The Town FilesLake Park, Iowa
City in Dickinson County · population 1,167 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,800
- Household income
- $74,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.6
Lake Park is a city of 1,167 people in Dickinson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $168,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Iowa towns, quieter than 92% of Iowa towns, better for families than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Lake Park ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Park is worth $168,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $74,500, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $872 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Park | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $872 | $820 |
| Median household income | $74,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Lake Park
| People | Lake Park | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Lake Park
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Park since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1971 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 13, 2008.
Severe weather in Dickinson County since 1996
Dickinson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dickinson County
Dickinson County had 10,008 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,626 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lake Park itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Lake Park
2 public schools with 340 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris-Lake Park High School | 6-12 | 173 | 10.8 |
| Harris-Lake Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 167 | 16.7 |
Towns near Lake Park
- Okoboji, IA10.4 mi · 768 people · home $299,300
- Spirit Lake, IA10.8 mi · 5,439 people · home $215,100
- Arnolds Park, IA11.5 mi · 1,110 people · home $438,900
- Milford, IA11.6 mi · 3,321 people · home $218,400
- Orleans, IA12.0 mi · 521 people · home $573,200
- Lakefield, MN17.8 mi · 1,735 people · home $133,800
- Worthington, MN18.6 mi · 13,947 people · home $210,300
- Brewster, MN18.7 mi · 506 people · home $152,200
Lake Park questions
Is Lake Park, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Park scores better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns and quieter than 92%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Lake Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Park is valued at $168,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,500, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $872 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Park?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Park get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1971. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)