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These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Iowa

By Chris Kolmar
May. 18, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 10, 2026

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Top 10 Hardest Working Places in Iowa (2026)

For generations, America has been hailed as the land of opportunity, a place where hard work can lead to a brighter future for you and your family. In 2026, this sentiment continues to resonate, especially in Iowa, where residents embody the spirit of diligence and perseverance.

While hard work is a hallmark of the entire state, some areas in Iowa truly exemplify the Puritan work ethic. Discover the top contenders for the title of the hardest working places in Iowa.

Leading this list is Waukee, which has earned the distinction of being the hardest working place in Iowa. The residents of Waukee demonstrate such dedication that commuting to work feels like a full-time job in itself.

Curious about which other cities in Iowa are known for their work ethic? Here are the top ten places where residents are burning the midnight oil to secure their financial futures:

  1. Waukee
  2. North Liberty
  3. Grimes
  4. Clive
  5. Sioux Center
  6. Pleasant Hill
  7. Johnston
  8. Orange City
  9. Ankeny
  10. Coralville

Listen up, Anamosa! This ranking serves as a reminder of the hard work displayed throughout the state, and there’s always room for improvement.

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in Iowa

At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle tough questions. Our analysis of Iowa’s hardest working areas uses the latest information from the American Community Survey.

For this ranking, we sourced data from the 2021-2025 American Community Survey to ensure our findings are current and relevant. We analyzed key criteria, including:

  • Average hours worked
  • Average commute time
  • Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
  • Labor force participation rate
  • Adults with a college degree

Our rationale is simple: those who invest years in education, actively seek employment, work extensive hours, and endure long commutes deserve recognition for their hard work.

After compiling data from over 80 communities in Iowa, we ranked each location based on these criteria, with a lower rank indicating a higher level of hard work. Ultimately, Waukee emerged as the hardest working place in Iowa.

For a deeper dive into the rankings, see the detailed chart below.

1. Waukee

Population: 15,944 College Graduates: 50.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.2
Workers Per Household: 1.6

2. North Liberty

Population: 14,503 College Graduates: 48.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

3. Grimes

Population: 9,037 College Graduates: 49.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.3
Workers Per Household: 1.6

4. Clive

Population: 16,246 College Graduates: 53.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.5
Workers Per Household: 1.5

5. Sioux Center

Population: 7,218 College Graduates: 35.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 35.6
Workers Per Household: 1.7

6. Pleasant Hill

Population: 9,011 College Graduates: 33.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.5

7. Johnston

Population: 18,874 College Graduates: 59.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.1
Workers Per Household: 1.4

8. Orange City

Population: 6,130 College Graduates: 36.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 34.2
Workers Per Household: 1.8

9. Ankeny

Population: 49,488 College Graduates: 45.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.3
Workers Per Household: 1.5

10. Coralville

Population: 19,677 College Graduates: 57.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.2
Workers Per Household: 1.5

