PlainZIP

Independence, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50644

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

8,648
23/sq mi
$80,026
Median income
$186,600
Median home value
23.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 38%
household income, US ZIPs
40th pct
home value, US ZIPs
23
people per sq mi
79%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50644 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50644 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 369.6 square miles in Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa. The area is home to 8,648 residents, producing a population density of 23 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 50644 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 50644 sits at $80,026 (4% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $38,892. The poverty rate stands at 6.7% and the unemployment rate at 1.9%. On housing, the median home value is $186,600 (6% above the state average) with median rent at $829 per month, and 78.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 50644 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.6, and the average commute is 22 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Buchanan County, so you can benchmark 50644 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 50644

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50644.

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 50644, Independence, 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

8,648

Population

369.6

Area (sq mi)

23

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 50644?

43.6

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

1.6%

Foreign-Born

White 96.1%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.2%
Hispanic or Latino 1.4%

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?

$80,026

Median Household Income

+4% vs state

$38,892

Per Capita Income

6.7%

Poverty Rate

1.9%

Unemployment Rate

22.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50644 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$80,026 Top 38% higher than 62% 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 61.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.5%

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

What does housing look like?

3,945

Total Housing Units

3,640

Occupied Units

305

Vacant Units

2.27

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 78.5%
Renter 21.5%

$186,600

Median Home Value

+6% vs state

$829

Median Rent

1975

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

+3.7%

YoY Change (2024)

220

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+120%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50644 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +120% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.9% 170
2021 +5.8% 179
2022 +9.0% 196
2023 +8.2% 212
2024 +3.7% 220

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 271 business establishments in ZIP 50644, employing approximately 4,040 people with a combined annual payroll of $185,991,000.

271

Businesses

4,040

Employees

$186.0M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 40 14.8%
Health care and social assistance 34 12.6%
Construction 27 10.0%
Other services (except public administration) 26 9.6%
Accommodation and food services 25 9.2%
Manufacturing 20 7.4%
Finance and insurance 17 6.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 17 6.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 16 5.9%
Transportation and warehousing 14 5.2%
Wholesale trade 10 3.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 3.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 1.9%
Information 4 1.5%
Educational services 3 1.1%

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 50644 vs 50641 →

ZIP 50644 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 50644 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 50644 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 50644 ranks the highest of 6 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
50641 Hazleton, IA 2,017 8.6 mi
52329 Rowley, IA 803 8.4 mi
52326 Quasqueton, IA 547 9.1 mi
52210 Brandon, IA 697 11.0 mi
50607 Aurora, IA 481 11.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Buchanan County

50648 standard
Jesup, IA
Pop: 4,054
50629 standard
Fairbank, IA
Pop: 2,418
50641 standard
Hazleton, IA
Pop: 2,017
50682 standard
Winthrop, IA
Pop: 1,572
52329 standard
Rowley, IA
Pop: 803
50650 standard
Lamont, IA
Pop: 737

Related Areas

Buchanan County Independence, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 50644 in? ▼
ZIP code 50644 (Independence) is located in Buchanan County, Iowa. Buchanan County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/buchanan-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50644? ▼
ZIP code 50644 in Independence, IA has a population of 8,648 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50644? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50644 is $80,026, which is 5% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50644? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50644 is $186,600, which is 33% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50644? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50644 is White at 96.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50644? ▼
ZIP code 50644 has 271 business establishments employing approximately 4,040 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50644? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50644 are: Retail trade (40), Health care and social assistance (34), Construction (27). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50644? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50644 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 120%. 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 50644? ▼
In ZIP code 50644, 61.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.5% 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 50644? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50644 is 22.0 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 50644? ▼
In ZIP code 50644, approximately 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50644? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50644 is 6.7% 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 Independence, 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.