Signals
Storm Lake
Marshall
Growth
18 · Bottom 8%
vs21 · Bottom 10%
Climate
55 · Bottom 10%
vs51 · Bottom 4%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 38%
vs42 · Bottom 32%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
58 · Bottom 20%
vs51 · Bottom 14%
Economic stability
89 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Storm Lake | Marshall | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,753 | 25,503 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,719 | $75,303 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,666 | $39,073 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 36/sq mi | 36/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $159,500 | $200,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $894 | $781 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 72.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 31.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 21 | 27 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -77.4% | -70.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 8°F | 4°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 26.8" | 28.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 67 mi | 72 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 15.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.4 | 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.
Marshall
Elevated or high exposure: hail, inland flooding, tornado.
Your best match
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Storm Lake
64
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Area Score
Marshall
56
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Storm Lake, IA Micro Area · Marshall, MN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology