At a Glance
Median Income
$70,278
$55,365 per capita
Home Value
$235,100
Zillow: $318,177
Median Rent
$755/mo
24.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
410/100K
1,747/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
29.7%
96.5% high school+
Unemployment
1.3%
1.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.1%
15.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
46°F
260 sunny days/yr
How Clear Lake Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Clear Lake's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Clear Lake a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Clear Lake residents earn a median household income of $70,278 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $55,365. The unemployment rate stands at 1.3% (64% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,681 business establishments, including 127 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Clear Lake is $235,100 , 17% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $318,177. Median rent is $755/month, with 24.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1972.
Safety & Crime
Clear Lake reports 410 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 8% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,747/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
29.7% of adults in Clear Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(12% below the national average).
96.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Clear Lake has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C).
Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population7,603
Median Age49.2 yrs
Density705/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.9%
Economy
A
Median Income$70,278
Per Capita$55,365
Unemployment1.3%
Poverty1.0%
County GDP$3,729M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,057
Housing
A+
Home Value$235,100
Rent$755
Ownership74.9%
Zillow$318,177
Housing Units4,373
Rent Burden24.6%
Crime
F
Violent410/100K
Property1,747/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault410/100K
Burglary384/100K
Health
Obesity39.1%
Diabetes8.9%
Smoking15.0%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death9,468/100K
Climate
Avg Temp46°F
Sunny Days260/yr
Rain36.3 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation1,229 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+29.7%
High School+96.5%
Graduate+10.2%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 55% / D 43%
Commute19 min
Broadband86.2%
Internet Speed129 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries7
Did You Know?
The median home in Clear Lake was built in 1972.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (39 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.452 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
16.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 129 Mbps.
There are 127 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.