmetsburg3,648 people 75.5 / sq mi 5.4% 44.0 mi
21 Iowa City75,752 people 75.1 / sq mi 14.6% 293.3 mi
22 West Liberty West Liberty3,776 people 75.0 / sq mi 18.5% 21.5 mi
23 Milford Milford3,311 people 74.0 / sq mi 14.1% 26.2 mi
24 Charles City Charles City7,232 people 73.7 / sq mi 14.8% 69.4 mi
25 Algona Algona5,377 people 73.2 / sq mi 10.3% 52.0 mi
26 Burlington Burlington23,728 people 73.0 / sq mi 18.6% 164.5 mi
27 Wilton Wilton2,920 people 70.7 / sq mi 16.3% 22.1 mi
28 Washington Washington7,290 people 70.6 / sq mi 8.4% 59.8 mi
29 Marengo Marengo2,725 people 70.4 / sq mi 11.6% 23.1 mi
30 Map of Waukon Waukon3,792 people 70.1 / sq mi 15.8% 31.9 mi
31 Storm Lake Storm Lake11,428 people 69.8 / sq mi 12.8% 61.3 mi
32 Centerville Centerville5,372 people 69.3 / sq mi 10.2% 49.7 mi
33 Hawarden Hawarden2,658 people 69.3 / sq mi 10.3% 32.1 mi
34 Grundy Center Grundy Center2,809 people 69.2 / sq mi 11.5% 25.7 mi
35 Fairfield Fairfield9,456 people 69.1 / sq mi 18.6% 71.5 mi
36 Ankeny Ankeny72,615 people 68.7 / sq mi 20% 368.6 mi
37 Map of Boone Boone12,424 people 68.1 / sq mi 9.4% 105.4 mi
38 Fort Dodge Fort Dodge24,827 people 67.9 / sq mi 12.6% 167.6 mi
39 Tama Tama3,051 people 67.8 / sq mi 4.1% 27.8 mi
40 Urbandale Urbandale46,595 people 67.6 / sq mi 20.7% 272.2 mi
41 Oelwein Oelwein5,834 people 67.6 / sq mi 10.7% 54.7 mi
42 Sergeant Bluff Sergeant Bluff5,171 people 67.4 / sq mi 17.8% 32.9 mi
43 Vinton Vinton4,948 people 66.6 / sq mi 10.8% 49.5 mi
44 Chariton Chariton4,242 people 66.6 / sq mi 11.3% 41.7 mi
45 Clarinda Clarinda5,353 people 66.3 / sq mi 8.6% 52.6 mi
46 North Liberty North Liberty21,125 people 64.5 / sq mi 24% 99.9 mi
47 Hiawatha Hiawatha7,206 people 63.3 / sq mi 18.3% 50.7 mi
48 Map of Ottumwa Ottumwa25,430 people 63.2 / sq mi 17.3% 183.7 mi
49 Harlan Harlan4,891 people 63.2 / sq mi 6.4% 44.0 mi
50 Oskaloosa Oskaloosa11,504 people 63.0 / sq mi 12.5% 92.8 mi
51 Cresco Cresco3,908 people 62.7 / sq mi 6.3% 36.1 mi
52 Dubuque Dubuque59,174 people 62.4 / sq mi 21.2% 332.7 mi
53 Des Moines212,421 people 62.0 / sq mi 12.5% 955.6 mi
54 Perry Perry7,985 people 61.6 / sq mi 10.8% 56.9 mi
55 Map of Tiffin Tiffin5,737 people 61.3 / sq mi 21.4% 41.6 mi
56 Glenwood Glenwood5,144 people 61.2 / sq mi 20.1% 34.8 mi
57 Kalona Kalona2,692 people 60.6 / sq mi 17.7% 20.9 mi
58 Map of Estherville Estherville5,839 people 60.5 / sq mi 15.2% 56.4 mi
59 Bettendorf Bettendorf39,647 people 60.1 / sq mi 25.1% 213.8 mi
60 Map of Eagle Grove Eagle Grove3,593 people 59.9 / sq mi 8.6% 36.3 mi
61 Winterset Winterset5,416 people 59.7 / sq mi 12% 44.6 mi
62 Map of Independence Independence6,164 people 58.4 / sq mi 13.9% 54.3 mi
63 Coralville Coralville23,234 people 58.1 / sq mi 19.6% 114.9 mi
64 Ames Ames67,669 people 57.3 / sq mi 11.5% 260.0 mi
65 Map of Orange City Orange City6,426 people 57.3 / sq mi 20.4% 46.0 mi
66 Humboldt Humboldt4,771 people 57.1 / sq mi 11.1% 45.8 mi
