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CITY · 2020 ACS

Storm Lake

Iowa · 11,269 residents · 5.427 sq mi
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The short version

Storm Lake has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,943. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $142,000. At a median age of 31.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,269
+12%since 2000
from 10,076 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.5
−1%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K10K11K12K1990201020202024Storm Lake
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 57.2%(810)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.1%(910)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.8%(884)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 1910.2%(1,147)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.4%(838)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.3%(1,617)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.7%(1,322)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411%(1,240)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 649.9%(1,112)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 746.8%(761)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843%(340)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(288)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,943
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,270 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,180
+40%since 2000
from $15,150 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade40.7%
US avg: 10%
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance1.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing0.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$142,000
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$695
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
39.2% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+35%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Storm Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic69.8%(7,033)
Black0.4%(42)
Hispanic / Latino21.1%(2,121)
Asian7.7%(776)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic32.7%(3,680)
Black4.4%(494)
Hispanic / Latino40.8%(4,599)
Asian15.8%(1,779)
Other3.7%(415)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican29.7%(3,126)
Salvadoran3.6%(375)
Guatemalan3.5%(373)
Cuban0.9%(93)
Nicaraguan0.3%(32)
Panamanian0.2%(17)
Costa Rican0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Laotian6.9%(729)
Burmese6.4%(669)
Thai1.4%(146)
Vietnamese1%(110)
Hmong0.7%(76)
Japanese0.1%(9)
Korean0.1%(8)
Ancestry
German15.1%(1,590)
Irish8.1%(855)
English3.1%(328)
Norwegian2.9%(307)
American1.4%(143)
Swedish1.1%(118)
Dutch1.1%(116)
Danish1%(110)
French0.9%(99)
Ethiopian0.9%(96)
Czech0.7%(78)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.4%(40)
Polish0.4%(39)
Italian0.3%(30)
Ukrainian0.3%(27)
Welsh0.2%(26)
Canadian0.2%(24)
Scottish0.2%(24)
Lebanese0.2%(16)
Croatian0.2%(16)
Portuguese0.1%(6)
Russian0%(5)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Central American population · Largest Laotian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
65.6%
−7.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.4 min
+2%since 2000
from 10.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
61.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2011
from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
71.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
19.8%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
33.6%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.8%
−76.4 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married36.9%(1,533)
Married49.4%(2,057)
Widowed3.4%(142)
Divorced10.3%(428)
Women 15+
Never married36%(1,670)
Married44%(2,038)
Widowed8.5%(392)
Divorced11.5%(534)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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STORM LAKE VS
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STORM LAKE VS
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STORM LAKE VS
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Home value$219,200+54%
Population10,760−7%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Storm Lake, Iowa?

Storm Lake, Iowa has about 11,269 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Storm Lake, Iowa earns about $47,943 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 $142,000, and the typical rent is about $695 a month.

How educated are people in Storm Lake, Iowa?

About 16.9% 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 12.3% 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 2,500 residents, a change of about 29 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 →