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IA area data

Clear Lake, IA

Clear Lake, IA.

Population: 9,071 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Clear Lake, IA is $337,142 — up 4.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $436,500 after a median 69 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,258/month. 3 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, winter weather, cold wave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$337,142

Typical home value

+4.8%

1-year change

69

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$337,142
1-year appreciation
+4.8%
3-year appreciation
+9.7%
5-year appreciation
+27.0%
10-year appreciation
+85.6%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$337,142
House Price Index (state)
386.7 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$436,500
Median list price
$415,000
Median price per sqft
$232
1-year sale-price change
+16.9%
Median days on market
69 days
Homes sold (recent period)
56
For-sale inventory
129
Sale-to-list ratio
95.3%
Active listings
103
1-year forecast
+2.6%
New listings (monthly)
23

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,258/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$744/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$749/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$927/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,218/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,485/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
3
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Avg student-teacher ratio
14.6 : 1
Schools include
Clear Creek Elementary School, Clear Lake High School, Clear Lake Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, winter weather, cold wave, hail, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Moderate · cold wave: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone AE
NFIP flood claims on record
10
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 7% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
17.4%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Mason City Coal Gasification Plant (10 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
47.0°F
Average high
57.0°F
Average low
36.0°F
Annual precipitation
38.1 in
Annual snowfall
46.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5a (extreme annual low -20 to -15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
19
Days with Good air quality
58
Days with Moderate air quality
2
Highest AQI recorded (year)
56

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
7.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
8,033
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
6,762

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
18
Nearest airport
Plain Ol' Field (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) (4 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
9
Hospitals include
MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER, IOWA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - BELMOND, IOWA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - CLARION
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.6 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-60 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1973
Housing built before 1970
43.5%
Housing built 2000 or later
21.2%
Median annual property tax
$3,368
Mean commute to work
17 min
Households with broadband internet
73.7%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
20,606
Average weekly wage
$1,097
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
116

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Clear LakeState medianUS median
Typical home value$337,142$211,043$288,527
Median sale price$436,500$220,000$325,000
Median days on market69 days48 days51 days
Typical rent$1,258/mo$1,168/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$3,368$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Clear Lake, IA?
$337,142.
What is the median sale price in Clear Lake, IA?
$436,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Clear Lake, IA?
Median days on market: 69 days.
What is typical rent in Clear Lake, IA?
Typical rent: $1,258/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Clear Lake, IA?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, winter weather, cold wave, hail, strong wind.
Is Clear Lake, IA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Clear Lake, IA. 10 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is AE. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Clear Lake, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 7% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Clear Lake, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Clear Lake, IA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Clear Lake, IA?
3 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Clear Lake, IA walkable?
Walkability index: 7.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Clear Lake, IA?
Good. Median AQI: 19. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Clear Lake, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Clear Lake

Listing a home in Clear Lake, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents