Which counties in Iowa are people leaving?

56 of the 99 counties in Iowa had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Buena Vista County had the largest net outflow for its size: 19.3 per 1,000 residents (−395 people). In people, Story County had the largest net outflow (−792).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 13 of these 56 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 56 Iowa counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Iowa
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Buena Vista County	−19.3	−395	20,449	−1.7%
2	Clay County	−18.0	−292	16,202	−0.9%
3	Jefferson County	−16.7	−256	15,291	−2.5%
4	Louisa County	−13.0	−135	10,416	−3.8%
5	Pocahontas County	−10.9	−74	6,819	−3.6%
6	Wapello County	−10.8	−381	35,210	−0.4%
7	Franklin County	−10.4	−103	9,868	−1.2%
8	Sac County	−9.3	−89	9,525	−2.7%
9	Floyd County	−9.3	−139	14,901	−4.5%
10	Kossuth County	−9.3	−133	14,322	−3.2%
11	Humboldt County	−9.1	−86	9,409	−2.0%
12	Marshall County	−8.2	−329	39,890	−0.5%
13	Hancock County	−7.9	−83	10,528	−2.2%
14	Story County	−7.8	−792	101,291	+2.7%
15	Wright County	−7.7	−99	12,801	−0.9%
16	Muscatine County	−7.7	−323	41,853	−3.0%
17	Cherokee County	−7.2	−82	11,369	−2.4%
18	Van Buren County	−7.0	−50	7,131	−1.2%
19	Woodbury County	−6.9	−739	106,649	+0.7%
20	Crawford County	−6.9	−112	16,237	−1.5%
21	Hamilton County	−6.4	−95	14,944	−0.5%
22	Adair County	−6.2	−46	7,403	−1.3%
23	Carroll County	−6.2	−125	20,303	−2.0%
24	Sioux County	−6.1	−225	36,774	+2.5%
25	Clayton County	−5.9	−99	16,845	−1.1%
26	Chickasaw County	−5.4	−63	11,663	−2.8%
27	Union County	−4.7	−56	11,829	−2.5%
28	Page County	−4.7	−70	14,856	−2.3%
29	Howard County	−4.1	−39	9,415	−0.8%
30	Lyon County	−4.1	−51	12,354	+3.6%
31	Black Hawk County	−4.0	−526	131,532	+0.4%
32	Shelby County	−3.5	−41	11,689	−0.2%
33	Winnebago County	−3.4	−35	10,251	−3.8%
34	Davis County	−3.4	−31	9,230	+1.3%
35	Decatur County	−3.1	−24	7,655	−0.9%
36	Lee County	−3.0	−97	32,306	−3.6%
37	Clarke County	−2.7	−26	9,574	−1.6%
38	Osceola County	−2.7	−16	5,980	−3.6%
39	Bremer County	−2.6	−67	25,296	+1.1%
40	Calhoun County	−2.5	−24	9,562	−3.4%
41	Jasper County	−2.5	−94	38,153	+0.9%
42	Audubon County	−2.2	−12	5,509	−3.0%
43	Poweshiek County	−2.0	−36	18,368	−1.4%
44	Jackson County	−1.9	−37	19,288	−0.8%
45	Tama County	−1.8	−31	16,796	−1.5%
46	Fayette County	−1.6	−30	19,047	−2.1%
47	Grundy County	−1.5	−19	12,361	+0.2%
48	Mahaska County	−1.3	−29	21,880	−1.2%
49	Polk County	−1.2	−618	516,546	+4.8%
50	Lucas County	−1.1	−10	8,847	+2.6%
51	Johnson County	−1.1	−175	160,044	+4.6%
52	Butler County	−0.7	−10	14,049	−2.0%
53	Webster County	−0.3	−10	36,838	−0.4%
54	Pottawattamie County	−0.2	−23	92,996	−0.7%
55	Emmet County	−0.1	−1	9,107	−2.5%
56	Scott County	−0.1	−14	175,259	+0.4%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Iowa are the most people leaving?

For its size, Buena Vista County: net domestic migration of −19.3 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−395 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Clay County (−18.0) and Jefferson County (−16.7).

How many counties in Iowa have more people moving out than in?

56 of the 99 counties in Iowa had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 13 of these 56 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Iowa

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.