United States › Spirit Lake MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
Spirit Lake Micro Spirit Lake, IA · 1 counties · 17,703 residents · 381 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 17,703 people, Spirit Lake is a metro area. At a median age of 49.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. 2% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 16 minutes. The poverty rate is 7.5%, under the national 12.8%.
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 from 43.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 16K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Spirit Lake Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $60,975
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,020 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $21,929 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 4.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.2%
Education & health services 2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
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$199,800
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$833
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $416 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.0% in 2000
21.8% rent
2.01 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.01 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%(16,164)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(109)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 94.4%(16,709)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(406)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 89.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 77.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 23.6%(1,788)
Women 15+
Never married 18.1%(1,375)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.0% 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) 11.9%(155)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.5%(149)
Share of the 1,300 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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In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
Metros 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%
Population 18,158 same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Andrews
Income $72,242 +18%
Home value $195,700 −2%
Population 18,914 +5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Carroll
Income $72,930 +20%
Home value $176,000 −12%
Population 20,303 +12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPIRIT LAKE VS
Port Lavaca
Income $79,959 +31%
Home value $171,200 −14%
Population 19,599 +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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