Storm Lake city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Storm Lake city is a small city located in Iowa, within Buena Vista County. The total population is 11,275. It ranks as the 36th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Storm Lake city is 31.2 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Storm Lake city is $58,341. This is 20% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 26% lower. The poverty rate stands at 7.7%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. The median home value is $163,600. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Storm Lake city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Storm Lake city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (34.0%) is well below the state average of 83.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (41.0% vs 7.0%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (14.7% vs 2.4%).

Education

18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Storm Lake city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.