8 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | 1 | 3,574 | 3,696 | -0.67% | 943 | 3.79 | City |
| Graettinger | 2 | 801 | 831 | -0.74% | 1,062 | 0.75 | City |
| West Bend | 3 | 764 | 791 | -0.65% | 871 | 0.88 | City |
| Ruthven | 4 | 701 | 728 | -0.71% | 1,718 | 0.41 | City |
| Mallard | 5 | 249 | 263 | -1.19% | 635 | 0.39 | City |
| Ayrshire | 6 | 126 | 133 | -0.79% | 583 | 0.22 | City |
| Cylinder | 7 | 83 | 87 | -1.19% | 883 | 0.09 | City |
| Curlew | 8 | 38 | 40 | 0% | 51 | 0.75 | City |
Emmetsburg is the largest city in Palo Alto County, with a population of 3,574.
Curlew is the smallest city in Palo Alto County.
There are 8 cities in Palo Alto County, Iowa.