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IAIowa rankings

Top vacation-home towns in Iowa

Ranked by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. 143 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Clear Lake 18.8% Home value $259,500 2 Milford 5.8% Home value $218,400 3 Tipton 5.2% Home value $165,500
#TownSeasonal homesHome valuePopulation
1 Clear Lake7,607 people 18.8% $259,500 7,607
2 Milford3,311 people 5.8% $218,400 3,311
3 Tipton3,106 people 5.2% $165,500 3,106
4 Cresco3,908 people 4.2% $117,200 3,908
5 Le Claire4,735 people 3.6% $318,700 4,735
6 Forest City Forest City4,290 people 3.5% $143,500 4,290
7 Waukon3,792 people 3.3% $147,200 3,792
8 Map of Oelwein Oelwein5,834 people 3.1% $96,300 5,834
9 Map of Spirit Lake Spirit Lake5,518 people 3.1% $215,100 5,518
10 Decorah7,535 people 2.9% $244,500 7,535
11 Charles City7,232 people 2.9% $115,400 7,232
12 Map of Algona Algona5,377 people 2.8% $160,800 5,377
13 Osage3,561 people 2.8% $160,700 3,561
14 Map of Oskaloosa Oskaloosa11,504 people 2.2% $153,300 11,504
15 DeWitt DeWitt5,546 people 2.2% $237,100 5,546
16 Map of Carter Lake Carter Lake3,767 people 2.2% $169,400 3,767
17 Map of Garner Garner3,049 people 2.1% $186,300 3,049
18 Emmetsburg3,648 people 1.9% $114,300 3,648
19 New Hampton New Hampton3,453 people 1.9% $167,700 3,453
20 Onawa Onawa2,839 people 1.9% $145,800 2,839
21 Map of Hudson Hudson2,699 people 1.8% $242,700 2,699
22 Anamosa5,629 people 1.7% $172,600 5,629
23 Tama3,051 people 1.4% $106,800 3,051
24 Map of Muscatine Muscatine23,489 people 1.3% $153,600 23,489
25 Coralville23,234 people 1.3% $298,500 23,234
26 Boone12,424 people 1.3% $173,000 12,424
27 Map of Keokuk Keokuk9,662 people 1.3% $104,300 9,662
28 Map of Solon Solon3,152 people 1.2% $309,400 3,152
29 Map of Mitchellville Mitchellville2,579 people 1.2% $206,600 2,579
30 Bettendorf39,647 people 1.1% $306,500 39,647
31 Spencer11,400 people 1.1% $184,800 11,400
32 Map of Fairfield Fairfield9,456 people 1.1% $156,000 9,456
33 Sioux Center8,454 people 1.1% $290,800 8,454
34 Orange City6,426 people 1.1% $264,000 6,426
35 Grundy Center2,809 people 1.1% $177,900 2,809
36 Madrid2,808 people 1.1% $185,600 2,808
37 Map of Ottumwa Ottumwa25,430 people 1% $106,300 25,430
38 Indianola16,044 people 1% $237,500 16,044
39 Map of Humboldt Humboldt4,771 people 1% $173,600 4,771
40 Monticello4,071 people 1% $175,200 4,071
41 Clarion2,770 people 1% $116,200 2,770
42 Burlington23,728 people 0.9% $114,300 23,728
43 Iowa Falls5,038 people 0.9% $123,800 5,038
44 Dyersville4,423 people 0.9% $234,100 4,423
45 Map of West Des Moines West Des Moines71,083 people 0.8% $309,000 71,083
46 Mason City Mason City27,050 people 0.8% $142,000 27,050
47 Clinton Clinton24,322 people 0.8% $118,200 24,322
48 Asbury5,989 people 0.8% $339,000 5,989
49 Clarinda5,353 people 0.8% $114,200 5,353
50 Map of Vinton Vinton4,948 people 0.8% $152,300 4,948
51 Waterloo67,008 people 0.7% $152,600 67,008
52 Johnston24,384 people 0.7% $369,100 24,384
53 Newton Newton15,700 people 0.7% $153,700 15,700
54 Storm Lake11,428 people 0.7% $172,200 11,428
55 Pella10,720 people 0.7% $292,700 10,720
56 Grinnell9,505 people 0.7% $209,500 9,505
57 Mount Pleasant8,951 people 0.7% $160,900 8,951
58 Map of Davenport Davenport100,913 people 0.6% $166,400 100,913
59 Ames Ames67,669 people 0.6% $277,400 67,669
60 Red Oak5,510 people 0.6% $99,700 5,510
61 Des Moines212,421 people 0.5% $194,700 212,421
62 Map of Sioux City Sioux City86,101 people 0.5% $173,600 86,101
63 Iowa City75,752 people 0.5% $285,900 75,752
64 Dubuque59,174 people 0.5% $204,800 59,174
65 Cedar Falls40,888 people 0.5% $263,600 40,888
66 Pleasant Hill11,136 people 0.5% $295,100 11,136
67 Map of Fort Madison Fort Madison10,133 people 0.5% $94,200 10,133
68 Map of Centerville Centerville5,372 people 0.4% $103,000 5,372
69 Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids137,264 people 0.3% $187,100 137,264
70 Ankeny72,615 people 0.3% $331,000 72,615
