Van Meter, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50261
Dallas County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,211
- 13/sq mi Low-density area
- $155,278
- Median income Above-median income area
- $374,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 42.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Van Meter pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 3%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 23%
- 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 50261 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 50261 (Van Meter, IA) fell -8.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 225.0 in 2023 to 204.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50261 covers 171.4 square miles in Van Meter, Dallas County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,211 residents on file, a density of 13 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50261 skews affluent, with a median household income of $155,278 (103% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,159. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 1.8% and unemployment is 0.9%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $374,100 (113% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 85.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,069.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 42.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dallas County, so 50261 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 50261
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Van Meter, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50261.
- Construction
Construction
16 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
11 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
6 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 4
Real estate and rental and leasing
4 establishments
- Wholesale trade 3
Wholesale trade
3 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 50261, Van Meter, 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
2,211
Population
171.4
Area (sq mi)
13
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50261?
40.3
Median Age
47.4%
Male
52.6%
Female
1.2%
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?
$155,278
Median Household Income
+103% vs state ZIP avg
$57,159
Per Capita Income
1.8%
Poverty Rate
0.9%
Unemployment Rate
22.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50261 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Van Meter, 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)
$155,278 Top 1% higher than 99% 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
1,140housing units
1,140
Total Housing Units
1,122
Occupied Units
18
Vacant Units
3.03
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$374,100
Median Home Value
+113% vs state ZIP avg
$1,069
Median Rent
1985
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
-8.9%
YoY Change (2024)
205
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+105%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50261 have decreased 8.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +105% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.2% | 160 |
| 2021 | +8.1% | 173 |
| 2022 | +24.1% | 215 |
| 2023 | +4.5% | 225 |
| 2024 | -8.9% | 205 |
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 53 business establishments in ZIP 50261, employing approximately 312 people with a combined annual payroll of $16,090,000.
53
Businesses
312
Employees
$16.1M
Annual Payroll
6
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 16 | 30.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 20.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 11.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 7.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 5.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 5.7% |
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 50261 vs 50038 →
ZIP 50261 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50266
West Des Moines (50266)
23,625 residents
- 50263
Waukee (50263)
16,069 residents
- 50325
Clive (50325)
15,448 residents
- 50003 6,594
Adel (50003)
6,594 residents
- 50261 2,211
Van Meter (50261)
2,211 residents
- 50061 1,701
Cumming (50061)
1,701 residents
- 50069 1,118
De Soto (50069)
1,118 residents
- 50229 932
Prole (50229)
932 residents
- 50038 205
Booneville (50038)
205 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50261 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50261 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50261
Van Meter (50261)
$155,278 median income
- 50325
Clive (50325)
$132,121 median income
- 50061
Cumming (50061)
$130,714 median income
- 50229
Prole (50229)
$123,164 median income
- 50003
Adel (50003)
$103,114 median income
- 50263
Waukee (50263)
$102,762 median income
- 50069
De Soto (50069)
$98,056 median income
- 50266
West Des Moines (50266)
$87,025 median income
- 50218
Patterson (50218)
$82,969 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50261 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50038 | Booneville, IA | 205 | 3.8 mi |
| 50061 | Cumming, IA | 1,701 | 6.9 mi |
| 50069 | De Soto, IA | 1,118 | 6.7 mi |
| 50218 | Patterson, IA | 139 | 8.7 mi |
| 50263 | Waukee, IA | 16,069 | 9.0 mi |
| 50266 | West Des Moines, IA | 23,625 | 9.3 mi |
| 50033 | Bevington, IA | 44 | 9.9 mi |
| 50229 | Prole, IA | 932 | 9.9 mi |
| 50003 | Adel, IA | 6,594 | 11.6 mi |
| 50325 | Clive, IA | 15,448 | 11.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50261, 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 (2,211 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Dallas County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 50261 in?
ZIP code 50261 (Van Meter) is located in Dallas County, Iowa. Dallas County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dallas-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50261?
ZIP code 50261 in Van Meter, IA has a population of 2,211 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50261?
The median household income in ZIP 50261 is $155,278, which is 104% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50261?
The median home value in ZIP 50261 is $374,100, which is 34% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50261?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50261 is White at 97.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50261?
ZIP code 50261 has 53 business establishments employing approximately 312 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50261?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50261 are: Construction (16), Professional, scientific, and technical services (11), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (6). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50261?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50261 decreased by 8.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 105%. 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 50261?
In ZIP code 50261, 62.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.5% 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 50261?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50261 is 22.5 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 50261?
In ZIP code 50261, approximately 85.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50261?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50261 is 1.8% 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 50261's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50261 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Van Meter, 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.