Iowa’s 50
Top Cities for Fit Lifestyles
2020
Iowa is not just a flyover state but a land of opportunity and cultural transformation. Iowa’s sprawling valleys, limestone caves, and rocky cliffs welcome all to build their fitness routines outdoors. Top-ranked yoga studios push residents and tourists alike to focus on mental wellness. The larger cities in Iowa have a modern energy for those seeking a health and wellness reset while the vast stretches of outdoor wonders make active lifestyles entertaining.
Interesting things to know about Iowa:
- Southeast Iowa is a hub of Transcendental Meditation.
- Several Olympic gymnasts live in Des Moines and train at the renowned Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute.
- RAGBRAI, the largest bike touring event in the world, takes place in Iowa.
22
%
The percentage of adults who report excessive drinking. Heavy drinking is linked to higher blood pressure, poorer liver function, increased stroke risk and larger waistlines.
23
%
The percentage of adults who report lack of physical activity.
32
%
The percentage of adults who report a BMI — or body mass index — above 30%. Higher BMI may be an indicator of greater risk to physical health.
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1
Marshalltow.
Fit Score: 77.02
27,068
820
260
50
340
3.26
140
10
3
No
180
10
Marshalltown, IA
27,068
820
260
50 
340
3.26
140
10
3
No
180
10![](https://barbend.com/wp-content/plugins/bbstudy/images/icons/25.gif"){kind=icon}
2
Fairfield
Fit Score: 76.14
10,414
670
200
40
290
3.47
150
10
3.2
No
180
10
Fairfield, IA
10,414 670 200 40 290 3.47 150 10 3.2 No 180 10
3
Atlantic
Fit Score: 75.72
6,577
770
240
80
350
3.05
160
10
3.2
No
180
11
Atlantic, IA
6,577 770 240 80 350 3.05 160 10 3.2 No 180 11
4
Spirit Lake
Fit Score: 75.15
5,070
920
230
40
310
2.8
130
8
2.7
Yes
200
9
Spirit Lake, IA
5,070 920 230 40 310 2.8 130 8 2.7 Yes 200 9
5
Storm Lake
Fit Score: 74.95
10,458
740
240
40
330
3.05
140
10
3.2
No
190
10
Storm Lake, IA
10,458 740 240 40 330 3.05 140 10 3.2 No 190 10
6
Johnston
Fit Score: 74.9
22,040
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Johnston, IA
22,040 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
7
Creston
Fit Score: 74.76
7,788
870
250
60
390
3.12
160
10
3.2
No
190
11
Creston, IA
7,788 870 250 60 390 3.12 160 10 3.2 No 190 11
8
Oelwein
Fit Score: 74.68
5,942
780
290
20
340
3.29
160
9
2.9
No
190
11
Oelwein, IA
5,942 780 290 20 340 3.29 160 9 2.9 No 190 11
9
Estherville
Fit Score: 74.68
5,686
820
230
90
370
2.8
150
10
3.1
No
190
11
Estherville, IA
5,686 820 230 90 370 2.8 150 10 3.1 No 190 11
10
Webster Cit.
Fit Score: 74.55
7,723
850
220
60
320
3.19
150
9
2.7
No
200
10
Webster City, IA
7,723 850 220 60 320 3.19 150 9 2.7 No 200 10
11
Norwalk
Fit Score: 74.46
11,517
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Norwalk, IA
11,517 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
12
Washington
Fit Score: 74.41
7,309
780
200
20
320
3.61
140
9
2.8
No
200
10
Washington, IA
7,309 780 200 20 320 3.61 140 9 2.8 No 200 10
13
Ankeny
Fit Score: 74.35
65,284
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Ankeny, IA
65,284 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
14
DeWitt
Fit Score: 74.29
5,169
810
270
60
320
3.64
160
10
3.1
Yes
190
11
DeWitt, IA
5,169 810 270 60 320 3.64 160 10 3.1 Yes 190 11
15
Altoona
Fit Score: 74.28
18,844
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Altoona, IA
18,844 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
16
Charles Cit.
