PlainZIP

Rock Valley, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51247

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

4,870
17/sq mi
$78,358
Median income
$262,900
Median home value
15.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 40%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 40%
home value, US ZIPs
17
people per sq mi
61%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51247 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51247 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 289.9 square miles in Rock Valley, Sioux County, Iowa. The area is home to 4,870 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 51247 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51247 sits at $78,358 (2% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $35,505. The poverty rate stands at 8.8% and the unemployment rate at 0.3%. On housing, the median home value is $262,900 (50% above the state average) with median rent at $1,142 per month, and 61.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51247 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 15.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is —. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Sioux County, so you can benchmark 51247 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 51247

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51247.

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 51247, Rock Valley, 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

4,870

Population

289.9

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 51247?

37.7

Median Age

50.6%

Male

49.4%

Female

14.8%

Foreign-Born

White 71.5%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 15.9%
Hispanic or Latino 30.3%

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?

$78,358

Median Household Income

+2% vs state

$35,505

Per Capita Income

8.8%

Poverty Rate

0.3%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 51247 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$78,358 Top 40% higher than 60% 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 56.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.1%

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

What does housing look like?

1,839

Total Housing Units

1,825

Occupied Units

14

Vacant Units

2.73

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 61.1%
Renter 38.9%

$262,900

Median Home Value

+50% vs state

$1,142

Median Rent

1982

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

+7.0%

YoY Change (2024)

269

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+169%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51247 have increased 7.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +169% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.4% 181
2021 +4.8% 189
2022 +9.6% 207
2023 +21.2% 251
2024 +7.0% 269

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 242 business establishments in ZIP 51247, employing approximately 3,381 people with a combined annual payroll of $162,932,000.

242

Businesses

3,381

Employees

$162.9M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 39 16.1%
Other services (except public administration) 35 14.5%
Retail trade 28 11.6%
Manufacturing 26 10.7%
Transportation and warehousing 25 10.3%
Wholesale trade 18 7.4%
Health care and social assistance 15 6.2%
Finance and insurance 12 5.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 12 5.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 3.3%
Accommodation and food services 8 3.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 2.1%

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 51247 vs 51235 →

ZIP 51247 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 51247 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 51247 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 51247 ranks #3 of 4 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
51235 Doon, IA 1,079 9.4 mi
51250 Sioux Center, IA 8,249 9.8 mi
51240 Inwood, IA 1,746 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Sioux County

51250 standard
Sioux Center, IA
Pop: 8,249
51041 standard
Orange City, IA
Pop: 6,976
51023 standard
Hawarden, IA
Pop: 3,216
51239 standard
Hull, IA
Pop: 3,123
51003 standard
Alton, IA
Pop: 1,700
51234 standard
Boyden, IA
Pop: 1,268

Related Areas

Sioux County Rock Valley, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51247 in? ▼
ZIP code 51247 (Rock Valley) is located in Sioux County, Iowa. Sioux County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sioux-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51247? ▼
ZIP code 51247 in Rock Valley, IA has a population of 4,870 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51247? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51247 is $78,358, which is 3% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51247? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51247 is $262,900, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51247? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51247 is White at 71.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 30.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51247? ▼
ZIP code 51247 has 242 business establishments employing approximately 3,381 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51247? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51247 are: Construction (39), Other services (except public administration) (35), Retail trade (28). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51247? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51247 increased by 7.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 169%. 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 51247? ▼
In ZIP code 51247, 56.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.1% 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 51247? ▼
In ZIP code 51247, approximately 61.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51247? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51247 is 8.8% 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 Rock Valley, 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.