Clear Lake, IA
Census place 1914025 · pop 7,607
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.52 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
39.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+0.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.27% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1632 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
252 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
25.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
30.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$259,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$79,415 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
8.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
15.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
66/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
76.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
Not measured for Clear Lake: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Clear Lake, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Clear Lake scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is uninsured adults and its weakest is income inequality. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Clear Lake, IA?
- Clear Lake reports 252 violent crimes per 100k and 1632 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Clear Lake, IA expensive to live in?
- Clear Lake has a median home value of $259,500 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Clear Lake, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.52) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Clear Lake, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is uninsured adults (5.9%) — 86/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.