United States › Iowa › Clear Lake CITY · 2020 ACS
Clear Lake Iowa · 7,687 residents · 10.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 7,687 people, Clear Lake is a city in Iowa. At a median age of 49.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 4% of people here were born outside the United States. Renters pay $636 a month at the median. The average commute runs 19 minutes. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 8K 8K 8K 8K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Clear Lake Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $61,338
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,097 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $20,213 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 7.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.5%
Education & health services 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
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$178,000
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$636
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 74.8% in 2000
28.8% rent
2.15 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.15 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.2%(7,851)
Hispanic / Latino 1.9%(152)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 91.4%(7,028)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 24.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 9.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 67.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.3%(44)
Share of the 390 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Clear Lake Head to head
Compare Clear Lake to nearby cities CLEAR LAKE VS
Mason City
Income $64,804 +6%
Home value $142,000 −20%
Population 26,853 +253%
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CLEAR LAKE VS
Albert Lea
Income $64,603 +5%
Home value $157,500 −12%
Population 18,217 +140%
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CLEAR LAKE VS
Austin
Income $68,057 +11%
Home value $163,900 −8%
Population 26,689 +251%
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CLEAR LAKE VS
Waverly
Income $80,284 +31%
Home value $223,300 +25%
Population 10,561 +39%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Clear Lake, Iowa? Clear Lake, Iowa has about 7,687 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Clear Lake, Iowa? The typical household in Clear Lake, Iowa earns about $61,338 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Clear Lake, Iowa expensive? In Clear Lake, Iowa, the median home is worth about $178,000, and the typical rent is about $636 a month.
How educated are people in Clear Lake, Iowa? About 32.8% of adults age 25 and over in Clear Lake, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Clear Lake, Iowa? About 5.5% of people in Clear Lake, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Clear Lake, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Clear Lake, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 496 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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