Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 50161: Maxwell, IA
ZIP code 50161 uses the postal name Maxwell, Iowa and lies mostly in Polk County (56% of its land), reaching into Story County and Jasper County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 2,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $98,519 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Maxwell; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Maxwell · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Polk County (56%); Story County (41%); Jasper County (3%)
- Census places
- Maxwell
- Metro area
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- House districts
- IA-3 (56%), IA-4 (41%), IA-1 (3%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 79.2 sq mi · 29 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 50161?
50161 centers on 41.842°, -93.397° and covers 79.2 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 9 ZIP codes: 50055, 50046, 50168, 50073, 50035, 50169, 50056, 50201, 50054.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 50161, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 50161 compare with the rest of Polk County?
| Measure | 50161 | In Polk County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 2,296 | 32nd of 41 | 247th of 970 |
| Median household income | $99k | 13th of 32 | 64th of 396 |
| Median home value | $257k | 22nd of 35 | 91st of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 80% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 32% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 50161?
The 2020 Census counted 2,017 people in 50161; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 2,296. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 1.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 2,296±390 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 2,017−1.5% since 2010 (2,047)
- Households
- 884
- Median age
- 40.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 50161?
Of the 2,296 people the ACS estimates in 50161, 23.8% are under 18 and 16.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (91.3%).
- Under 1823.8%
- 18 to 6459.5%
- 65 and older16.6%
- White, not Hispanic91.3%
- Hispanic or Latino6.1%
- Other or two or more1.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 50161 earn?
Median household income is $98,519 (ACS 2020-2024), the 13th highest of the 32 ranked ZIP codes in Polk County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($100,587 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $98,519±$15,162
- Income per person
- $50,451
- Below the poverty line
- 2.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.9%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 31.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $81,065960 returns; wages 75% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 50161?
FHFA's house price index for 50161, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 75% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 39% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.2% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $256,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,063
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 89.4%
- Housing units
- 1,024
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 50161?
40 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 1 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction11
- Other services (except public administration)6
- Professional, scientific, and technical services5
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services5
- Wholesale trade4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 50161?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50055 | Collins | 1,102 | $85k | 6.7 mi |
| 50046 | Cambridge | 1,554 | $82k | 7.0 mi |
| 50168 | Mingo | 826 | $114k | 7.1 mi |
| 50073 | Elkhart | 1,208 | $101k | 7.4 mi |
| 50035 | Bondurant | 10,131 | $135k | 8.8 mi |
| 50169 | Mitchellville | 3,667 | $84k | 13.1 mi |
| 50056 | Colo | 1,003 | $73k | 13.4 mi |
| 50201 | Nevada | 8,320 | $81k | 13.4 mi |
| 50054 | Colfax | 3,166 | $90k | 13.6 mi |
| 50127 | Ira | 10 | – | 10.4 mi (near) |
| 50007 | Alleman | 444 | $120k | 10.8 mi (near) |
| 50124 | Huxley | 4,859 | $115k | 11.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.