PlainZIP

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
$88,447
Median income
$278,300
Median home value
34.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

ZIP code 50009 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 65.1 square miles in Altoona, Polk County, Iowa. The area is home to 16,136 residents, producing a population density of 248 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 50009 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 50009 sits at $88,447 (15% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $44,085. The poverty rate stands at 8.4% and the unemployment rate at 7.1%. On housing, the median home value is $278,300 (58% above the state average) with median rent at $1,232 per month, and 70.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 50009 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 34.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Polk County, so you can benchmark 50009 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 50009

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50009.

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 50009, Altoona, 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

16,136

Population

65.1

Area (sq mi)

248

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 50009?

37.0

Median Age

46.8%

Male

53.2%

Female

4.9%

Foreign-Born

White 85.2%
African American 4.9%
Asian 2.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.1%

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

$44,085

Per Capita Income

8.4%

Poverty Rate

7.1%

Unemployment Rate

22.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50009 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$88,447 Top 28% higher than 72% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 65.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.4%

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

What does housing look like?

9,394

Total Housing Units

9,077

Occupied Units

317

Vacant Units

2.50

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.5%
Renter 29.5%

$278,300

Median Home Value

+58% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50009 ranks #4 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 50009 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 50009 ranks #6 of 9 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
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

More ZIP Codes in Polk County

50317 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 36,207
50315 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 35,853
50265 standard
West Des Moines, IA
Pop: 31,653
50322 standard
Urbandale, IA
Pop: 31,530
50310 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 30,221
50023 standard
Ankeny, IA
Pop: 27,986

Related Areas

Polk County Altoona, IA Iowa

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.

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 Altoona, 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.