Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 51002: Alta, IA
ZIP code 51002 uses the postal name Alta, Iowa and lies mostly in Buena Vista County (99% of its land) with the rest in Cherokee County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 2,800 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $70,625 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Alta; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Alta · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Buena Vista County (99%); Cherokee County (1%)
- Census places
- Alta
- Micro area
- Storm Lake, IA
- House district
- IA-4 119th Congress
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 109.7 sq mi · 25 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 51002?
51002 centers on 42.702°, -95.319° and covers 109.7 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 51005, 50588, 50576, 51020, 51053, 51033, 51047.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 51002, 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 51002 compare with the rest of Buena Vista County?
| Measure | 51002 | In Buena Vista County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 2,787 | 2nd of 14 | 215th of 970 |
| Median household income | $71k | 6th of 7 | 266th of 396 |
| Median home value | $167k | 3rd of 7 | 267th of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 48% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 30% 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 51002?
The 2020 Census counted 2,909 people in 51002; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 2,787. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 6.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 2,787±315 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 2,909+6.1% since 2010 (2,741)
- Households
- 1,053
- Median age
- 35.8
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 51002?
Of the 2,787 people the ACS estimates in 51002, 26.8% are under 18 and 13.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (64.5%), then Hispanic or Latino (13.2%).
- Under 1826.8%
- 18 to 6460.1%
- 65 and older13.1%
- White, not Hispanic64.5%
- Hispanic or Latino13.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic10.8%
- Black, not Hispanic7.0%
- Other or two or more4.5%
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 51002 earn?
Median household income is $70,625 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 7 ranked ZIP codes in Buena Vista County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($77,581 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $70,625±$15,933
- Income per person
- $36,384
- Below the poverty line
- 8.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 14.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 27.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $76,8271,290 returns; wages 62% 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 51002?
FHFA's house price index for 51002, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 55% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 34% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $167,100
- Median gross rent
- $953
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 77.8%
- Housing units
- 1,174
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 51002?
53 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 5 fewer than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction12
- Health care and social assistance6
- Wholesale trade5
- Other services (except public administration)5
- Finance and insurance4
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services4
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 51002?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51005 | Aurelia | 1,561 | $76k | 5.3 mi |
| 50588 | Storm Lake | 13,431 | $71k | 8.6 mi |
| 50576 | Rembrandt | 277 | $68k | 10.0 mi |
| 51020 | Galva | 632 | $80k | 13.7 mi |
| 51053 | Schaller | 1,016 | $73k | 14.4 mi |
| 51033 | Linn Grove | 421 | $61k | 15.4 mi |
| 51047 | Peterson | 693 | $101k | 16.8 mi |
| 50592 | Truesdale | 187 | $100k | 7.1 mi (near) |
| 51012 | Cherokee | 6,311 | $70k | 12.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.