Fit Score: 74.2
7,369
730
250
50
320
3.01
160
10
3.1
No
190
11
Charles City, IA
7,369 730 250 50 320 3.01 160 10 3.1 No 190 11
17
Marion
Fit Score: 74.19
39,979
920
230
50
330
3.4
150
9
3
No
210
10
Marion, IA
39,979 920 230 50 330 3.4 150 9 3 No 210 10
18
Bondurant
Fit Score: 74.19
6,646
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Bondurant, IA
6,646 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
19
Pleasant Hi.
Fit Score: 74.15
10,064
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Pleasant Hill, IA
10,064 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
20
Red Oak
Fit Score: 74.08
5,333
820
270
80
320
2.98
160
11
3.3
No
190
11
Red Oak, IA
5,333 820 270 80 320 2.98 160 11 3.3 No 190 11
21
Sioux Cente.
Fit Score: 74
7,614
830
190
10
280
3.08
120
9
2.7
Yes
210
10
Sioux Center, IA
7,614 830 190 10 280 3.08 120 9 2.7 Yes 210 10
22
Orange City
Fit Score: 73.95
6,107
830
190
10
280
3.08
120
9
2.7
Yes
210
10
Orange City, IA
6,107 830 190 10 280 3.08 120 9 2.7 Yes 210 10
23
Osceola
Fit Score: 73.92
5,193
670
230
20
370
3.12
150
10
3.2
No
190
11
Osceola, IA
5,193 670 230 20 370 3.12 150 10 3.2 No 190 11
24
Maquoketa
Fit Score: 73.77
5,998
810
270
60
320
3.64
160
10
3.1
Yes
190
11
Maquoketa, IA
5,998 810 270 60 320 3.64 160 10 3.1 Yes 190 11
25
Pella
Fit Score: 73.76
10,335
790
240
80
320
3.36
160
10
3
No
200
11
Pella, IA
10,335 790 240 80 320 3.36 160 10 3 No 200 11
26
Centerville
Fit Score: 73.73
5,478
690
330
50
390
3.22
160
10
3.3
No
180
11
Centerville, IA
5,478 690 330 50 390 3.22 160 10 3.3 No 180 11
27
Cedar Rapid.
Fit Score: 73.71
133,174
920
230
50
330
3.4
150
9
3
No
210
10
Cedar Rapids, IA
133,174 920 230 50 330 3.4 150 9 3 No 210 10
28
Newton
Fit Score: 73.7
15,209
780
250
40
340
3.29
150
9
2.8
No
200
10
Newton, IA
15,209 780 250 40 340 3.29 150 9 2.8 No 200 10
29
Grinnell
Fit Score: 73.69
9,320
740
220
50
310
3.36
140
9
2.8
No
200
10
Grinnell, IA
9,320 740 220 50 310 3.36 140 9 2.8 No 200 10
30
Clinton
Fit Score: 73.64
25,184
810
270
60
320
3.64
160
10
3.1
Yes
190
11
Clinton, IA
25,184 810 270 60 320 3.64 160 10 3.1 Yes 190 11
31
Burlington
Fit Score: 73.47
24,838
760
250
90
340
3.75
180
11
3.4
No
190
11
Burlington, IA
24,838 760 250 90 340 3.75 180 11 3.4 No 190 11
32
Clarinda
Fit Score: 73.4
5,376
810
240
130
410
3.15
170
10
3.2
No
190
11
Clarinda, IA
5,376 810 240 130 410 3.15 170 10 3.2 No 190 11
33
Spencer
Fit Score: 73.34
11,031
760
210
30
