The Town FilesStorm Lake, Iowa
City in Buena Vista County · population 11,269 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,200
- Household income
- $62,765
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 30.9
Storm Lake is a city of 11,269 people in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The median home is worth $172,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 98% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 91% of Iowa towns, hipper than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Storm Lake ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Storm Lake is worth $172,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,765, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $898 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Storm Lake | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $898 | $820 |
| Median household income | $62,765 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Storm Lake
| People | Storm Lake | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 10.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Storm Lake
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Storm Lake since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 9, 2011 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Buena Vista County since 1996
Buena Vista County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County had 10,683 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,893 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Storm Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Storm Lake
6 public schools with 2,864 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake Middle School | 5-8 | 843 | 14.8 |
| Storm Lake Elementary | 1-4 | 807 | 13.9 |
| Storm Lake High School | 9-12 | 805 | 18.3 |
| Storm Lake Early Elementary School | K-K | 247 | 12.4 |
| East Early Childhood Ctr | PK-PK | 110 | 12.2 |
| St Lake/IA Cntrl/Buena Vista Early College HS (charter) | 12-12 | 52 | — |
Towns near Storm Lake
- Cherokee, IA19.5 mi · 5,199 people · home $136,700
Storm Lake questions
Is Storm Lake, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Storm Lake scores better for retirees than 4% of Iowa towns and quieter than 6%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Storm Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Storm Lake is valued at $172,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,765, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $898 a month.
What is the weather like in Storm Lake?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.3 inches of snow.
Does Storm Lake get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Storm Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 9, 2011. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)