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City · 11,428 residents · Buena Vista County, Iowa

Storm Lake , Iowa

In Storm Lake, a typical home is worth $172,200 and typical rent is $898 a month. Compared with all of Buena Vista County, typical household income is 12% lower, the typical home value is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $172,200

    8% above the county

    17% below Iowa

    • Storm Lake
    • Buena Vista
    • Iowa

  • Typical rent

    $898a month

    About the same as the county

    8% below Iowa

    • Storm Lake
    • Buena Vista
    • Iowa

  • Typical household income

    $62,765a year

    12% below the county

    16% below Iowa

    • Storm Lake
    • Buena Vista
    • Iowa

  • Households that own their home

    66%

    7 points below the county

    5 points below Iowa

    • Storm Lake
    • Buena Vista
    • Iowa

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$176,430
0.5% less than 12 months ago

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

Storm Lake is in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Storm Lake apart

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

  1. Storm Lake has the 3rd smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 81 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people (29%).

  2. Nearby, in Cherokee, the typical home value is $136,700: 21% less than in Storm Lake ($172,200).

  3. Nearby, in Carroll, the typical rent is $722: 20% less than in Storm Lake ($898).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Storm Lake fell 0.5%; in Iowa, it rose 3.3%.

  5. 66% of households in Storm Lake own their home, against 73% in Buena Vista County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Storm Lake

What homes there are in Storm 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Storm Lake, but it weighs less than in Buena Vista County: 66% against 76%.

Year built

The typical home in Storm Lake was built in 1968, 4 years after the typical one in Buena Vista County.

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

The FHA limit for Buena Vista County is high ($541,287): at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Storm Lake are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,373 a month

Buena Vista County: $1,331 a month

Without a mortgage

$570 a month

Buena Vista County: $552 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

Buena Vista County: 52%

In Storm Lake, 59% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,373 a month, about the same as in Buena Vista County.

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

Since 2015–2019, homes in Storm Lake gained value faster than in Buena Vista County: 42% against 38%.

Much as in Buena Vista County, the typical rent in Storm Lake rose 29% since 2015–2019.

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

MeasureStorm LakeBuena Vista CountyIowaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate10.8%5.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.9%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.682.622.362.53
Drive alone 68%73%76%69%
Carpool 20%16%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 7%5%3%3%
Work from home 4%6%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute under 10 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Storm Lake look like those in Buena Vista County: 2.68 people on average.

More people carpool to work in Storm Lake than in Buena Vista County: 20% against 16%.

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 Storm Lake?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Storm Lake, worth $172,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Storm Lake, which is $62,765 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $64,284 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Storm 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 $6,027 (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

$1,500

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$169,081
Total interest
$243,268
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,908 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,465 a month

  • Tight

    $1,465 to $1,883 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $1,883 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Storm Lake ($62,765 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,500
Principal & interest$1,145
Property tax$207
Home insurance$72
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$76

You need at least $6,027 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

Storm Lake and Buena Vista County

Storm Lake is in Buena Vista 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).

Storm Lake's own numbers

Typical home value
$172,200
Typical monthly rent
$898
Typical yearly household income
$62,765
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
1.44%

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

Numbers for all of Buena Vista County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,031
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%

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 Buena Vista County.

Everything about Buena Vista County

Buying

Buying a home in Storm Lake

A typical home in Storm Lake is worth $172,200: 8% above the county and 17% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Storm Lake ($62,765 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 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.

  • Storm Lake 2.7 years
  • Buena Vista 2.2 years
  • Iowa 2.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Buena Vista County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Buena Vista County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Iowa U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.3% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +49% +41% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +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

Storm Lake next to Buena Vista 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
  • Storm Lake $172,200
  • Buena Vista $159,500
  • Iowa $208,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Storm Lake $898
  • Buena Vista $894
  • Iowa $972
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Storm Lake $62,765
  • Buena Vista $71,719
  • Iowa $75,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Storm Lake next to Buena Vista County and Iowa
Measure Storm Lake Buena Vista County Iowa U.S.
Typical home value $172,200 $159,500 $208,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $898 $894 $972 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,765 $71,719 $75,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 66% 73% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,482 $1,931 $2,897 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.44% 1.21% 1.39% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 29% 30% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake

For a typical $172,200 home in Storm Lake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Storm Lake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,500a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,027
    Cash to close
    $11,193
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $76

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,468a month

    Down payment
    $8,610
    Cash to close
    $13,776
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $82

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,212a month

    Down payment
    $34,440
    Cash to close
    $39,606
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,371a month

    Down payment
    $25,830
    Cash to close
    $30,996
    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 Storm Lake and for Buena Vista County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Storm Lake

1.44%of the home’s value each year

$2,482 a year for the typical owner in Storm Lake.

  • Storm Lake 1.44%
  • Buena Vista 1.21%
  • Iowa 1.39%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Iowa

Flood risk in Buena Vista County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake

Typical rent in Storm Lake is $898 a month: about the same as the county. In Storm Lake, 29% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Buena Vista County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,031 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.83 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Buena Vista 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 $781 $15.02 $31,240
1 bedroom $788 $15.15 $31,520
2 bedrooms $1,031 $19.83 $41,240
3 bedrooms $1,284 $24.69 $51,360
4 bedrooms $1,355 $26.06 $54,200

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 Storm Lake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Storm Lake is in ZIP code 50588.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,030: $1 less than the fair market rent for Buena Vista County ($1,031).

  • 50588 $1,030$1,280

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Storm 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 Storm Lake

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Storm Lake. These are the largest.

  • Storm Lake Senior Apartments 210 E 13th St, Storm Lake 50588 82 low-income homes · For older adults (712) 732-1425
  • 10th Street Townhomes 1101 Ontario St, Storm Lake 50588 42 low-income homes · 2 bd: 10 · 3 bd: 26 · 4 bd: 6 · In service since 2015 · For families
  • Seneca Place 1405 Seneca St, Storm Lake 50588 48 homes, 40 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 26 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 1996 · For people with disabilities, families
  • The Reserves at Storm Lake 1500 Seneca St, Storm Lake 50588 32 homes, 31 low-income · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Lakeview Manor 904 E Milwaukee Ave, Storm Lake 50588 25 homes, 24 low-income · For older adults (712) 732-1126

See all 7 buildings in Buena Vista County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Storm 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 Buena Vista County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Storm Lake

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

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Iowa

Housing counselors near Storm Lake

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Storm 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 · 62 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 · 108 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 · 108 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (515) 471-8686

All counseling agencies in Iowa

Help in Spanish near Storm 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 Storm Lake

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Buena Vista County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Iowa Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Buena Vista County Housing in Iowa

Neighboring counties

If Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Storm Lake

Short answers with the numbers for Storm Lake and all of Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake?

The typical home value in Storm Lake is $172,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Buena Vista County it is $159,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Storm Lake?

Typical rent in Storm Lake is $898 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Buena Vista County is $1,031.

What is the FHA loan limit in Storm Lake?

Storm Lake uses the FHA limit for all of Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake?

The typical homeowner in Storm Lake pays $2,482 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.44% of the home’s value; in Buena Vista County, the rate is 1.21%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Buena Vista 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).