Signals
Storm Lake
Albert Lea
Growth
18 · Bottom 8%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Climate
55 · Bottom 10%
vs53 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 38%
vs71 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
58 · Bottom 20%
vs74 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability
89 · Top 4%
vs69 · Top 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Storm Lake | Albert Lea | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,753 | 30,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,719 | $71,023 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,666 | $39,886 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 36/sq mi | 43/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $159,500 | $171,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $894 | $849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 79.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 10.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 21 | 21 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -77.4% | 133.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 8°F | 6°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 26.8" | 35.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 67 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 21.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 44.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Storm Lake
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Albert Lea
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado, cold wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Storm Lake
64
Your Score
—
Area Score
Albert Lea
67
Your Score
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Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Storm Lake, IA Micro Area · Albert Lea, MN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology