Milford

Milford, Iowa, is the Southern Gateway to the Iowa Great Lakes

Welcome to Milford, Iowa, where the beauty of the Iowa Great Lakes meets small-town charm. As the Southern Gateway to the Iowa Great Lakes, Milford offers a welcoming community with a range of amenities and activities to enjoy.

Community Life

Milford is home to the mythical University of Okoboji and is proud of its title as The Gateway to the Iowa Great Lakes. The city boasts numerous city parks, including Buchanan, Calkins, Florence, and Memorial, providing ample green spaces for recreation and relaxation. Milford is also known for its high-standard school system and is the proud home of the Okoboji Pioneers.

Quality of Life

Living in Milford is a pleasure. With a population of just over 3,000 people, the town offers a close-knit community where neighbors become friends. Surrounded by the rolling hills of western Iowa, residents enjoy a range of outdoor activities year-round, from fishing and camping to hiking in nearby lakes and state parks. The town also hosts a variety of festivals and events, adding to its vibrant community spirit.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Milford has a thriving business community, with a diverse range of industrial, retail, and professional businesses. The town's economy is supported by manufacturing, farming, and locally owned companies, providing stability and growth opportunities. With over 300 businesses calling Milford home, the town offers extensive resources to support local entrepreneurs and businesses.

Reasons for Businesses to Relocate to Milford

Milford's local government is known for being friendly toward business growth and development. Affordable utility prices and robust infrastructure support make it an ideal location for businesses looking to relocate or expand. With growing local business opportunities, Milford is a place where businesses can thrive.

Join us in Milford, Iowa, and experience the best of small-town living in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes. For information concerning economic development incentives, programs, and more please get in touch with the Milford City Clerk at 712-338-2741.

Population

Population	2000	2010	2026	2031
Milford	2,476	2,900	3,692	3,863

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Age

Population	2026
0-4	187
5-9	217
10-14	215
15-19	232
20-24	242
25-29	151
30-34	248
35-39	233
40-44	204
45-49	254
50-54	203
55-59	182
60-64	260
65-69	252
70-74	220
75-79	183
80-84	105
85+	104
18+	2,924
Median Age	43

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Race

Milford	2026
Total	3,692.00
White Alone	91.31%
Black Alone	1%
American Indian Alone	0%
Asian Alone	1.03%
Pacific Islander Alone	0.27%
Some Other Race	1.73%
Two or More Races	4.66%
Hispanic Origin	4.44%
Diversity Index	23.50

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Growth Rate

Milford	2026 - 2031
Population	0.91%
Households	1.07%
Families	0.63%
Median Household Income	5%
Per Capita Income	3%

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Housing

Households

Population	2000	2010	2026	2031
Households	1,043	1,275	1,608	1,696
Housing Units	1,130	1,413	1,797	1,927
Owner Occupied Units			1,163	1,246
Renter Occupied Units			445	450
Vacant Units			189	231

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Home Value

Milford	2026	2031
Median Home Value	$259,888	$381,176
Average Home Value	$366,010	$492,584
<$50,000	28	25
$50,000 - $99,999	68	42
$100,000 - $149,999	86	54
$150,000 - $199,999	114	92
$200,000 - $249,999	259	222
$250,000 - $299,999	134	119
$300,000 - $399,999	108	85
$400,000 - $499,999	101	126
$500,000 - $749,999	189	327
$1,000,000 +	5	8

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Housing Year Built

Year Range	Houses Built
2010 or Later	240
2000-2009	202
1990-1999	277
1980-1989	220
1970-1979	234
1960-1969	95
1950-1959	164
1940-1949	21
1939 or Before	306

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Income

Milford	2026	2031
Median Household	$68,738	$89,360
Average Household	$103,428	$120,931
Per Capita	$45,244	$53,287

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Household Income

Milford	2026
<$15,000	84
$15,000 - $24,999	128
$25,000 - $34,999	124
$35,000 - $49,999	244
$50,000 - $74,999	272
$75,000 - $99,999	135
$100,000 - $149,999	335
$150,000 - $199,999	128
$200,000+	158

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Employees

Commute

Category	Commuters
Workers 16+	1,815
In-County Residents	1,495
Out-of-County Residents	286
Drive Alone	1,406
Carpooled	233
Public Transport	0
Work at Home	73
Motorcycle	0
Bicycle	8
Walked	34
Other	61
Less than 5 minutes	196
5-9 minutes	254
10-14 minutes	259
15-19 minutes	509
20-24 minutes	289
25-29 minutes	41
30-34 minutes	33
35-39 minutes	0
40-44 minutes	45
45-59 minutes	32
60-89 minutes	34
90+ minutes	50
Average Travel Time	0

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Employees by NAICS

Category	Number
Total Employees	1,360
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt	4
Mining	0
Utilities	9
Construction	71
Manufacturing	32
Wholesale Trade	106

Retail Trade	186
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers	0
Furn & Home Furnish Str	0
Electronics & Appl Store	4
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip	15
Food & Beverage Stores	113
Health/Pers Care Stores	12
Gasoline Stations	11
Clothing/Accessory Store	6
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music	17
General Merchandise Str	8

Transportation/Warehouse	21
Information	37

Finance & Insurance	52
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn	38
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv	9
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other	5

Real Estate/Rent/Leasing	16
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv	75
Legal Services	3
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises	25
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt	87
Educational Services	142
HealthCare/Social Assist	225
Arts/Entertainment/Rec	6

Accommodation/Food Srvcs	178
Accommodation	18
Food Srv/Drinking Places	160

Other Srv excl Pub Admin	62
Auto Repair/Maintenance	2
Public Administration Emp	26

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Educational Attainment (25+)

Milford	2026
<9th Grade	28
Some High School	58
GED	67
Graduated High School	676
Some College/No Degree	689
Associates Degree	460
Bachelor's Degree	492
Graduate Degree	129

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Businesses

Businesses by NAICS

Category	Number
Total Businesses	173
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus	2
Mining Bus	0
Utilities Bus	1
Construction Bus	12
Manufacturing Bus	7
Wholesale Trade Bus	10

Retail Trade Bus	21
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus	1
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus	0
Electronics & Appl Store Bus	2
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus	3
Food & Beverage Stores Bus	3
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus	2
Gasoline Stations Bus	2
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus	1
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus	6
General Merchandise Str Bus	1

Transportation/Warehouse Bus	5
Information Bus	6

Finance & Insurance Bus	8
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus	3
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus	4
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus	1

Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus	6
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus	12
Legal Services Bus	1
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus	1
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus	13
Educational Services Bus	3
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus	19
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus	3

Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus	14
Accommodation Bus	4
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus	10

Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus	20
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus	2
Public Administration Bus	6

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31