Milford, IA · standard
ZIP Code 51351
Dickinson County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,365
- 16/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $73,824
- Median income Near-median income area
- $273,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milford pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 47%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 16
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51351 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 51351 (Milford, IA) fell -5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 279.1 in 2023 to 265.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 51351 covers 272.8 square miles in Milford, Dickinson County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,365 residents on file, a density of 16 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 51351 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,824 (4% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,900. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.9% and unemployment is 3.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $273,100 (56% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 74.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $906.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.2, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dickinson County, so 51351 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 51351
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milford, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51351.
- Construction
Construction
29 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
19 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
17 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
16 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 51351, Milford, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
4,365
Population
272.8
Area (sq mi)
16
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 51351?
48.2
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
1.1%
Foreign-Born
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?
$73,824
Median Household Income
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$50,900
Per Capita Income
6.9%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment Rate
18.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 51351 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Milford, IA household income vs. every Iowa ZIP code
Median household income among 911 reporting Iowa ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$73,824 Top 50% higher than 50% of 911 Iowa ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Iowa 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
3,203housing units
3,203
Total Housing Units
2,354
Occupied Units
849
Vacant Units
2.10
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$273,100
Median Home Value
+56% vs state ZIP avg
$906
Median Rent
1979
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
-5.0%
YoY Change (2024)
265
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+165%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 51351 have decreased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +165% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1.1% | 189 |
| 2021 | +6.8% | 202 |
| 2022 | +16.6% | 236 |
| 2023 | +18.4% | 279 |
| 2024 | -5.0% | 265 |
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 166 business establishments in ZIP 51351, employing approximately 1,291 people with a combined annual payroll of $59,295,000.
166
Businesses
1,291
Employees
$59.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 29 | 17.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 12.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 19 | 11.4% |
| Retail trade | 17 | 10.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 9.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 8.4% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 7.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 11 | 6.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 2.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 2.4% |
| Information | 3 | 1.8% |
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 51351 vs 51331 →
ZIP 51351 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 51360
Spirit Lake (51360)
8,031 residents
- 51351
Milford (51351)
4,365 residents
- 51347 1,431
Lake Park (51347)
1,431 residents
- 51331 1,140
Arnolds Park (51331)
1,140 residents
- 51338 1,000
Everly (51338)
1,000 residents
- 51355 874
Okoboji (51355)
874 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 51351 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 51351 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 51331
Arnolds Park (51331)
$89,167 median income
- 51347
Lake Park (51347)
$82,750 median income
- 51360
Spirit Lake (51360)
$75,882 median income
- 51351
Milford (51351)
$73,824 median income
- 51355
Okoboji (51355)
$72,262 median income
- 51338
Everly (51338)
$57,500 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 51351 ranks #4 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 51351, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (4,365 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Dickinson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 51351 in?
ZIP code 51351 (Milford) is located in Dickinson County, Iowa. Dickinson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dickinson-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51351?
ZIP code 51351 in Milford, IA has a population of 4,365 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51351?
The median household income in ZIP 51351 is $73,824, which is 3% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51351?
The median home value in ZIP 51351 is $273,100, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51351?
The largest racial group in ZIP 51351 is White at 94.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51351?
ZIP code 51351 has 166 business establishments employing approximately 1,291 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51351?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51351 are: Construction (29), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (21), Other services (except public administration) (19). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51351?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51351 decreased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 165%. 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 51351?
In ZIP code 51351, 55.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.3% 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 51351?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51351 is 18.7 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 51351?
In ZIP code 51351, approximately 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51351?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51351 is 6.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 51351's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 51351 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Milford, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.