71 Map of Fort Dodge Fort Dodge24,827 people 0.2% $144,100 24,827
72 Map of Creston Creston7,435 people 0.2% $114,500 7,435
73 Council Bluffs Council Bluffs62,586 people 0.1% $171,800 62,586
74 Urbandale46,595 people 0.1% $335,500 46,595
75 Marion Marion41,896 people 0% $241,700 41,896
76 Waukee29,236 people 0% $350,500 29,236
77 Marshalltown Marshalltown27,626 people 0% $127,700 27,626
78 Map of Altoona Altoona21,495 people 0% $274,600 21,495
79 North Liberty North Liberty21,125 people 0% $303,800 21,125
80 Map of Clive Clive19,012 people 0% $401,100 19,012
81 Grimes16,366 people 0% $304,700 16,366
82 Map of Norwalk Norwalk14,183 people 0% $303,100 14,183
83 Map of Le Mars Le Mars10,640 people 0% $219,200 10,640
84 Waverly10,494 people 0% $223,300 10,494
85 Map of Carroll Carroll10,208 people 0% $188,700 10,208
86 Bondurant8,560 people 0% $318,800 8,560
87 Denison8,260 people 0% $150,200 8,260
88 Perry7,985 people 0% $121,400 7,985
89 Webster City7,769 people 0% $127,200 7,769
90 Map of Knoxville Knoxville7,473 people 0% $160,300 7,473
91 Map of Washington Washington7,290 people 0% $152,300 7,290
92 Hiawatha7,206 people 0% $216,900 7,206
93 Nevada6,983 people 0% $182,400 6,983
94 Map of Eldridge Eldridge6,818 people 0% $350,500 6,818
95 Atlantic6,763 people 0% $149,900 6,763
96 Adel Adel6,430 people 0% $327,900 6,430
97 Independence6,164 people 0% $165,300 6,164
98 Maquoketa6,075 people 0% $132,500 6,075
99 Polk City6,037 people 0% $414,800 6,037
100 Estherville5,839 people 0% $101,400 5,839
101 Tiffin5,737 people 0% $338,500 5,737
102 Osceola5,523 people 0% $146,300 5,523
103 Sheldon5,474 people 0% $192,700 5,474
104 Map of Winterset Winterset5,416 people 0% $192,500 5,416
105 Manchester5,191 people 0% $139,400 5,191
106 Map of Sergeant Bluff Sergeant Bluff5,171 people 0% $298,500 5,171
107 Cherokee5,154 people 0% $136,700 5,154
108 Glenwood5,144 people 0% $206,200 5,144
109 Map of Windsor Heights Windsor Heights5,143 people 0% $267,900 5,143
110 Shenandoah4,892 people 0% $116,700 4,892
111 Harlan4,891 people 0% $152,500 4,891
112 Camanche4,550 people 0% $172,400 4,550
113 Huxley4,544 people 0% $297,100 4,544
114 Evansdale4,518 people 0% $150,300 4,518
115 Map of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon4,513 people 0% $245,200 4,513
116 Hampton4,306 people 0% $99,400 4,306
117 Map of Carlisle Carlisle4,255 people 0% $234,300 4,255
118 Chariton4,242 people 0% $81,900 4,242
119 Jefferson4,152 people 0% $155,800 4,152
120 Rock Valley4,059 people 0% $231,200 4,059
121 West Liberty West Liberty3,776 people 0% $180,000 3,776
122 Map of Albia Albia3,663 people 0% $130,300 3,663
123 Eagle Grove3,593 people 0% $104,600 3,593
124 Map of Story City Story City3,398 people 0% $215,600 3,398
125 Saylorville3,366 people 0% $314,300 3,366
126 Map of Williamsburg Williamsburg3,360 people 0% $204,300 3,360
127 Robins3,332 people 0% $413,400 3,332
128 West Burlington3,189 people 0% $124,000 3,189
129 Map of Postville Postville2,979 people 0% $104,700 2,979
130 Wilton Wilton2,920 people 0% $189,200 2,920
131 Fairfax2,900 people 0% $274,500 2,900
132 Sibley Sibley2,803 people 0% $122,000 2,803
133 Map of Bloomfield Bloomfield2,742 people 0% $132,000 2,742
134 Marengo2,725 people 0% $123,200 2,725
135 Map of Belmond Belmond2,694 people 0% $129,100 2,694
136 Map of Kalona Kalona2,692 people 0% $257,900 2,692
137 Missouri Valley2,666 people 0% $148,500 2,666
138 Map of Rock Rapids Rock Rapids2,661 people 0% $206,700 2,661
139 Hawarden Hawarden2,658 people 0% $136,300 2,658
140 Eldora2,617 people 0% $133,000 2,617
141 West Branch2,594 people 0% $216,100 2,594
142 Center Point2,562 people 0% $212,400 2,562
143 Jesup2,561 people 0% $190,200 2,561

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for Iowa as a whole is 1.6%.

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. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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