PlainZIP

Northwood, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50459

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

3,018
8/sq mi
$71,618
Median income
$149,600
Median home value
20.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Northwood pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

49th pct
household income, US ZIPs
25th pct
home value, US ZIPs
8
people per sq mi
86%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50459 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50459 covers 372.6 square miles in Northwood, Worth County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,018 residents on file, a density of 8 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 50459 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $71,618 (6% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $39,585. Local economic indicators show a 11.4% poverty rate alongside 5.3% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $149,600 (15% below the state average) with median rent at $738 per month, and 86.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.2, and the average commute is -. To put 50459 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Worth County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 50459

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Northwood, IA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50459.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50459, Northwood, 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

3,018

Population

372.6

Area (sq mi)

8

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 50459?

43.2

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

1.9%

Foreign-Born

White 96.6%
African American 0.3%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%

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?

$71,618

Median Household Income

-6% vs state

$39,585

Per Capita Income

11.4%

Poverty Rate

5.3%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 50459 ranks nationally

Northwood, IA household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$71,618 49th percentile higher than 49% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 55.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.8%

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

What does housing look like?

1,351

Total Housing Units

1,276

Occupied Units

75

Vacant Units

2.35

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.1%
Renter 13.9%

$149,600

Median Home Value

-15% vs state

$738

Median Rent

1946

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

+10.0%

YoY Change (2024)

206

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+106%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50459 have increased 10.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +106% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -4.7% 132
2021 +12.3% 148
2022 +16.1% 172
2023 +8.9% 187
2024 +10.0% 206

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 79 business establishments in ZIP 50459, employing approximately 1,219 people with a combined annual payroll of $54,585,000.

79

Businesses

1,219

Employees

$54.6M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Manufacturing 10 12.7%
Construction 9 11.4%
Retail trade 9 11.4%
Other services (except public administration) 8 10.1%
Health care and social assistance 7 8.9%
Finance and insurance 6 7.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 6 7.6%
Wholesale trade 5 6.3%
Accommodation and food services 5 6.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 5.1%
Information 3 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 3.8%

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 50459 vs 50448 →

ZIP 50459 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 50459 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 50459 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 50459 ranks #2 of 3 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
50448 Kensett, IA 695 6.6 mi
56036 Glenville, MN 1,959 7.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Worth County

50456 standard
Manly, IA
Pop: 1,741
50448 standard
Kensett, IA
Pop: 695
50446 standard
Joice, IA
Pop: 548
50434 standard
Fertile, IA
Pop: 498
50440 standard
Grafton, IA
Pop: 422
50444 standard
Hanlontown, IA
Pop: 353

Related Areas

Worth County Northwood, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 50459 in? ▼
ZIP code 50459 (Northwood) is located in Worth County, Iowa. Worth County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/worth-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50459? ▼
ZIP code 50459 in Northwood, IA has a population of 3,018 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50459? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50459 is $71,618, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50459? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50459 is $149,600, which is 46% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50459? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50459 is White at 96.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50459? ▼
ZIP code 50459 has 79 business establishments employing approximately 1,219 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50459? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50459 are: Manufacturing (10), Construction (9), Retail trade (9). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50459? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50459 increased by 10.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 106%. 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 50459? ▼
In ZIP code 50459, 55.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 50459? ▼
In ZIP code 50459, approximately 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50459? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50459 is 11.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.