PlainZIP

Alta, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51002

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

2,741
9/sq mi
$70,625
Median income
$167,100
Median home value
27.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

48th pct
household income, US ZIPs
33th pct
home value, US ZIPs
9
people per sq mi
78%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51002 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51002 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 297.9 square miles in Alta, Buena Vista County, Iowa. The area is home to 2,741 residents, producing a population density of 9 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 51002 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51002 sits at $70,625 (8% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $36,384. The poverty rate stands at 8.7% and the unemployment rate at 14.3%. On housing, the median home value is $167,100 (5% below the state average) with median rent at $953 per month, and 77.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51002 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 27.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.8, and the average commute is 16 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Buena Vista County, so you can benchmark 51002 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 51002

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51002.

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 51002, Alta, 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

2,741

Population

297.9

Area (sq mi)

9

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 51002?

35.8

Median Age

53.5%

Male

46.5%

Female

19.9%

Foreign-Born

White 67.1%
African American 7.0%
Asian 11.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 3.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.7%
Hispanic or Latino 13.2%

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?

$70,625

Median Household Income

-8% vs state

$36,384

Per Capita Income

8.7%

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Unemployment Rate

15.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 51002 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$70,625 48th percentile higher than 48% 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 61.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 27.4%

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

What does housing look like?

1,174

Total Housing Units

1,053

Occupied Units

121

Vacant Units

2.63

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 77.8%
Renter 22.2%

$167,100

Median Home Value

-5% vs state

$953

Median Rent

1966

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

+14.7%

YoY Change (2024)

226

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+126%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51002 have increased 14.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.0% 161
2021 +12.3% 181
2022 +6.4% 193
2023 +2.1% 197
2024 +14.7% 226

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 51002, employing approximately 288 people with a combined annual payroll of $15,577,000.

53

Businesses

288

Employees

$15.6M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 12 22.6%
Health care and social assistance 6 11.3%
Wholesale trade 5 9.4%
Other services (except public administration) 5 9.4%
Finance and insurance 4 7.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 7.5%
Utilities 3 5.7%
Retail trade 3 5.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 5.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 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 51002 vs 51005 →

ZIP 51002 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 51002 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 51002 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 51002 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
51005 Aurelia, IA 1,491 5.6 mi
50576 Rembrandt, IA 423 10.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Buena Vista County

50588 standard
Storm Lake, IA
Pop: 12,756
50568 standard
Newell, IA
Pop: 1,398
50585 standard
Sioux Rapids, IA
Pop: 1,176
50510 standard
Albert City, IA
Pop: 1,116
50565 standard
Marathon, IA
Pop: 468
51033 standard
Linn Grove, IA
Pop: 428

Related Areas

Buena Vista County Alta, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51002 in? ▼
ZIP code 51002 (Alta) is located in Buena Vista County, Iowa. Buena Vista County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/buena-vista-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51002? ▼
ZIP code 51002 in Alta, IA has a population of 2,741 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51002? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51002 is $70,625, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51002? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51002 is $167,100, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51002? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51002 is White at 67.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51002? ▼
ZIP code 51002 has 53 business establishments employing approximately 288 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51002? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51002 are: Construction (12), Health care and social assistance (6), Wholesale trade (5). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51002? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51002 increased by 14.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. 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 51002? ▼
In ZIP code 51002, 61.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 27.4% 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 51002? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51002 is 15.5 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 51002? ▼
In ZIP code 51002, approximately 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51002? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51002 is 8.7% 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 Alta, 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.