Below Average CostSafer than AverageStorm Lake Comm School District
Buena Vista County Courthouse, Storm Lake, Iowa (cropped) · Calvin Beale / Public domainStorm Lake Public Library (NRHP 83000346) 20120930 IMG 8844 · Scott A. Miller / CC BY-SA 3.0Harker House Storm Lake Iowa 20120930 IMG 8884 · Scott A. Miller / CC BY 3.0BVU-campus-aerial (cropped) · Harderrj / CC BY-SA 4.0
Storm Lake is a small city of 11,194 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,615
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Storm Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Storm Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Storm Lake 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: 90.3
Storm Lake's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Storm Lake costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Storm Lake, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$148,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$782
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,615
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Storm Lake's violent crime rate is 287.1 per 100,000 residents
— 24% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
287.1 /100k
Property Crime
1679.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Storm Lake is served primarily by Storm Lake Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Storm Lake, IA
National Avg
School District
Storm Lake Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
68.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Storm Lake 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.
Storm Lake's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Storm Lake roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $148,900 and median rent is $782/month.
Storm Lake's violent crime rate is 287.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1679.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Storm Lake are operated by Storm Lake Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Storm Lake, IA has a population of 11,194, a median household income of $54,615, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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.
Storm Lake 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).
Storm Lake, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50588.
The population of Storm Lake, Iowa is 11,194 with a median age of 31.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Storm Lake: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $148,900, median household income $54,615, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Storm Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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