67 Jesup Jesup2,561 people 56.8 / sq mi 10.9% 18.0 mi
68 Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids137,264 people 56.2 / sq mi 17.1% 733.8 mi
69 Hampton Hampton4,306 people 55.7 / sq mi 10.6% 37.0 mi
70 Keokuk Keokuk9,662 people 54.9 / sq mi 12.3% 97.3 mi
71 Cedar Falls Cedar Falls40,888 people 54.5 / sq mi 16% 277.1 mi
72 Map of Grinnell Grinnell9,505 people 53.6 / sq mi 11.6% 60.9 mi
73 Map of Clarion Clarion2,770 people 53.6 / sq mi 12.3% 28.4 mi
74 Newton Newton15,700 people 53.5 / sq mi 11.7% 104.9 mi
75 Le Mars Le Mars10,640 people 53.4 / sq mi 10.7% 80.8 mi
76 Denison Denison8,260 people 53.2 / sq mi 13.9% 55.2 mi
77 Map of Belmond Belmond2,694 people 52.9 / sq mi 8% 21.4 mi
78 Mount Vernon Mount Vernon4,513 people 52.6 / sq mi 12.9% 30.6 mi
79 Altoona Altoona21,495 people 52.3 / sq mi 17.8% 124.3 mi
80 New Hampton New Hampton3,453 people 52.3 / sq mi 15.5% 29.1 mi
81 Maquoketa Maquoketa6,075 people 51.7 / sq mi 17.4% 40.3 mi
82 Missouri Valley Missouri Valley2,666 people 51.5 / sq mi 16.3% 30.1 mi
83 Map of Story City Story City3,398 people 51.3 / sq mi 11.7% 25.8 mi
84 Sioux City Sioux City86,101 people 50.6 / sq mi 17% 524.6 mi
85 Iowa Falls Iowa Falls5,038 people 50.5 / sq mi 15% 47.4 mi
86 Manchester Manchester5,191 people 50.2 / sq mi 20.6% 43.5 mi
87 Decorah Decorah7,535 people 49.9 / sq mi 19.6% 64.7 mi
88 Map of Spencer Spencer11,400 people 49.3 / sq mi 11.3% 97.2 mi
89 Map of Sheldon Sheldon5,474 people 49.2 / sq mi 12.3% 45.3 mi
90 Nevada Nevada6,983 people 49.0 / sq mi 18.2% 58.8 mi
91 Map of Evansdale Evansdale4,518 people 48.8 / sq mi 19.6% 32.7 mi
92 West Branch West Branch2,594 people 47.7 / sq mi 19.7% 22.5 mi
93 Davenport Davenport100,913 people 47.6 / sq mi 17.4% 547.5 mi
94 Muscatine Muscatine23,489 people 47.5 / sq mi 19.3% 163.2 mi
95 Forest City Forest City4,290 people 47.4 / sq mi 15% 35.1 mi
96 Waterloo Waterloo67,008 people 46.6 / sq mi 13.4% 522.2 mi
97 Adel Adel6,430 people 46.3 / sq mi 21.9% 45.9 mi
98 Jefferson Jefferson4,152 people 46.2 / sq mi 12.8% 52.2 mi
99 Map of Asbury Asbury5,989 people 45.3 / sq mi 27% 29.9 mi
100 Council Bluffs Council Bluffs62,586 people 45.1 / sq mi 18% 361.8 mi
101 Map of Waukee Waukee29,236 people 44.8 / sq mi 22.7% 185.4 mi
102 Marshalltown Marshalltown27,626 people 44.8 / sq mi 13.3% 157.3 mi
103 Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant8,951 people 44.8 / sq mi 15.8% 70.9 mi
104 Eldora Eldora2,617 people 44.8 / sq mi 12% 29.3 mi
105 Sioux Center Sioux Center8,454 people 44.1 / sq mi 21.4% 57.4 mi
106 Williamsburg Williamsburg3,360 people 44.0 / sq mi 20.4% 25.1 mi
107 Map of Center Point Center Point2,562 people 43.5 / sq mi 15.1% 20.4 mi
108 Atlantic Atlantic6,763 people 43.4 / sq mi 12.6% 64.2 mi
109 Grimes Grimes16,366 people 43.1 / sq mi 19.9% 112.5 mi
110 Johnston Johnston24,384 people 43.0 / sq mi 24.7% 159.1 mi
111 Le Claire Le Claire4,735 people 43.0 / sq mi 26.2% 40.1 mi
112 Indianola Indianola16,044 people 42.6 / sq mi 20.8% 81.6 mi
113 Polk City Polk City6,037 people 40.5 / sq mi 27.2% 40.7 mi
114 Map of Rock Valley Rock Valley4,059 people 40.4 / sq mi 17.4% 32.7 mi
115 Norwalk Norwalk14,183 people 40.2 / sq mi 23.9% 83.4 mi
116 Map of Rock Rapids Rock Rapids2,661 people 39.7 / sq mi 15.6% 29.8 mi
117 Map of Huxley Huxley4,544 people 39.5 / sq mi 21.2% 28.4 mi
118 Mason City Mason City27,050 people 39.4 / sq mi 16.1% 197.2 mi
119 Waverly Waverly10,494 people 39.2 / sq mi 21.4% 86.4 mi
120 Map of Postville Postville2,979 people 38.2 / sq mi 19% 13.2 mi
121 Clear Lake Clear Lake7,607 people 37.6 / sq mi 13.7% 84.7 mi
122 Cherokee Cherokee5,154 people 37.4 / sq mi 16.4% 45.3 mi
123 West Des Moines West Des Moines71,083 people 36.3 / sq mi 18.3% 366.3 mi
124 Pella Pella10,720 people 36.1 / sq mi 19.3% 69.6 mi
125 Map of Monticello Monticello4,071 people 36.0 / sq mi 18.8% 30.4 mi
126 Fort Madison Fort Madison10,133 people 34.6 / sq mi 17.1% 76.8 mi
127 Map of Webster City Webster City7,769 people 34.3 / sq mi 14% 59.4 mi
128 DeWitt DeWitt5,546 people 34.0 / sq mi 21.6% 40.7 mi
129 Onawa Onawa2,839 people 33.8 / sq mi 12.4% 37.0 mi
130 Dyersville Dyersville4,423 people 30.7 / sq mi 28.1% 45.7 mi
131 Mitchellville Mitchellville2,579 people 29.8 / sq mi 10.8% 15.2 mi
132 Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill11,136 people 29.3 / sq mi 27.4% 66.0 mi
133 Carlisle Carlisle4,255 people 27.8 / sq mi 15.8% 34.0 mi
134 Map of Fairfax Fairfax2,900 people 27.2 / sq mi 20.8% 22.7 mi
135 Camanche Camanche4,550 people 26.7 / sq mi 17.7% 44.2 mi
136 West Burlington West Burlington3,189 people 26.6 / sq mi 19% 29.4 mi
137 Osceola Osceola5,523 people 26.0 / sq mi 20.1% 45.2 mi
138 Clinton Clinton24,322 people 25.0 / sq mi 18.1% 202.8 mi
139 Eldridge Eldridge6,818 people 24.3 / sq mi 19.2% 50.3 mi
140 Map of Robins Robins3,332 people 24.0 / sq mi 33% 35.4 mi
141 Bondurant Bondurant8,560 people 22.6 / sq mi 26.2% 61.3 mi
142 Map of Hudson Hudson2,699 people 16.6 / sq mi 19.3% 37.6 mi

How this ranking works

We rank every town by street connectivity: intersections per square mile, the standard walkability measure the EPA uses. More intersections mean shorter, more direct walks, while cul-de-sac layouts with long dead ends rank lower. Sidewalks are not mapped consistently enough to rank, so this measures the street grid itself. The town with the highest figure ranks #1.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Trails, streets and parks: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Conserved land: USGS PAD-US. Measured within each town's Census boundary. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

AL AK AR CA CT DE FL GA IL IN IA KS KY LA MD MA MI MN MO MT NH NJ NY NC OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI All of the U.S.