West Okoboji, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 418, West Okoboji's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

West Okoboji is a small community located in Iowa, within Dickinson County. The total population is 418. It ranks as the 515th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Okoboji is 64.5 years. This is 67% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 30.9% 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 West Okoboji is $66,250. This is 12% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.6%. This is 67% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 0.7%. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $593,800. Housing costs are 185% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 57.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Okoboji has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.1% of all residents.

Education

43.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places West Okoboji in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% higher 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 94.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Okoboji, 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.