What are the schools like in Lakeside, IA?

School district data for Lakeside is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Lakeside?

The median household income in Lakeside, IA is $86,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Lakeside, IA?

Lakeside has an average high temperature of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.4 inches.

Lakeside, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lakeside, IA affordable or expensive?

Lakeside's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lakeside is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $190,600 and the median rent is $871 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lakeside, IA?

Lakeside has a violent crime rate of 214.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1100.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lakeside, IA a Good Place to Live?

Lakeside is a small town of 666 in Iowa, with a median household income of $86,000 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Lakeside stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lakeside is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lakeside city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.4

Lakeside's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lakeside costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lakeside, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$190,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$871	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lakeside's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

214.1 /100k

Property Crime

1100.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Lakeside, IA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lakeside sees average highs of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 36.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lakeside, IA
Average High — January	25.8°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	36.4"

Demographics

Metric	Lakeside, IA	National Avg
Population	666	—
Median Age	41.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	19.7%	18.9%
Asian	2.9%	6.3%
Under 18	24.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Storm Lake, IA 2 mi Alta, IA 7 mi Truesdale, IA 8 mi Nemaha, IA 8 mi Newell, IA 9 mi

Lakeside vs Other Cities

Lakeside, IA vs Storm Lake, IA Lakeside, IA vs Alta, IA Lakeside, IA vs Truesdale, IA Lakeside, IA vs Nemaha, IA Lakeside, IA vs Newell, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lakeside, IA affordable or expensive?

Lakeside's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lakeside roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $190,600 and median rent is $871/month.

What is the crime rate in Lakeside, IA?

Lakeside's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1100.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lakeside?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Lakeside, IA a good place to live?

Lakeside, IA has a population of 666, a median household income of $86,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lakeside?

Lakeside averages 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 36.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Lakeside?

The population of Lakeside, Iowa is 666 with a median age of 41.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lakeside?

Key numbers for living in Lakeside: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $190,600, median household income $86,000, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lakeside side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.