PlainZIP

Cambridge, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50046

Story County, Iowa — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

1,524
13/sq mi
$81,500
Median income
$229,200
Median home value
32.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Cambridge pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 36%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 48%
home value, US ZIPs
13
people per sq mi
86%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50046 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50046 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 119.1 square miles in Cambridge, Story County, Iowa. The area is home to 1,524 residents, producing a population density of 13 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 50046 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 50046 sits at $81,500 (6% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $43,755. The poverty rate stands at 5.7% and the unemployment rate at 2.6%. On housing, the median home value is $229,200 (31% above the state average) with median rent at $925 per month, and 86.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 50046 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 32.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Story County, so you can benchmark 50046 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 50046

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50046.

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 50046, Cambridge, 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

1,524

Population

119.1

Area (sq mi)

13

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 50046?

42.0

Median Age

46.5%

Male

53.5%

Female

4.2%

Foreign-Born

White 94.6%
African American 0.1%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%

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?

$81,500

Median Household Income

+6% vs state

$43,755

Per Capita Income

5.7%

Poverty Rate

2.6%

Unemployment Rate

24.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50046 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$81,500 Top 36% higher than 64% 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 50.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.6%

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

What does housing look like?

768

Total Housing Units

650

Occupied Units

118

Vacant Units

2.39

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.0%
Renter 14.0%

$229,200

Median Home Value

+31% vs state

$925

Median Rent

1971

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

+5.7%

YoY Change (2024)

234

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+134%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50046 have increased 5.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +134% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 -1.6% 166
2020 +1.9% 170
2021 +7.6% 182
2022 +5.7% 193
2024 — 234

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 32 business establishments in ZIP 50046, employing approximately 136 people with a combined annual payroll of $10,019,000.

32

Businesses

136

Employees

$10.0M

Annual Payroll

5

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 8 25.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 21.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 12.5%
Transportation and warehousing 3 9.4%
Other services (except public administration) 3 9.4%

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 50046 vs 50124 →

ZIP 50046 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 50046 ranks #7 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 50046 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 50046 ranks #7 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
50124 Huxley, IA 3,750 4.2 mi
50073 Elkhart, IA 1,195 6.9 mi
50244 Slater, IA 1,813 7.1 mi
50007 Alleman, IA 474 7.2 mi
50161 Maxwell, IA 2,047 7.0 mi
50134 Kelley, IA 660 8.2 mi
50010 Ames, IA 29,359 10.2 mi
50201 Nevada, IA 8,199 10.6 mi
50011 Ames, IA 1,390 10.7 mi
50012 Ames, IA 4,062 11.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Story County

50010 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 29,359
50014 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 28,094
50201 standard
Nevada, IA
Pop: 8,199
50248 standard
Story City, IA
Pop: 4,420
50012 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 4,062
50124 standard
Huxley, IA
Pop: 3,750

Related Areas

Story County Cambridge, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 50046 in? ▼
ZIP code 50046 (Cambridge) is located in Story County, Iowa. Story County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/story-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50046? ▼
ZIP code 50046 in Cambridge, IA has a population of 1,524 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50046? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50046 is $81,500, which is 7% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50046? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50046 is $229,200, which is 18% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50046? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50046 is White at 94.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50046? ▼
ZIP code 50046 has 32 business establishments employing approximately 136 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50046? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50046 are: Construction (8), Real estate and rental and leasing (7), Professional, scientific, and technical services (4). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50046? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50046 increased by 5.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 134%. 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 50046? ▼
In ZIP code 50046, 50.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.6% 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 50046? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50046 is 24.7 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 50046? ▼
In ZIP code 50046, approximately 86.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50046? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50046 is 5.7% 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 Cambridge, 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.