United States › Iowa › Storm Lake CITY
Storm Lake Iowa · 11,590 residents (2025 est.) · 5.43 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 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Storm Lake is home to 11,428 people in Iowa. The median age is 30.9, younger than the US median of 38.9. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The average commute runs 10 minutes. The foreign-born share is 30%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $172,200.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 10,076 in 2000
11,590 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,106 / sq mi
+19%since 2009
from 1,762 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 9K 10K 11K 12K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Storm Lake Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $62,765
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,270 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,150 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.390 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 2.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$172,200
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$898
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 63.9% in 2000
33.7% rent
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.58 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 35.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 69.8%(7,033)
Hispanic / Latino 21.1%(2,121)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 33.1%(3,779)
Hispanic / Latino 43.5%(4,969)
from 71 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 73.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 77.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 47.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 35.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 36.9%(1,533)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 53.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 63.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 32.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 6.5%(13)
Share of the 199 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Storm Lake Head to head
Compare Storm Lake to nearby cities STORM LAKE VS
Spencer
Income $59,667 −5%
Home value $184,800 +7%
Population 11,218 −3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Carroll
Income $69,706 +11%
Home value $188,700 +10%
Population 10,085 −13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Denison
Income $65,684 +5%
Home value $150,200 −13%
Population 8,214 −29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Le Mars
Income $74,701 +19%
Home value $219,200 +27%
Population 10,760 −7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Storm Lake, Iowa? Storm Lake, Iowa has about 11,428 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Storm Lake, Iowa? The typical household in Storm Lake, Iowa earns about $62,765 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Storm Lake, Iowa expensive? In Storm Lake, Iowa, the median home is worth about $172,200, and the typical rent is about $898 a month.
How educated are people in Storm Lake, Iowa? About 18.9% of adults age 25 and over in Storm Lake, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Storm Lake, Iowa? About 7.0% of people in Storm Lake, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Storm Lake, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Storm Lake, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,659 residents, a change of about 30 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 