Decorah, IA · standard
ZIP Code 52101
Winneshiek County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,864
- 17/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $73,484
- Median income Near-median income area
- $273,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 37.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Decorah pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 48%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 17
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52101 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 52101 (Decorah, IA) rose +9.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 227.1 in 2023 to 249.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 52101 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, home to 13,864 residents across 806.0 square miles, a density of 17 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 52101 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,484 (4% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $42,545. The poverty rate is 9.7%, with unemployment at 3.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $273,200 (56% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 70.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $883.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 37.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44, and the average commute is 16 minutes. No nearby ZIP peer set is available for this delivery area, so the Iowa and national benchmarks above are the appropriate context for 52101.
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 52101
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Decorah, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52101.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
74 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
57 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
55 establishments
- Construction
Construction
48 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
47 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 52101, Decorah, 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
13,864
Population
806.0
Area (sq mi)
17
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 52101?
44.0
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
3.4%
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?
$73,484
Median Household Income
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$42,545
Per Capita Income
9.7%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
16.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 52101 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Decorah, 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)
$73,484 49th percentile higher than 49% 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
5,790housing units
5,790
Total Housing Units
5,206
Occupied Units
584
Vacant Units
2.11
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$273,200
Median Home Value
+56% vs state ZIP avg
$883
Median Rent
1967
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
+9.8%
YoY Change (2024)
249
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+149%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 52101 have increased 9.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +149% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.1% | 167 |
| 2021 | +10.2% | 185 |
| 2022 | +13.1% | 209 |
| 2023 | +8.8% | 227 |
| 2024 | +9.8% | 249 |
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 455 business establishments in ZIP 52101, employing approximately 7,963 people with a combined annual payroll of $357,448,000.
455
Businesses
7,963
Employees
$357.4M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 74 | 16.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 57 | 12.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 55 | 12.1% |
| Construction | 48 | 10.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 47 | 10.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 27 | 5.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 5.9% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 4.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 4.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 2.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 13 | 2.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 2.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 2.2% |
| Information | 9 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 0.9% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 3 | 0.7% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 52101, 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 (13,864 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Winneshiek County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 52101 in?
ZIP code 52101 (Decorah) is located in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Winneshiek County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/winneshiek-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52101?
ZIP code 52101 in Decorah, IA has a population of 13,864 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52101?
The median household income in ZIP 52101 is $73,484, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52101?
The median home value in ZIP 52101 is $273,200, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52101?
The largest racial group in ZIP 52101 is White at 93.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52101?
ZIP code 52101 has 455 business establishments employing approximately 7,963 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52101?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52101 are: Retail trade (74), Other services (except public administration) (57), Health care and social assistance (55). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52101?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52101 increased by 9.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 149%. 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 52101?
In ZIP code 52101, 66.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 37.8% 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 52101?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52101 is 16.2 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 52101?
In ZIP code 52101, approximately 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52101?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52101 is 9.7% 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 52101's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 52101 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Decorah, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.