8 cities
| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | 1 | 3,598 | 3,699 | -0.47% | 949 | 4 | City |
| Graettinger | 2 | 799 | 831 | -0.62% | 1,060 | 1 | City |
| West Bend | 3 | 758 | 793 | -0.79% | 864 | 1 | City |
| Ruthven | 4 | 700 | 729 | -0.71% | 1,716 | 0 | City |
| Mallard | 5 | 251 | 263 | -0.79% | 640 | 0 | City |
| Ayrshire | 6 | 126 | 132 | -0.79% | 583 | 0 | City |
| Cylinder | 7 | 82 | 87 | -1.2% | 872 | 0 | City |
| Curlew | 8 | 37 | 39 | 0% | 49 | 1 | City |
Emmetsburg is the largest city in Palo Alto County, with a population of 3,598.
Curlew is the smallest city in Palo Alto County, with a population of 37.
There are 8 cities in Palo Alto County, Iowa.