PlainZIP

Cherokee, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51012

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

6,642
17/sq mi
$69,531
Median income
$151,400
Median home value
25.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

46th pct
household income, US ZIPs
26th pct
home value, US ZIPs
17
people per sq mi
69%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51012 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51012 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 386.2 square miles in Cherokee, Cherokee County, Iowa. The area is home to 6,642 residents, producing a population density of 17 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 51012 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51012 sits at $69,531 (9% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $40,373. The poverty rate stands at 16.1% and the unemployment rate at 2.6%. On housing, the median home value is $151,400 (14% below the state average) with median rent at $803 per month, and 68.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51012 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 25.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.9, and the average commute is —. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Cherokee County, so you can benchmark 51012 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 51012

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51012.

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 51012, Cherokee, 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

6,642

Population

386.2

Area (sq mi)

17

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 51012?

41.9

Median Age

49.6%

Male

50.4%

Female

5.1%

Foreign-Born

White 87.6%
African American 1.7%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%

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?

$69,531

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$40,373

Per Capita Income

16.1%

Poverty Rate

2.6%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 51012 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$69,531 46th percentile higher than 46% 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 61.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.1%

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

What does housing look like?

2,969

Total Housing Units

2,752

Occupied Units

217

Vacant Units

2.17

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 68.9%
Renter 31.1%

$151,400

Median Home Value

-14% vs state

$803

Median Rent

1963

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

+15.8%

YoY Change (2024)

242

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+142%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51012 have increased 15.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +142% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.0% 164
2021 +6.4% 174
2022 +21.3% 211
2023 -1.1% 209
2024 +15.8% 242

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 200 business establishments in ZIP 51012, employing approximately 3,503 people with a combined annual payroll of $152,213,000.

200

Businesses

3,503

Employees

$152.2M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 31 15.5%
Construction 27 13.5%
Health care and social assistance 24 12.0%
Accommodation and food services 21 10.5%
Other services (except public administration) 20 10.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 17 8.5%
Finance and insurance 12 6.0%
Transportation and warehousing 10 5.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 10 5.0%
Manufacturing 7 3.5%
Wholesale trade 6 3.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 3.0%

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 51012 vs 51005 →

ZIP 51012 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 51012 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 51012 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 51012 ranks #4 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
51005 Aurelia, IA 1,491 7.1 mi
51029 Larrabee, IA 251 9.5 mi
51037 Meriden, IA 322 7.0 mi
51014 Cleghorn, IA 528 8.1 mi
51049 Quimby, IA 506 9.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Cherokee County

51035 standard
Marcus, IA
Pop: 1,685
51005 standard
Aurelia, IA
Pop: 1,491
51014 standard
Cleghorn, IA
Pop: 528
51061 standard
Washta, IA
Pop: 510
51049 standard
Quimby, IA
Pop: 506
51037 standard
Meriden, IA
Pop: 322

Related Areas

Cherokee County Cherokee, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51012 in? ▼
ZIP code 51012 (Cherokee) is located in Cherokee County, Iowa. Cherokee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cherokee-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51012? ▼
ZIP code 51012 in Cherokee, IA has a population of 6,642 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51012? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51012 is $69,531, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51012? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51012 is $151,400, which is 46% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51012? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51012 is White at 87.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51012? ▼
ZIP code 51012 has 200 business establishments employing approximately 3,503 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51012? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51012 are: Retail trade (31), Construction (27), Health care and social assistance (24). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51012? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51012 increased by 15.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 142%. 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 51012? ▼
In ZIP code 51012, 61.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.1% 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 51012? ▼
In ZIP code 51012, approximately 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51012? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51012 is 16.1% 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 Cherokee, 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.