The Town Files

Buena Vista County, Iowa

20,753 people. The median home is worth $159,500 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $71,719.

Towns in Buena Vista County

Towns in Buena Vista County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Storm Lake11,269$172,200$62,76530.9

People and housing

Buena Vista CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$159,500$156,300
Median rent$894$820
Median household income$71,719$69,254
Median age35.640.2
Bachelor's degree or higher22.2%21.8%
Below the poverty line7.8%9.3%

Jobs and pay

10,683 jobs in 2024, average pay $53,893 a year.

Largest industries in Buena Vista CountyManufacturing3,630 jobs · $62,454Retail1,134 jobs · $30,748Hotels & restaurants778 jobs · $16,168Agriculture, forestry & fishi…449 jobs · $68,872Construction379 jobs · $83,337Wholesale trade262 jobs · $82,725
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Buena Vista County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 646 storm events in Buena Vista County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Buena Vista County by type since 1996Hail128Flood53Drought50Tornado20Blizzard24High Wind35Flash Flood17Winter Storm38Excessive Heat20Winter Weather88
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Buena Vista County has been included in 22 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
May 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).