PlainZIP

Inwood, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51240

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

1,746
7/sq mi
$83,929
Median income
$232,600
Median home value
16.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 33%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 47%
home value, US ZIPs
7
people per sq mi
87%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51240 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51240 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 264.5 square miles in Inwood, Lyon County, Iowa. The area is home to 1,746 residents, producing a population density of 7 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 51240 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51240 sits at $83,929 (10% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $41,804. The poverty rate stands at 3.0% and the unemployment rate at 1.4%. On housing, the median home value is $232,600 (32% above the state average) with median rent at $993 per month, and 86.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51240 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 16.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.4, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lyon County, so you can benchmark 51240 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 51240

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51240.

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 51240, Inwood, 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

1,746

Population

264.5

Area (sq mi)

7

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 51240?

34.4

Median Age

48.7%

Male

51.3%

Female

3.8%

Foreign-Born

White 94.5%
African American 0.3%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 1.7%

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?

$83,929

Median Household Income

+10% vs state

$41,804

Per Capita Income

3.0%

Poverty Rate

1.4%

Unemployment Rate

22.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 51240 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$83,929 Top 33% higher than 67% 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 47.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.5%

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

What does housing look like?

673

Total Housing Units

632

Occupied Units

41

Vacant Units

2.97

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.9%
Renter 13.1%

$232,600

Median Home Value

+32% vs state

$993

Median Rent

1977

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

+29.3%

YoY Change (2024)

326

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+226%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51240 have increased 29.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +226% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.2% 203
2021 +14.8% 233
2022 +19.7% 279
2023 -9.7% 252
2024 +29.3% 326

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 67 business establishments in ZIP 51240, employing approximately 446 people with a combined annual payroll of $14,778,000.

67

Businesses

446

Employees

$14.8M

Annual Payroll

8

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 15 22.4%
Transportation and warehousing 12 17.9%
Retail trade 8 11.9%
Other services (except public administration) 7 10.4%
Wholesale trade 5 7.5%
Manufacturing 4 6.0%
Finance and insurance 3 4.5%
Accommodation and food services 3 4.5%

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 51240 vs 51241 →

ZIP 51240 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 51240 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 51240 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 51240 ranks #3 of 5 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
51241 Larchwood, IA 1,737 9.7 mi
57027 Fairview, SD 109 8.7 mi
51230 Alvord, IA 462 7.6 mi
51247 Rock Valley, IA 4,870 10.1 mi
51242 Lester, IA 212 11.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lyon County

51246 standard
Rock Rapids, IA
Pop: 3,844
51241 standard
Larchwood, IA
Pop: 1,737
51237 standard
George, IA
Pop: 1,703
51235 standard
Doon, IA
Pop: 1,079
51243 standard
Little Rock, IA
Pop: 807
51230 standard
Alvord, IA
Pop: 462

Related Areas

Lyon County Inwood, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51240 in? ▼
ZIP code 51240 (Inwood) is located in Lyon County, Iowa. Lyon County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lyon-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51240? ▼
ZIP code 51240 in Inwood, IA has a population of 1,746 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51240? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51240 is $83,929, which is 10% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51240? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51240 is $232,600, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51240? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51240 is White at 94.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51240? ▼
ZIP code 51240 has 67 business establishments employing approximately 446 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51240? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51240 are: Construction (15), Transportation and warehousing (12), Retail trade (8). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51240? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51240 increased by 29.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 226%. 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 51240? ▼
In ZIP code 51240, 47.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.5% 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 51240? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51240 is 22.7 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 51240? ▼
In ZIP code 51240, approximately 86.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51240? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51240 is 3.0% 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 Inwood, 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.