Altoona, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50009
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 16,136
- 248/sq mi High-density area
- $88,447
- Median income Above-median income area
- $278,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 34.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Altoona pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 28%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 37%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 248
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50009 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 50009 (Altoona, IA) rose +2.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 196.0 in 2023 to 201.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50009 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Altoona, Polk County, Iowa, home to 16,136 residents across 65.1 square miles, a density of 248 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50009 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $88,447 (15% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,085. The poverty rate is 8.4%, with unemployment at 7.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $278,300 (58% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 70.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,232.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50009 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 50009
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Altoona, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50009.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
108 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
61 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
56 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
49 establishments
- Construction
Construction
46 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50009, Altoona, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
16,136
Population
65.1
Area (sq mi)
248
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50009?
37.0
Median Age
46.8%
Male
53.2%
Female
4.9%
Foreign-Born
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?
$88,447
Median Household Income
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$44,085
Per Capita Income
8.4%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50009 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Altoona, IA household income vs. every Iowa ZIP code
Median household income among 911 reporting Iowa ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$88,447 Top 22% higher than 78% of 911 Iowa ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Iowa 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,394housing units
9,394
Total Housing Units
9,077
Occupied Units
317
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$278,300
Median Home Value
+58% vs state ZIP avg
$1,232
Median Rent
1997
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
+2.9%
YoY Change (2024)
202
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+102%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50009 have increased 2.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 153 |
| 2021 | +8.4% | 166 |
| 2022 | +8.8% | 181 |
| 2023 | +8.6% | 196 |
| 2024 | +2.9% | 202 |
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 506 business establishments in ZIP 50009, employing approximately 8,958 people with a combined annual payroll of $414,335,000.
506
Businesses
8,958
Employees
$414.3M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 108 | 21.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 61 | 12.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 56 | 11.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 49 | 9.7% |
| Construction | 46 | 9.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 38 | 7.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 35 | 6.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 27 | 5.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 17 | 3.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 2.2% |
| Information | 8 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.6% |
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 50009 vs 50035 →
ZIP 50009 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50317
Des Moines (50317)
36,207 residents
- 50021
Ankeny (50021)
21,595 residents
- 50316
Des Moines (50316)
16,440 residents
- 50009
Altoona (50009)
16,136 residents
- 50327 10,467
Pleasant Hill (50327)
10,467 residents
- 50035 5,387
Bondurant (50035)
5,387 residents
- 50237 3,095
Runnells (50237)
3,095 residents
- 50169 3,093
Mitchellville (50169)
3,093 residents
- 50073 1,195
Elkhart (50073)
1,195 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50009 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50009 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50035
Bondurant (50035)
$134,906 median income
- 50237
Runnells (50237)
$101,806 median income
- 50073
Elkhart (50073)
$100,972 median income
- 50021
Ankeny (50021)
$99,572 median income
- 50327
Pleasant Hill (50327)
$98,333 median income
- 50009
Altoona (50009)
$88,447 median income
- 50169
Mitchellville (50169)
$83,938 median income
- 50317
Des Moines (50317)
$65,617 median income
- 50316
Des Moines (50316)
$56,090 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50009 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50035 | Bondurant, IA | 5,387 | 5.6 mi |
| 50327 | Pleasant Hill, IA | 10,467 | 4.6 mi |
| 50032 | Berwick, IA | 399 | 4.6 mi |
| 50317 | Des Moines, IA | 36,207 | 5.0 mi |
| 50169 | Mitchellville, IA | 3,093 | 5.5 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 7.6 mi |
| 50021 | Ankeny, IA | 21,595 | 7.8 mi |
| 50237 | Runnells, IA | 3,095 | 8.5 mi |
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 8.4 mi |
| 50073 | Elkhart, IA | 1,195 | 10.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50009, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (16,136 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 50009 in?
ZIP code 50009 (Altoona) is located in Polk County, Iowa. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50009?
ZIP code 50009 in Altoona, IA has a population of 16,136 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50009?
The median household income in ZIP 50009 is $88,447, which is 16% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50009?
The median home value in ZIP 50009 is $278,300, which is 0% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50009?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50009 is White at 85.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50009?
ZIP code 50009 has 506 business establishments employing approximately 8,958 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50009?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50009 are: Retail trade (108), Accommodation and food services (61), Other services (except public administration) (56). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50009?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50009 increased by 2.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 102%. 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 50009?
In ZIP code 50009, 65.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.4% 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 50009?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50009 is 22.6 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 50009?
In ZIP code 50009, approximately 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50009?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50009 is 8.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 50009's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50009 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Altoona, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.