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City · 5,518 residents · Dickinson County, Iowa

Spirit Lake , Iowa

In Spirit Lake, a typical home is worth $215,100 and typical rent is $911 a month. Compared with all of Dickinson County, the typical home value is 21% lower, typical household income is 13% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $215,100

    21% below the county

    3% above Iowa

    • Spirit Lake
    • Dickinson
    • Iowa

  • Typical rent

    $911a month

    About the same as the county

    6% below Iowa

    • Spirit Lake
    • Dickinson
    • Iowa

  • Typical household income

    $65,720a year

    13% below the county

    12% below Iowa

    • Spirit Lake
    • Dickinson
    • Iowa

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    10 points below the county

    4 points below Iowa

    • Spirit Lake
    • Dickinson
    • Iowa

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$337,496
1.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Spirit Lake is in Dickinson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Dickinson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Spirit Lake apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Estherville, the typical home value is $101,400: 53% less than in Spirit Lake ($215,100).

  2. Nearby, in Cherokee, the typical rent is $728: 20% less than in Spirit Lake ($911).

  3. The typical home in Spirit Lake is worth $215,100, 21% less than in Dickinson County as a whole ($270,700).

  4. 67% of households in Spirit Lake own their home, against 77% in Dickinson County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Spirit Lake

What homes there are in Spirit Lake, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Spirit Lake, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Dickinson County.

Year built

In Spirit Lake, half of the homes were built before 1978; in Dickinson County, before 1979.

There are fewer big homes in Spirit Lake than in Dickinson County: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,429 a month

Dickinson County: $1,529 a month

Without a mortgage

$564 a month

Dickinson County: $714 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

Dickinson County: 54%

Owning costs less in Spirit Lake: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,429 a month; in Dickinson County, $1,529. Without one, $564.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Dickinson County, the typical home value in Spirit Lake rose 38% since 2015–2019.

Rent in Spirit Lake moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSpirit LakeDickinson CountyIowaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.6%3.4%
People per household 1.972.002.362.53
Drive alone 78%78%76%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 9%11%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Spirit Lake look like those in Dickinson County: 1.97 people on average.

In Spirit Lake, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in Dickinson County, 78%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Spirit Lake?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Spirit Lake, worth $215,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Spirit Lake, which is $65,720 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $77,303 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Dickinson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Spirit Lake. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,529 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,804

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$211,203
Total interest
$303,872
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,632 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,533 a month

  • Tight

    $1,533 to $1,972 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,972 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Spirit Lake ($65,720 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,804
Principal & interest$1,431
Property tax$188
Home insurance$90
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$95

You need at least $7,529 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Spirit Lake and Dickinson County

Spirit Lake is in Dickinson County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Spirit Lake's own numbers

Typical home value
$215,100
Typical monthly rent
$911
Typical yearly household income
$65,720
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
1.05%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Dickinson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,091
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Dickinson County.

Everything about Dickinson County

Buying

Buying a home in Spirit Lake

A typical home in Spirit Lake is worth $215,100: 21% below the county and 3% above Iowa. With the typical household income in Spirit Lake ($65,720 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Spirit Lake 3.3 years
  • Dickinson 3.6 years
  • Iowa 2.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Dickinson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Dickinson County rose 86% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Dickinson County.

Period County Iowa U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.7% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +41% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +86% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Spirit Lake next to Dickinson County, Iowa and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Spirit Lake $215,100
  • Dickinson $270,700
  • Iowa $208,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Spirit Lake $911
  • Dickinson $922
  • Iowa $972
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Spirit Lake $65,720
  • Dickinson $75,432
  • Iowa $75,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Spirit Lake next to Dickinson County and Iowa
Measure Spirit Lake Dickinson County Iowa U.S.
Typical home value $215,100 $270,700 $208,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $911 $922 $972 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $65,720 $75,432 $75,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 77% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,262 $2,503 $2,897 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.05% 0.92% 1.39% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 34% 39% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Dickinson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Spirit Lake

For a typical $215,100 home in Spirit Lake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Spirit Lake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,804a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,529
    Cash to close
    $13,982
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $95

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,764a month

    Down payment
    $10,755
    Cash to close
    $17,208
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $102

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,444a month

    Down payment
    $43,020
    Cash to close
    $49,473
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,642a month

    Down payment
    $32,265
    Cash to close
    $38,718
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Spirit Lake and for Dickinson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Spirit Lake

1.05%of the home’s value each year

$2,262 a year for the typical owner in Spirit Lake.

  • Spirit Lake 1.05%
  • Dickinson 0.92%
  • Iowa 1.39%

What Iowa publishes Homestead exemption: 10% of taxable value (Iowa Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Iowa

Flood risk in Dickinson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Dickinson County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Dickinson County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Spirit Lake

Typical rent in Spirit Lake is $911 a month: about the same as the county. In Spirit Lake, 34% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Dickinson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,091 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.98 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Dickinson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $829 $15.94 $33,160
1 bedroom $834 $16.04 $33,360
2 bedrooms $1,091 $20.98 $43,640
3 bedrooms $1,424 $27.38 $56,960
4 bedrooms $1,434 $27.58 $57,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Spirit Lake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Spirit Lake is in ZIP code 51360.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,130: $39 more than the fair market rent for Dickinson County ($1,091).

  • 51360 $1,130$1,480

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Spirit Lake when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Spirit Lake

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Spirit Lake. These are the largest.

  • Summerfield Park 2300 Sunner Ave, Spirit Lake 51360 20 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2001 · For families
  • The Antlers 1703 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake 51360 14 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 6 · In service since 2006 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Lakewood Court Apts 607 15th St, Spirit Lake 51360 8 low-income homes · 2 bd: 4 · 3 bd: 4 · In service since 1999 · For people with disabilities, families

See all 5 buildings in Dickinson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Spirit Lake

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Dickinson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Spirit Lake

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Spirit Lake or Dickinson County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Spirit Lake the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Iowa

Housing counselors near Spirit Lake

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Spirit Lake, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Center for Siouxland

    715 Douglas St, Sioux City · 91 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (712) 252-1861

  • Home Opportunities Made Easy, Inc. (home, Inc.)

    1618 6th Ave, Des Moines · 146 miles away · Spanish

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Homelessness services
    • and 5 more
    (515) 243-1277

  • Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

    95 University Ave, Des Moines · 147 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (515) 471-8686

All counseling agencies in Iowa

Help in Spanish near Spirit Lake

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Spirit Lake

HUD’s record names them for Spirit Lake or Dickinson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Low Rent Housing Agency of Spirit Lake Section 8 vouchers (712) 336-2318

All housing agencies in Iowa Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Spirit Lake, with the typical home value.

Everything about Dickinson County Housing in Iowa

Neighboring counties

If Dickinson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Spirit Lake.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Spirit Lake

Short answers with the numbers for Spirit Lake and all of Dickinson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Spirit Lake?

The typical home value in Spirit Lake is $215,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Dickinson County it is $270,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Spirit Lake?

Typical rent in Spirit Lake is $911 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Dickinson County is $1,091.

What is the FHA loan limit in Spirit Lake?

Spirit Lake uses the FHA limit for all of Dickinson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Spirit Lake?

The typical homeowner in Spirit Lake pays $2,262 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.05% of the home’s value; in Dickinson County, the rate is 0.92%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Spirit Lake?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Dickinson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).