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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Storm Lake Micro

Storm Lake, IA · 1 counties · 20,449 residents (2025 est.) · 574.899 sq mi
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#5Shortest commutesof 92514.0#29Lowest poverty rateof 9257.8%#39Most foreign-born residentsof 92521.3%
The short version

Storm Lake has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,719. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $159,500. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,753
+2%since 2000
from 20,411 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
36 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 36 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.6
−2%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,449 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
19K20K20K21K21K1990201020202024Storm Lake
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,719
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,300 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,666
+116%since 2000
from $16,042 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.6%
+29.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.422
+2%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade32.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$159,500
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$894
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $417 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
26.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
28.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+19%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Storm Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.1%(16,758)
Black0.3%(61)
Hispanic / Latino12.5%(2,560)
Asian4.3%(870)
Other0%
Diversity Score37.2%(7,584)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.1%(10,808)
Black3.3%(679)
Hispanic / Latino29.4%(6,094)
Asian9.5%(1,963)
Other5.8%(1,209)
Diversity Score78.6%(16,321)
Segregation Score45.1%(9,360)
Diversity Score
79
+112%since 2000
from 37 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
45
−6%since 2020
from 48 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.3%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.0 min
+25%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 70.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.8%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
49.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
21.3%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−45.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 9.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−81.4 ptssince 2013
from 87.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+14.9 ptssince 2017
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
63.5%
−4.3 ptssince 2016
from 67.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
24.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 22.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Storm LakeCENTRAL11,590
What's inside

1 component county

Buena Vista CountyCENTRAL20,449
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Storm Lake

Carroll
Pop 20,303
Oskaloosa
Pop 21,880
Andrews
Pop 18,914
Huron
Pop 19,624
Places similar to Storm Lake
Head to head

Compare Storm Lake side by side

STORM LAKE VS
Carroll
Income$72,930+2%
Home value$176,000+10%
Population20,303−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Oskaloosa
Income$70,940−1%
Home value$157,800−1%
Population21,880+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Andrews
Income$72,242+1%
Home value$195,700+23%
Population18,914−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORM LAKE VS
Huron
Income$67,681−6%
Home value$175,100+10%
Population19,624−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Storm Lake, IA?

Storm Lake, IA has about 20,753 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Storm Lake, IA earns about $71,719 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Storm Lake, IA expensive?

In Storm Lake, IA, the median home is worth about $159,500, and the typical rent is about $894 a month.

How educated are people in Storm Lake, IA?

About 22.2% of adults age 25 and over in Storm Lake, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Storm Lake, IA?

About 7.8% of people in Storm Lake, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Storm Lake, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Storm Lake, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 788 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →