PlainZIP

Spirit Lake, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51360

Dickinson County, Iowa — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

8,031
28/sq mi
$75,882
Median income
$271,700
Median home value
32.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Spirit Lake pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 44%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 38%
home value, US ZIPs
28
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51360 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51360 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 288.9 square miles in Spirit Lake, Dickinson County, Iowa. The area is home to 8,031 residents, producing a population density of 28 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 51360 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51360 sits at $75,882 (1% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $45,689. The poverty rate stands at 8.2% and the unemployment rate at 3.3%. On housing, the median home value is $271,700 (55% above the state average) with median rent at $935 per month, and 75.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51360 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 32.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.3, and the average commute is 15 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Dickinson County, so you can benchmark 51360 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 51360

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51360.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 51360, Spirit Lake, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

8,031

Population

288.9

Area (sq mi)

28

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 51360?

47.3

Median Age

50.6%

Male

49.4%

Female

1.5%

Foreign-Born

White 93.1%
African American 0.1%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$75,882

Median Household Income

-1% vs state

$45,689

Per Capita Income

8.2%

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Unemployment Rate

15.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 51360 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$75,882 Top 44% higher than 56% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 62.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,744

Total Housing Units

4,330

Occupied Units

2,414

Vacant Units

1.96

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.3%
Renter 24.7%

$271,700

Median Home Value

+55% vs state

$935

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+8.0%

YoY Change (2024)

275

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+175%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51360 have increased 8.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +175% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.6% 184
2021 +10.7% 204
2022 +10.6% 225
2023 +13.2% 255
2024 +8.0% 275

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 399 business establishments in ZIP 51360, employing approximately 4,949 people with a combined annual payroll of $238,147,000.

399

Businesses

4,949

Employees

$238.1M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 59 14.8%
Retail trade 58 14.5%
Accommodation and food services 44 11.0%
Health care and social assistance 40 10.0%
Other services (except public administration) 33 8.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 31 7.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 31 7.8%
Finance and insurance 21 5.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 20 5.0%
Manufacturing 16 4.0%
Transportation and warehousing 12 3.0%
Wholesale trade 10 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 2.5%
Information 6 1.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.8%
Educational services 3 0.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 51360 vs 51355 →

ZIP 51360 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 51360 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 51360 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 51360 ranks #2 of 6 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
51355 Okoboji, IA 874 4.5 mi
51331 Arnolds Park, IA 1,140 5.8 mi
51363 Superior, IA 130 7.1 mi
51351 Milford, IA 4,365 10.0 mi
51364 Terril, IA 690 11.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Dickinson County

51351 standard
Milford, IA
Pop: 4,365
51347 standard
Lake Park, IA
Pop: 1,431
51331 standard
Arnolds Park, IA
Pop: 1,140
51355 standard
Okoboji, IA
Pop: 874
51364 standard
Terril, IA
Pop: 690
51363 standard
Superior, IA
Pop: 130

Related Areas

Dickinson County Spirit Lake, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51360 in? ▼
ZIP code 51360 (Spirit Lake) is located in Dickinson County, Iowa. Dickinson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dickinson-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51360? ▼
ZIP code 51360 in Spirit Lake, IA has a population of 8,031 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51360? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51360 is $75,882, which is 1% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51360? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51360 is $271,700, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51360? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51360 is White at 93.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51360? ▼
ZIP code 51360 has 399 business establishments employing approximately 4,949 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51360? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51360 are: Construction (59), Retail trade (58), Accommodation and food services (44). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51360? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51360 increased by 8.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 175%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 51360? ▼
In ZIP code 51360, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 51360? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51360 is 15.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 51360? ▼
In ZIP code 51360, approximately 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51360? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51360 is 8.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Spirit Lake, IA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.