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Spirit Lake, IA

Cost of living in Dickinson County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,841/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 17,844 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $806 28%
Federal tax $505 18%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $170 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Dickinson County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$800
per month
1 bedroom
$806
per month
2 bedroom
$1,057
per month
3 bedroom
$1,273
per month
4 bedroom
$1,401
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Dickinson County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$74,570
per year
Individual earnings
$40,961
per year
Per capita
$47,165
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Dickinson County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$251,600
Annual property tax
$2,458

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Dickinson County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Dickinson County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Dickinson County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Dickinson County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
17.1 min
Drive alone
78.1%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
10.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Dickinson County

What it costs to live in Dickinson County each month.

Single person
$2,841
per month
  • Rent $806
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $505
  • State tax $170
Couple
$4,376
per month
  • Rent $1,057
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $890
  • State tax $329
Family
$6,716
per month
  • Rent $1,273
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $890
  • State tax $329

Frequently asked questions about Dickinson County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Dickinson County?

In Dickinson County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $806 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,057 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,273 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Dickinson County?

In Dickinson County, IA, the average household income is $74,570 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $40,961 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Dickinson County?

The estimated cost of living in Dickinson County, IA is approximately $2,841 per month for a single person, $4,376 for a couple, $6,716 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Dickinson County?

The combined sales tax rate in Dickinson County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Dickinson County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Dickinson County, IA would need approximately $2,841 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $74,570 per year ($6,214 per month). Dickinson County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Dickinson County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Dickinson County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Dickinson County?

The average home value in Dickinson County, IA is $251,600, with average annual property taxes of $2,458, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Dickinson County compare to other areas?

You can compare Dickinson County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Dickinson County is in the Spirit Lake, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Dickinson County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources