Spirit Lake, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Spirit Lake, Iowa had a total population of 5,518, the 74th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,720, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Spirit Lake Quick Facts
How Spirit Lake Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,469 | 5,518 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $73,627 | $65,720 | -10.7% |
| Median home value | $218,400 | $215,100 | -1.5% |
How Spirit Lake Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Spirit Lake Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Dickinson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford | 3,311 | $63,369 | 8.9% | $218,400 |
| Lake Park | 1,184 | $74,500 | 4.6% | $168,800 |
| Okoboji | 969 | $73,000 | 11.2% | $299,300 |
| Arnolds Park | 922 | $86,833 | 6.0% | $438,900 |
| Orleans | 527 | $74,750 | 1.9% | $573,200 |
| Wahpeton | 443 | $107,917 | 5.8% | $495,500 |
| West Okoboji | 418 | $66,250 | 3.6% | $593,800 |
| Terril | 290 | $43,889 | 16.0% | $95,500 |
| Superior | 111 | $75,625 | 3.7% | $82,900 |
Cities Similar to Spirit Lake
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | 5,523 | $68,284 | $146,300 | 14.0% | 6.4% |
| Winterset | 5,416 | $67,708 | $192,500 | 22.0% | 10.3% |
| Sheldon | 5,474 | $62,159 | $192,700 | 20.8% | 15.3% |
| Anamosa | 5,629 | $60,650 | $172,600 | 18.2% | 18.5% |
| Manchester | 5,191 | $61,191 | $139,400 | 25.3% | 11.4% |
Population Overview
Spirit Lake is a small city located in Iowa, within Dickinson County. The total population is 5,518. It ranks as the 74th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Spirit Lake is 40.4 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Spirit Lake is $65,720. This is 12% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 43% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $215,100. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Spirit Lake has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
26.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Spirit Lake, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Spirit Lake, Iowa?
Spirit Lake, Iowa has a population of 5,518 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Spirit Lake, IA?
The median household income in Spirit Lake is $65,720, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Spirit Lake, IA?
The poverty rate in Spirit Lake is 6.3%. This means approximately 341 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Spirit Lake, Iowa?
Spirit Lake's population is 89.8% White, 0.1% Black, 3.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Spirit Lake, IA?
The median home value in Spirit Lake is $215,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Spirit Lake, Iowa?
26.8% of adults (25+) in Spirit Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.