PlainZIP

Harlan, IA · standard

ZIP Code 51537

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

6,703
16/sq mi
$65,000
Median income
$166,800
Median home value
25.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

38th pct
household income, US ZIPs
33th pct
home value, US ZIPs
16
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51537 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 51537 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 421.6 square miles in Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa. The area is home to 6,703 residents, producing a population density of 16 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 51537 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 51537 sits at $65,000 (15% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $37,951. The poverty rate stands at 7.3% and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. On housing, the median home value is $166,800 (5% below the state average) with median rent at $790 per month, and 76.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 51537 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 43, and the average commute is 14 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Shelby County, so you can benchmark 51537 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 51537

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51537.

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 51537, Harlan, 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

6,703

Population

421.6

Area (sq mi)

16

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 51537?

43.0

Median Age

49.3%

Male

50.7%

Female

1.8%

Foreign-Born

White 90.2%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%

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?

$65,000

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$37,951

Per Capita Income

7.3%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

14.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 51537 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$65,000 38th percentile higher than 38% 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 57.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.1%

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

What does housing look like?

2,827

Total Housing Units

2,538

Occupied Units

289

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.1%
Renter 23.9%

$166,800

Median Home Value

-5% vs state

$790

Median Rent

1959

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

+22.2%

YoY Change (2024)

213

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+113%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 51537 have increased 22.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +113% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.8% 155
2021 +6.4% 165
2022 +16.2% 192
2023 -8.9% 175
2024 +22.2% 213

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 243 business establishments in ZIP 51537, employing approximately 3,390 people with a combined annual payroll of $168,319,000.

243

Businesses

3,390

Employees

$168.3M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 35 14.4%
Retail trade 31 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 26 10.7%
Finance and insurance 23 9.5%
Accommodation and food services 20 8.2%
Construction 17 7.0%
Transportation and warehousing 16 6.6%
Manufacturing 15 6.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 15 6.2%
Wholesale trade 11 4.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 3.7%
Information 8 3.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.6%
Educational services 3 1.2%

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 51537 vs 51447 →

ZIP 51537 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 51537 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 51537 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 51537 ranks #4 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
51447 Kirkman, IA 228 7.2 mi
51578 Westphalia, IA 79 7.2 mi
51446 Irwin, IA 511 10.2 mi
51530 Earling, IA 854 11.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Shelby County

51531 standard
Elk Horn, IA
Pop: 914
51530 standard
Earling, IA
Pop: 854
51527 standard
Defiance, IA
Pop: 530
51446 standard
Irwin, IA
Pop: 511
51565 standard
Portsmouth, IA
Pop: 501
51562 standard
Panama, IA
Pop: 449

Related Areas

Shelby County Harlan, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 51537 in? ▼
ZIP code 51537 (Harlan) is located in Shelby County, Iowa. Shelby County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/shelby-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51537? ▼
ZIP code 51537 in Harlan, IA has a population of 6,703 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51537? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 51537 is $65,000, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51537? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 51537 is $166,800, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51537? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 51537 is White at 90.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51537? ▼
ZIP code 51537 has 243 business establishments employing approximately 3,390 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51537? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51537 are: Health care and social assistance (35), Retail trade (31), Other services (except public administration) (26). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51537? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51537 increased by 22.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 113%. 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 51537? ▼
In ZIP code 51537, 57.8% 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 is the average commute time in ZIP 51537? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51537 is 14.0 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 51537? ▼
In ZIP code 51537, approximately 76.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51537? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51537 is 7.3% 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 Harlan, 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.