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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Spirit Lake Micro

Spirit Lake, IA · 1 counties · 17,703 residents · 380.532 sq mi
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The short version

Spirit Lake has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $60,975. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $199,800. With a median age of 49.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.8
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,703
+8%since 2000
from 16,424 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
47 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 43 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
49.1
+13%since 2000
from 43.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K16K16K17K18K1990201020202024Spirit Lake
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,975
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,020 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,366
+80%since 2000
from $21,929 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
40.9%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
7.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.6%
US avg: 10%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction4.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$199,800
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$833
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $416 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
78.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
21.8% rent
Afford Score
3.3
+35%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spirit Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(16,164)
Black0.1%(20)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(109)
Asian0.2%(29)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.4%(395)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(16,709)
Black0.4%(76)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(406)
Asian0.5%(80)
Other1.4%(251)
Diversity Score11.2%(1,989)
Segregation Score14.3%(2,540)
Diversity Score
11
+368%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
14
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.2%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 89.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+46%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 4.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.1%
−29.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.6%
−87.4 ptssince 2013
from 92.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

Spirit LakeCENTRAL5,525
What's inside

1 component county

Dickinson CountyCENTRAL18,077
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Spirit Lake

Bishop
Pop 18,158
Andrews
Pop 18,914
Carroll
Pop 20,303
Port Lavaca
Pop 19,599
Places similar to Spirit Lake
Head to head

Compare Spirit Lake side by side

SPIRIT LAKE VS
Bishop
Income$73,991+21%
Home value$348,700+75%
Population18,158same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Andrews
Income$72,242+18%
Home value$195,700−2%
Population18,914+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Carroll
Income$72,930+20%
Home value$176,000−12%
Population20,303+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Port Lavaca
Income$79,959+31%
Home value$171,200−14%
Population19,599+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Spirit Lake, IA?

Spirit Lake, IA has about 17,703 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Spirit Lake, IA earns about $60,975 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spirit Lake, IA expensive?

In Spirit Lake, IA, the median home is worth about $199,800, and the typical rent is about $833 a month.

How educated are people in Spirit Lake, IA?

About 32.2% of adults age 25 and over in Spirit Lake, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spirit Lake, IA?

About 7.5% of people in Spirit Lake, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spirit Lake, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Spirit Lake, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,794 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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