The Town Files

Dickinson County, Iowa

17,990 people. The median home is worth $270,700 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $75,432.

Towns in Dickinson County

Towns in Dickinson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Spirit Lake5,439$215,100$65,72040.4
Milford3,321$218,400$63,36947.3

People and housing

Dickinson CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$270,700$156,300
Median rent$922$820
Median household income$75,432$69,254
Median age48.740.2
Bachelor's degree or higher31.2%21.8%
Below the poverty line7.6%9.3%

Jobs and pay

10,008 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,626 a year.

Largest industries in Dickinson CountyManufacturing1,563 jobs · $57,731Retail1,499 jobs · $36,506Hotels & restaurants1,452 jobs · $23,415Administrative & support939 jobs · $36,856Health care & social assistan…773 jobs · $50,198Construction535 jobs · $63,166
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Dickinson County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 775 storm events in Dickinson County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Dickinson County by type since 1996Hail156Flood81Drought38Blizzard30High Wind38Flash Flood31Winter Storm41Excessive Heat16Winter Weather110Cold/Wind Chill17
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Dickinson County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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
August 20, 2018Severe StormDR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 24, 2014FloodDR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).