Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 51038: Merrill, IA
ZIP code 51038 uses the postal name Merrill, Iowa and lies entirely in Plymouth County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 1,400 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $95,893 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, under 1% of its land lies in Merrill; more than 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2024
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Merrill · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Plymouth County
- Census places
- Merrill
- Micro area
- Le Mars, IA
- House district
- IA-4 119th Congress
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 89.3 sq mi · 16 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 51038?
51038 centers on 42.703°, -96.317° and covers 89.3 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 4 ZIP codes: 51024, 51031, 51062, 51001.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 51038, 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 51038 compare with the rest of Plymouth County?
| Measure | 51038 | In Plymouth County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 1,449 | 8th of 14 | 358th of 970 |
| Median household income | $96k | 3rd of 8 | 73rd of 396 |
| Median home value | $183k | 7th of 9 | 225th of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 78% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 23% 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 51038?
The 2020 Census counted 1,562 people in 51038; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 1,449. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 1.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 1,449±301 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 1,562+1.8% since 2010 (1,535)
- Households
- 553
- Median age
- 43.0
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 51038?
Of the 1,449 people the ACS estimates in 51038, 24.5% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (94.6%).
- Under 1824.5%
- 18 to 6458.2%
- 65 and older17.3%
- White, not Hispanic94.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.4%
- Other or two or more1.3%
- Black, not Hispanic0.6%
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 51038 earn?
Median household income is $95,893 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in Plymouth County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($80,521 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $95,893±$22,648
- Income per person
- $37,652
- Below the poverty line
- 4.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 17.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $84,855690 returns; wages 63% 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 51038?
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $183,100
- Median gross rent
- $630
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 87.9%
- Housing units
- 653
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 51038?
27 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 8 fewer than in 2018; the most are in transportation and warehousing (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Transportation and warehousing8
- Retail trade5
- Construction3
- Manufacturing3
- Other services (except public administration)3
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 51038?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51024 | Hinton | 2,081 | $114k | 6.0 mi |
| 51031 | Le Mars | 12,808 | $77k | 9.6 mi |
| 51062 | Westfield | 503 | – | 11.1 mi |
| 51001 | Akron | 2,342 | $75k | 15.0 mi |
| 51008 | Brunsville | 210 | $45k | 7.9 mi (near) |
| 51108 | Sioux City | 5,960 | $81k | 9.7 mi (near) |
| 51109 | Sioux City | 3,606 | $79k | 10.1 mi (near) |
| 51104 | Sioux City | 23,197 | $75k | 12.5 mi (near) |
| 51105 | Sioux City | 10,415 | $52k | 13.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.