8 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | 1 | 3,615 | 3,699 | -0.47% | 953 | 4 | City |
| Graettinger | 2 | 804 | 831 | -0.74% | 1,066 | 1 | City |
| West Bend | 3 | 764 | 793 | -0.78% | 871 | 1 | City |
| Ruthven | 4 | 705 | 729 | -0.7% | 1,728 | 0 | City |
| Mallard | 5 | 253 | 263 | -0.78% | 645 | 0 | City |
| Ayrshire | 6 | 127 | 132 | -0.78% | 588 | 0 | City |
| Cylinder | 7 | 83 | 87 | -1.19% | 883 | 0 | City |
| Curlew | 8 | 37 | 39 | -2.63% | 49 | 1 | City |
Emmetsburg is the largest city in Palo Alto County, with a population of 3,615.
Curlew is the smallest city in Palo Alto County, with a population of 37.
There are 8 cities in Palo Alto County, Iowa.