Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 51638: Essex, IA
ZIP code 51638 uses the postal name Essex, Iowa and lies mostly in Page County (98% of its land) with the rest in Montgomery County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 1,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $59,107 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 2% of its land lies in Essex; 98% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Essex · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Page County (98%); Montgomery County (2%)
- Census places
- Essex
- House district
- IA-3 119th Congress
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 80.4 sq mi · 16 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 51638?
51638 centers on 40.837°, -95.266° and covers 80.4 square miles of land plus 0.2 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 51601, 51645, 51566, 51632, 51533.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 51638, 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 51638 compare with the rest of Page County?
| Measure | 51638 | In Page County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 1,258 | 5th of 13 | 401st of 970 |
| Median household income | $59k | 3rd of 5 | 368th of 396 |
| Median home value | $121k | 4th of 5 | 381st of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 28% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 22% 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 51638?
The 2020 Census counted 1,189 people in 51638; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 1,258. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 8.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 1,258±224 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 1,189−8.5% since 2010 (1,299)
- Households
- 569
- Median age
- 50.5
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 51638?
Of the 1,258 people the ACS estimates in 51638, 17.5% are under 18 and 24.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (85.9%), then Hispanic or Latino (10.0%).
- Under 1817.5%
- 18 to 6458.1%
- 65 and older24.4%
- White, not Hispanic85.9%
- Hispanic or Latino10.0%
- Other or two or more4.1%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.0%
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 51638 earn?
Median household income is $59,107 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 5 ranked ZIP codes in Page County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($65,656 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $59,107±$6,793
- Income per person
- $36,660
- Below the poverty line
- 12.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 17.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $71,036610 returns; wages 56% 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 51638?
FHFA's house price index for 51638, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 45% from 2020 to 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $120,700
- Median gross rent
- $606
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 81.9%
- Housing units
- 623
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 51638?
30 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, the same count as in 2018; the most are in other services (except public administration) (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Other services (except public administration)8
- Transportation and warehousing4
- Retail trade3
- Finance and insurance3
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 51638?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51601 | Shenandoah | 5,629 | $62k | 8.2 mi |
| 51645 | Imogene | 419 | $218k | 8.7 mi |
| 51566 | Red Oak | 7,010 | $57k | 12.4 mi |
| 51632 | Clarinda | 6,624 | $55k | 13.1 mi |
| 51533 | Emerson | 844 | $69k | 15.1 mi |
| 51656 | Yorktown | 57 | $84k | 9.2 mi (near) |
| 51636 | Coin | 455 | $64k | 11.9 mi (near) |
| 51639 | Farragut | 919 | $85k | 13.2 mi (near) |
| 51573 | Stanton | 979 | $86k | 13.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.