United States › Iowa › Spirit Lake CITY · 2020 ACS
Spirit Lake Iowa · 5,439 residents · 4.52 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
Spirit Lake is home to 5,439 people in Iowa. The average commute runs 12 minutes. 0% of locals were born outside the United States. The population is up 28% since 2000. At a median age of 42.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $163,600.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Spirit Lake Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $52,664
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,224 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,661 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.9%
Public administration 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.4%
Education & health services 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing 1.6%
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$163,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$859
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $419 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 70.5% in 2000
29.6% rent
from 1.93 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.2 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 98.4%(4,193)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(27)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 93.4%(5,079)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(144)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 86.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 71.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 38.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 5.5% 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 5.5% 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) 9.2%(28)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.8%(36)
Share of the 304 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 Spirit Lake Head to head
Compare Spirit Lake to nearby cities SPIRIT LAKE VS
Spencer
Income $59,667 +13%
Home value $184,800 +13%
Population 11,218 +103%
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SPIRIT LAKE VS
Worthington
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Home value $210,300 +29%
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SPIRIT LAKE VS
Fairmont
Income $53,084 +1%
Home value $169,900 +4%
Population 10,099 +83%
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SPIRIT LAKE VS
Storm Lake
Income $62,765 +19%
Home value $172,200 +5%
Population 11,590 +110%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Spirit Lake, Iowa? Spirit Lake, Iowa has about 5,439 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Spirit Lake, Iowa? The typical household in Spirit Lake, Iowa earns about $52,664 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 $163,600, and the typical rent is about $859 a month.
How educated are people in Spirit Lake, Iowa? About 31.4% 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 8.2% 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 1,568 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.
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