Runnells, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50237
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,095
- 22/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $101,806
- Median income Above-median income area
- $346,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 37.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Runnells pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 18%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 27%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 22
- people per sq mi
- 91%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50237 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 50237 (Runnells, IA) fell -2.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.5 in 2023 to 237.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50237 covers 143.3 square miles in Runnells, Polk County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,095 residents on file, a density of 22 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50237 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $101,806 (33% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,643. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 1.0% and unemployment is 3.8%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $346,900 (98% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 91.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $760.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 37.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.3, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50237 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 50237
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Runnells, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50237.
- Construction
Construction
16 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 5
Other services (except public administration)
5 establishments
- Retail trade 4
Retail trade
4 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 4
Real estate and rental and leasing
4 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
4 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 50237, Runnells, 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
3,095
Population
143.3
Area (sq mi)
22
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50237?
42.3
Median Age
46.8%
Male
53.2%
Female
1.7%
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?
$101,806
Median Household Income
+33% vs state ZIP avg
$46,643
Per Capita Income
1.0%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
26.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50237 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Runnells, 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)
$101,806 Top 11% higher than 89% 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
1,430housing units
1,430
Total Housing Units
1,426
Occupied Units
4
Vacant Units
2.55
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$346,900
Median Home Value
+98% vs state ZIP avg
$760
Median Rent
1991
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
-2.5%
YoY Change (2024)
238
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+138%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50237 have decreased 2.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +138% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.0% | 174 |
| 2021 | +6.5% | 185 |
| 2022 | +16.8% | 216 |
| 2023 | +12.6% | 244 |
| 2024 | -2.5% | 238 |
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 45 business establishments in ZIP 50237, employing approximately 144 people with a combined annual payroll of $7,476,000.
45
Businesses
144
Employees
$7.5M
Annual Payroll
7
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 16 | 35.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 5 | 11.1% |
| Retail trade | 4 | 8.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 8.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 8.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 4 | 8.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 6.7% |
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 50237 vs 50118 →
ZIP 50237 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50009
Altoona (50009)
16,136 residents
- 50327
Pleasant Hill (50327)
10,467 residents
- 50047 5,559
Carlisle (50047)
5,559 residents
- 50054 3,356
Colfax (50054)
3,356 residents
- 50237 3,095
Runnells (50237)
3,095 residents
- 50169 3,093
Mitchellville (50169)
3,093 residents
- 50228 2,417
Prairie City (50228)
2,417 residents
- 50118 1,027
Hartford (50118)
1,027 residents
- 50252 243
Swan (50252)
243 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50237 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50237 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50252
Swan (50252)
$112,292 median income
- 50047
Carlisle (50047)
$106,389 median income
- 50237
Runnells (50237)
$101,806 median income
- 50327
Pleasant Hill (50327)
$98,333 median income
- 50228
Prairie City (50228)
$90,833 median income
- 50054
Colfax (50054)
$89,940 median income
- 50009
Altoona (50009)
$88,447 median income
- 50169
Mitchellville (50169)
$83,938 median income
- 50118
Hartford (50118)
$73,750 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50237 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50237, 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 (3,095 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 50237 in?
ZIP code 50237 (Runnells) 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 50237?
ZIP code 50237 in Runnells, IA has a population of 3,095 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50237?
The median household income in ZIP 50237 is $101,806, which is 33% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50237?
The median home value in ZIP 50237 is $346,900, which is 25% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50237?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50237 is White at 91.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50237?
ZIP code 50237 has 45 business establishments employing approximately 144 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50237?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50237 are: Construction (16), Other services (except public administration) (5), Retail trade (4). There are 7 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50237?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50237 decreased by 2.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 138%. 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 50237?
In ZIP code 50237, 76.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 37.9% 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 50237?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50237 is 26.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 50237?
In ZIP code 50237, approximately 91.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 8.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50237?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50237 is 1.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 50237's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50237 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Runnells, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.