370
2.87
150
10
3.1
No
200
10
Spencer, IA
11,031 760 210 30 370 2.87 150 10 3.1 No 200 10
34
Clive
Fit Score: 73.28
17,097
880
190
10
280
3.22
130
8
2.5
No
230
9
Clive, IA
17,097 880 190 10 280 3.22 130 8 2.5 No 230 9
35
Des Moines
Fit Score: 73.25
216,853
930
190
40
290
3.01
170
9
3.1
Yes
210
10
Des Moines, IA
216,853 930 190 40 290 3.01 170 9 3.1 Yes 210 10
36
Bettendorf
Fit Score: 73.23
36,543
940
220
30
320
3.61
160
9
3
No
220
10
Bettendorf, IA
36,543 940 220 30 320 3.61 160 9 3 No 220 10
37
Hiawatha
Fit Score: 73.21
7,393
920
230
50
330
3.4
150
9
3
No
210
10
Hiawatha, IA
7,393 920 230 50 330 3.4 150 9 3 No 210 10
38
Grimes
Fit Score: 73.18
13,562
880
190
10
280
3.22
130
8
2.5
No
230
9
Grimes, IA
13,562 880 190 10 280 3.22 130 8 2.5 No 230 9
39
Waukee
Fit Score: 73.17
22,810
880
190
10
280
3.22
130
8
2.5
No
230
9
Waukee, IA
22,810 880 190 10 280 3.22 130 8 2.5 No 230 9
40
Iowa Falls
Fit Score: 72.94
5,036
850
210
40
360
3.22
140
9
2.9
No
210
10
Iowa Falls, IA
5,036 850 210 40 360 3.22 140 9 2.9 No 210 10
41
Urbandale
Fit Score: 72.93
43,949
880
190
10
280
3.22
130
8
2.5
No
230
9
Urbandale, IA
43,949 880 190 10 280 3.22 130 8 2.5 No 230 9
42
Oskaloosa
Fit Score: 72.9
11,426
790
240
80
320
3.36
160
10
3
No
200
11
Oskaloosa, IA
11,426 790 240 80 320 3.36 160 10 3 No 200 11
43
Eldridge
Fit Score: 72.84
6,813
940
220
30
320
3.61
160
9
3
No
220
10
Eldridge, IA
6,813 940 220 30 320 3.61 160 9 3 No 220 10
44
Knoxville
Fit Score: 72.64
7,204
830
240
30
330
3.29
140
9
2.8
No
210
10
Knoxville, IA
7,204 830 240 30 330 3.29 140 9 2.8 No 210 10
45
Indianola
Fit Score: 72.57
16,071
730
190
30
330
3.22
150
9
2.8
No
210
10
Indianola, IA
16,071 730 190 30 330 3.22 150 9 2.8 No 210 10
46
West Des Mo.
Fit Score: 72.5
66,641
880
190
10
280
3.22
130
8
2.5
No
230
9
West Des Moines, IA
66,641 880 190 10 280 3.22 130 8 2.5 No 230 9
47
Le Mars
Fit Score: 72.47
9,996
760
260
10
340
3.12
140
9
2.8
No
210
10
Le Mars, IA
9,996 760 260 10 340 3.12 140 9 2.8 No 210 10
48
Clear Lake
Fit Score: 72.45
7,578
930
220
40
320
3.01
140
9
2.9
No
220
10
Clear Lake, IA
7,578 930 220 40 320 3.01 140 9 2.9 No 220 10
49
Ottumwa
Fit Score: 72.38
24,550
670
300
220
350
3.4
180
11
3.3
No
180
12
Ottumwa, IA
24,550 670 300 220 350 3.4 180 11 3.3 No 180 12
50
Denison
Fit Score: 72.37
8,406
770
270
90
330
3.08
160
11
3.3
No
200
11
Denison, IA
8,406 770 270 90 330 3.08 160 11 3.3 No 200 11Didn’t Find Your City in the Top 50?
| Rank | City | Population | Exercise Opportunities | Physical Inactivity | Healthy Food Access | Obesity | Air Pollution (PM2.5) | Smoking | Drinking | Physical Distress | Fit Score |
| 51 | Fort Madison | 10468 | 770 | 280 | 70 | 380 | 3.75 | 170 | 190 | 3.3 | 72.23 |
| 52 | Waverly | 10153 | 830 | 230 | 20 | 340 | 3.26 | 130 | 220 | 2.7 | 72.23 |
| 53 | Mason City | 27093 | 930 | 220 | 40 | 320 | 3.01 | 140 | 220 | 2.9 | 72.2 |
| 54 | Davenport | 102085 | 940 | 220 | 30 | 320 | 3.61 | 160 | 220 | 3 | 72.2 |
| 55 | Sioux City | 82396 | 760 | 260 | 10 | 340 | 3.12 | 140 | 210 | 2.8 | 72.12 |
| 56 | Keokuk | 10274 | 770 | 280 | 70 | 380 | 3.75 | 170 | 190 | 3.3 | 72.05 |
| 57 | Boone | 12470 | 860 | 210 | 40 | 360 | 3.19 | 140 | 210 | 2.9 | 72.05 |
| 58 | Carroll | 9812 | 750 | 270 | 10 | 330 | 3.12 | 140 | 210 | 2.7 | 71.9 |
| 59 | Council Bluffs | 62421 | 820 | 240 | 110 | 370 | 3.33 | 170 | 200 | 3.2 | 71.81 |
| 60 | Asbury | 5665 | 880 | 240 | 50 | 300 | 3.54 | 140 | 230 | 3 | 71.44 |
| 61 | Perry | 7456 | 880 | 190 | 10 | 280 | 3.22 | 130 | 230 | 2.5 | 71.33 |
| 62 | Winterset | 5318 | 700 | 260 | 30 | 370 | 3.08 | 140 | 210 | 2.9 | 71.1 |
| 63 | Cedar Falls | 41048 | 830 | 220 | 110 | 310 | 3.29 | 150 | 220 | 2.8 | 71.1 |
| 64 | Mount Pleasant | 8737 | 790 | 250 | 100 | 340 | 3.61 | 170 | 210 | 3.1 | 70.87 |
| 65 | Anamosa | 5507 | 770 | 260 | 50 | 400 | 3.5 | 160 | 210 | 2.8 | 70.85 |
| 66 | Waterloo | 67798 | 830 | 220 | 110 | 310 | 3.29 | 150 | 220 | 2.8 | 70.56 |
| 67 | Muscatine | 23817 | 810 | 210 | 60 | 340 | 3.92 | 150 | 220 | 3.2 | 70.48 |
| 68 | Fort Dodge | 24098 | 750 | 260 | 80 | 340 | 3.12 | 170 | 210 | 3.3 | 70.29 |
| 69 | Dubuque | 57941 | 880 | 240 | 50 | 300 | 3.54 | 140 | 230 | 3 | 70 |
| 70 | Algona | 5428 | 640 | 250 | 150 | 360 | 2.91 | 140 | 210 | 2.9 | 69.89 |
| 71 | Decorah | 7594 | 760 | 230 | 30 | 320 | 3.05 | 130 | 230 | 2.7 | 69.81 |
| 72 | Independence | 6073 | 750 | 280 | 50 | 330 | 3.4 | 160 | 220 | 2.8 | 69.75 |
| 73 | Vinton | 5093 | 500 | 240 | 30 | 330 | 3.47 | 150 | 210 | 2.8 | 69.73 |
| 74 | North Liberty | 19239 | 920 | 170 | 30 | 250 | 3.26 | 140 | 250 | 2.8 | 68.5 |
| 75 | Nevada | 6751 | 920 | 190 | 100 | 280 | 3.26 | 150 | 240 | 3.2 | 67.7 |
| 76 | Coralville | 21664 | 920 | 170 | 30 | 250 | 3.26 | 140 | 250 | 2.8 | 67.66 |
| 77 | Glenwood | 5316 | 600 | 260 | 30 | 360 | 3.19 | 150 | 230 | 2.8 | 67.32 |
| 78 | Iowa City | 76290 | 920 | 170 | 30 | 250 | 3.26 | 140 | 250 | 2.8 | 67.22 |
| 79 | Ames | 67154 | 920 | 190 | 100 | 280 | 3.26 | 150 | 240 | 3.2 | 67.12 |
How Did We Determine the Top Cities for Fit Lifestyles?
We compiled our list of Best Cities for for Fit Lifestyle by looking at 11 key metrics backed by scientific research. Keep reading to find out which metrics we chose and how they affect slumber.
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