Population 11,970 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Storm Lake
Household size in Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Storm Lake average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Iowa as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Household size has crept up from 2.62 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.5 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Storm Lake is young: half of its residents are under 33.5, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. The median age has climbed from 31.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only four of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Storm Lake (11.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Iowa as a whole (10.0%). The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Storm Lake
Renters in Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.3% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over three in ten households in Storm Lake rent their homes (31.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About four in ten owners (40.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southwest. The renter share is down 5.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Storm Lake: 6.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Storm Lake is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $588 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $608 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $722 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $965 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$377 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Storm Lake runs $965 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $377 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 23.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the south.
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 Storm Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Storm Lake have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.4%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has fallen 2.0 points, even as the national share rose. Storm Lake has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Iowa cities.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 68.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 74.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Storm Lake never finished high school, well above the national share: only 74.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Storm Lake has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Iowa city with 5,000+ people.
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 Storm Lake
| Period | Storm Lake | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Storm Lake runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Storm 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake | 2.69 | 33.5 | 11.9% | 31.3% | 6.5% | 1969 | $965 | 20.4% | 74.5% | 3.7% |
| Lakeside | 3.23 | 26.9 | 13.7% | 35.3% | 7.0% | 1970 | $1,049 | 15.1% | 75.5% | 9.2% |
| Juniata | 2.76 | 43.9 | 8.6% | 16.7% | 8.6% | 1956 | $865 | 30.4% | 90.0% | 5.2% |
| Alta | 2.79 | 38.0 | 11.7% | 22.5% | 9.4% | 1966 | $960 | 26.8% | 88.5% | 13.3% |
| Truesdale | 2.60 | 38.0 | 9.7% | 24.7% | 15.4% | 1964 | $981 | 28.9% | 87.4% | 2.1% |
| Sulphur Springs | 2.80 | 46.3 | 6.3% | 13.2% | 9.9% | 1946 | $734 | 28.4% | 94.1% | 5.1% |
| Newell | 2.63 | 40.8 | 7.6% | 21.9% | 11.6% | 1950 | $767 | 22.4% | 93.9% | 4.5% |
| Nemaha | 2.16 | 48.4 | 1.1% | 21.2% | 22.9% | 1961 | $780 | 8.9% | 84.6% | 14.9% |
| Schaller | 2.38 | 40.8 | 10.9% | 12.0% | 10.6% | 1940 | $749 | 20.3% | 89.6% | 2.6% |
| Rembrandt | 2.23 | 49.9 | 7.4% | 19.3% | 19.0% | 1946 | $869 | 25.5% | 91.4% | 2.5% |
| Aurelia | 2.31 | 47.2 | 5.9% | 13.6% | 16.7% | 1957 | $825 | 28.3% | 96.2% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Alcoa, TN · Allegan, MI · Alma, AR · Alma, MI · Overlea, MD · Nottingham, MD · Oak Grove, MO · Oakland, NJ · Oatfield, OR · Ocean City, NJ
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 Storm 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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