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in Iowa

City Rank Population College Graduates Average Hours Worked Per Week Workers Per Household
Waukee 1 15,944 50.6% 40.2 1.6
North Liberty 2 14,503 48.4% 40.1 1.5
Grimes 3 9,037 49.1% 39.3 1.6
Clive 4 16,246 53.7% 39.5 1.5
Sioux Center 5 7,218 35.5% 35.6 1.7
Pleasant Hill 6 9,011 33.7% 39.7 1.5
Johnston 7 18,874 59.6% 40.1 1.4
Orange City 8 6,130 36.3% 34.2 1.8
Ankeny 9 49,488 45.2% 39.3 1.5
Coralville 10 19,677 57.6% 38.2 1.5
Urbandale 11 41,157 48.4% 40.0 1.5
Norwalk 12 9,444 34.9% 39.9 1.6
Decorah 13 8,058 40.9% 31.0 1.7
West Des Moines 14 59,815 52.4% 39.9 1.4
Glenwood 15 5,253 21.1% 38.5 1.4
Altoona 16 15,317 31.8% 39.7 1.5
Iowa City 17 70,597 58.8% 33.7 1.4
Bettendorf 18 34,247 48.3% 39.0 1.3
Marion 19 35,809 33.7% 39.0 1.4
Ames 20 61,276 62.8% 31.7 1.5
Hiawatha 21 7,109 34.3% 39.3 1.3
Pella 22 10,343 33.4% 33.2 1.5
Carroll 23 10,051 20.9% 39.7 1.3
Sheldon 24 5,047 24.7% 39.2 1.2
Cedar Falls 25 40,009 44.6% 33.4 1.6
Grinnell 26 9,136 33.7% 32.3 1.4
Waverly 27 9,998 37.6% 35.8 1.6
Clear Lake 28 7,718 28.4% 38.8 1.2
Cedar Rapids 29 128,009 30.9% 38.2 1.4
Eldridge 30 5,908 34.1% 39.0 1.4
De Witt 31 5,297 26.9% 38.1 1.3
Harlan 32 5,047 22.2% 38.9 1.1
Indianola 33 15,014 31.1% 36.3 1.5
Le Mars 34 9,783 18.0% 39.4 1.3
Algona 35 5,513 23.5% 39.1 1.1
Independence 36 5,955 23.1% 39.1 1.2
Mount Pleasant 37 8,682 21.0% 38.8 1.3
Fairfield 38 9,615 39.1% 37.2 1.2
Storm Lake 39 10,743 17.2% 37.1 1.6
Dubuque 40 58,068 28.9% 36.7 1.3
Nevada 41 6,794 22.1% 39.7 1.3
Sioux City 42 82,719 20.5% 37.8 1.4
Atlantic 43 6,983 21.1% 38.8 1.1
Cherokee 44 5,203 20.9% 40.7 1.1
Perry 45 7,986 14.2% 38.1 1.4
Des Moines 46 206,702 24.7% 37.9 1.4
Davenport 47 101,316 27.3% 37.6 1.3
Boone 48 12,619 21.6% 37.2 1.3
Denison 49 8,370 15.0% 39.6 1.4
Spencer 50 11,177 18.3% 39.2 1.2
Council Bluffs 51 62,261 17.5% 39.0 1.3
Marshalltown 52 27,749 20.1% 38.2 1.3
Estherville 53 6,177 14.5% 38.6 1.3
Shenandoah 54 5,079 17.7% 37.8 1.1
Mason City 55 27,775 20.9% 37.5 1.2
Muscatine 56 23,857 17.4% 38.0 1.3
Vinton 57 5,211 22.1% 38.9 1.1
Manchester 58 5,126 16.0% 39.0 1.2
Oelwein 59 6,321 15.1% 36.8 1.2
Creston 60 7,846 17.2% 38.1 1.3
Washington 61 7,315 21.4% 37.7 1.2
Oskaloosa 62 11,555 23.3% 36.1 1.2
Webster City 63 7,905 17.2% 38.4 1.2
Newton 64 15,139 19.5% 38.4 1.1
Clinton 65 26,611 18.4% 37.8 1.2
Waterloo 66 68,392 20.2% 38.4 1.2
Clarinda 67 5,490 18.5% 36.9 1.2
Centerville 68 5,480 19.1% 40.3 1.1
Fort Dodge 69 24,846 20.8% 36.5 1.2
Burlington 70 25,559 20.9% 37.5 1.1
Charles City 71 7,562 17.2% 37.4 1.1
Knoxville 72 7,257 16.9% 37.1 1.1
Maquoketa 73 6,064 14.7% 37.1 1.1
Iowa Falls 74 5,193 18.4% 36.8 1.2
Fort Madison 75 10,929 13.1% 38.7 1.3
Ottumwa 76 24,847 15.0% 37.8 1.2
Keokuk 77 10,742 16.3% 38.2 1.1
Winterset 78 5,165 15.1% 36.5 1.1
Red Oak 79 5,644 14.0% 38.7 1.1
Anamosa 80 5,526 9.9% 37.3 1.1

In summary, the hardest working places in Iowa showcase the dedication and determination of their residents. Whether you’re seeking employment or looking to enhance your career, understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights into the labor market in Iowa.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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