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CITY

Spirit Lake

Iowa · 5,525 residents (2025 est.) · 4.521 sq mi
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The short version

Spirit Lake has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,720. Population has grown 30% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $215,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,518
+30%since 2000
from 4,261 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,221 / sq mi
+21%since 2009
from 1,012 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+1%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,525 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K5K5K6K1990201020202024Spirit Lake
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.2%(344)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(259)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(363)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.4%(242)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410.3%(568)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.8%(708)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(658)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.3%(623)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.7%(536)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.7%(643)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(290)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.1%(284)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,720
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,224 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,446
+106%since 2000
from $18,661 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.3%
+24.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.378
−3%since 2010
from 0.389 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade34.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.7%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$215,100
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$911
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $419 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.5%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
32.5% rent
Vacancy rate
5.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.0%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+1%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
43
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spirit Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(4,193)
Black0.1%(6)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(27)
Asian0%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.8%(4,953)
Black0.1%(6)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(202)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other6.3%(346)
Diversity Score
24
+526%since 2009
from 4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.6%(201)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German43.9%(2,421)
Irish9.2%(508)
English7.1%(391)
Norwegian6%(329)
Dutch4.8%(266)
Danish4.2%(234)
Scottish3.3%(182)
French3.2%(176)
Swedish2.1%(114)
American1.9%(106)
Hungarian1.1%(60)
Polish1%(55)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Italian1%(54)
Canadian0.9%(51)
Czech0.8%(46)
Welsh0.5%(29)
Russian0.4%(22)
British0.3%(19)
Austrian0.3%(18)
Lithuanian0.3%(17)
Iranian0.2%(10)
Finnish0.2%(9)
Arab0.1%(6)
Lebanese0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 86.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 71.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.7%
−30.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Female
49.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.2%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2012
from 15.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.7%
−92.8 ptssince 2013
from 94.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+11.1 ptssince 2017
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27%(623)
Married59%(1,360)
Widowed4.2%(97)
Divorced9.8%(225)
Women 15+
Never married21.4%(480)
Married51.2%(1,151)
Widowed13.3%(299)
Divorced14.1%(317)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Spirit Lake to nearby cities

SPIRIT LAKE VS
Spencer
Income$59,667−9%
Home value$184,800−14%
Population11,218+103%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Worthington
Income$61,797−6%
Home value$210,300−2%
Population13,979+153%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Fairmont
Income$53,084−19%
Home value$169,900−21%
Population10,099+83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Storm Lake
Income$62,765−4%
Home value$172,200−20%
Population11,590+110%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Spirit Lake, Iowa?

Spirit Lake, Iowa has about 5,518 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Spirit Lake, Iowa earns about $65,720 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spirit Lake, Iowa expensive?

In Spirit Lake, Iowa, the median home is worth about $215,100, and the typical rent is about $911 a month.

How educated are people in Spirit Lake, Iowa?

About 26.8% of adults age 25 and over in Spirit Lake, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spirit Lake, Iowa?

About 6.3% of people in Spirit Lake, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spirit Lake, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Spirit Lake, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,647 residents, a change of about 43 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 →

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