Population 6,900 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Spirit Lake
Household size in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.05 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.99 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.03 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Spirit Lake is a place of small households, averaging 2.03 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.09, mirroring the country. No other Iowa city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Spirit Lake skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 46.1, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Spirit Lake: 5.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Spirit Lake
Renters in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.1% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Spirit Lake rent their homes (30.1%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over four in ten owners (41.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.4% of the housing in Spirit Lake, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 5.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Spirit Lake are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Iowa overall, where the median home dates to 1971. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $439 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $578 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $890 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $915 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$476 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Spirit Lake runs $915 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $476 a month since 2006–10, up 108%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Spirit Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Spirit Lake than nationally: 30.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.4 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Spirit Lake: 95.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Spirit Lake
| Period | Spirit Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Spirit Lake has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Spirit Lake compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Lake | 2.03 | 44.1 | 5.5% | 30.1% | 19.4% | 1982 | $915 | 30.5% | 95.8% | 3.2% |
| Okoboji | 1.70 | 51.8 | 3.0% | 28.9% | 56.0% | 1979 | $973 | 46.8% | 98.0% | 3.8% |
| Orleans | 1.81 | 62.0 | 2.2% | 5.2% | 50.3% | 1971 | $1,378 | 39.2% | 98.1% | 2.0% |
| Triboji Beach | 2.10 | 62.8 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 45.5% | 1978 | $992 | 43.6% | 99.6% | 1.7% |
| Arnolds Park | 1.91 | 63.4 | 2.9% | 10.5% | 61.6% | 1992 | $962 | 34.7% | 98.2% | 0.6% |
| Wahpeton | 1.81 | 65.4 | 5.1% | 31.0% | 64.2% | 1978 | $1,550 | 51.5% | 97.3% | 0.4% |
| West Okoboji | 1.91 | 60.7 | 4.2% | 22.7% | 47.5% | 1979 | $1,240 | 42.8% | 97.8% | 0.9% |
| Montgomery | 2.22 | 50.5 | 3.3% | 5.0% | 18.6% | 1962 | $1,003 | 37.2% | 99.2% | 2.4% |
| Milford | 2.07 | 49.3 | 7.1% | 27.8% | 11.0% | 1975 | $899 | 23.4% | 97.0% | 4.3% |
| Superior | 2.12 | 58.4 | 2.6% | 5.3% | 33.7% | 1976 | $1,259 | 28.0% | 93.7% | 4.3% |
| Old Town | 2.40 | 46.0 | 4.6% | 6.3% | 10.2% | 1964 | $820 | 34.1% | 98.7% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Topanga, CA · Troy, NC · Trion, GA · Trinity, AL · Trenton, TN · Trenton, MO · Treasure Island, FL · Towaco, NJ · Topsfield, MA · Topeka, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Spirit Lake. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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