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CITY

Lake City

Iowa · 1,640 residents (2025 est.) · 4.821 sq mi
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The short version

Lake City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,167. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $100,900. With a median age of 46.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,693
−5%since 2000
from 1,787 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
351 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 371 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
46.5
+1%since 2000
from 45.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,640 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Lake City
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,167
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,000 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,045
+134%since 2000
from $14,969 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.7%
+35.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.386
−17%since 2010
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$100,900
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$763
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $311 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.8% in 2000
21.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.7%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.0%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.4
−18%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(1,753)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(19)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.3%(60)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.5%(1,482)
Black1.3%(22)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(63)
Asian0.4%(7)
Other7%(119)
Diversity Score28.4%(481)
Diversity Score
28
+751%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.4%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+71%since 2000
from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.5%
−10.7 ptssince 2011
from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 64.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.0%
−20.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
Female
52.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−38.6 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2012
from 17.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.4%
−88.4 ptssince 2013
from 90.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.5%
+13.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Lake City to nearby cities

LAKE CITY VS
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LAKE CITY VS
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LAKE CITY VS
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LAKE CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake City, Iowa?

Lake City, Iowa has about 1,693 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lake City, Iowa?

The typical household in Lake City, Iowa earns about $74,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake City, Iowa expensive?

In Lake City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $100,900, and the typical rent is about $763 a month.

How educated are people in Lake City, Iowa?

About 20.0% of adults age 25 and over in Lake City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake City, Iowa?

About 10.9% of people in Lake City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake City, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 151 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Lake City, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy