PlainZIP

Cresco, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52136

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

5,967
11/sq mi
$70,778
Median income
$161,100
Median home value
21.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

48th pct
household income, US ZIPs
30th pct
home value, US ZIPs
11
people per sq mi
79%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52136 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52136 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 552.5 square miles in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. The area is home to 5,967 residents, producing a population density of 11 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 52136 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52136 sits at $70,778 (8% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $37,585. The poverty rate stands at 9.5% and the unemployment rate at 1.3%. On housing, the median home value is $161,100 (8% below the state average) with median rent at $713 per month, and 78.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52136 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 52136 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 52136

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52136.

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 52136, Cresco, 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

5,967

Population

552.5

Area (sq mi)

11

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 52136?

42.3

Median Age

51.0%

Male

49.0%

Female

2.3%

Foreign-Born

White 93.3%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%

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?

$70,778

Median Household Income

-8% vs state

$37,585

Per Capita Income

9.5%

Poverty Rate

1.3%

Unemployment Rate

19.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 52136 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$70,778 48th percentile higher than 48% 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 61.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.5%

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

What does housing look like?

2,604

Total Housing Units

2,373

Occupied Units

231

Vacant Units

2.40

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 78.8%
Renter 21.2%

$161,100

Median Home Value

-8% vs state

$713

Median Rent

1965

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)

251

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+151%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52136 have increased 22.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +151% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.1% 175
2021 +6.0% 186
2022 +9.7% 204
2023 +0.8% 206
2024 +22.2% 251

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 172 business establishments in ZIP 52136, employing approximately 2,460 people with a combined annual payroll of $106,057,000.

172

Businesses

2,460

Employees

$106.1M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 32 18.6%
Other services (except public administration) 18 10.5%
Accommodation and food services 17 9.9%
Health care and social assistance 16 9.3%
Construction 15 8.7%
Finance and insurance 15 8.7%
Manufacturing 12 7.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 10 5.8%
Wholesale trade 8 4.7%
Transportation and warehousing 8 4.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 4.1%
Information 5 2.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 2.9%

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 52136 vs 52165 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
52165 Ridgeway, IA 1,004 7.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Howard County

50628 standard
Elma, IA
Pop: 1,374
52155 standard
Lime Springs, IA
Pop: 1,323
52134 standard
Chester, IA
Pop: 285
52163 standard
Protivin, IA
Pop: 276

Related Areas

Howard County Cresco, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52136 in? ▼
ZIP code 52136 (Cresco) is located in Howard County, Iowa. Howard County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/howard-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52136? ▼
ZIP code 52136 in Cresco, IA has a population of 5,967 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52136? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52136 is $70,778, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52136? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52136 is $161,100, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52136? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52136 is White at 93.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52136? ▼
ZIP code 52136 has 172 business establishments employing approximately 2,460 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52136? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52136 are: Retail trade (32), Other services (except public administration) (18), Accommodation and food services (17). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52136? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52136 increased by 22.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 151%. 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 52136? ▼
In ZIP code 52136, 61.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.5% 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 52136? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52136 is 19.2 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 52136? ▼
In ZIP code 52136, approximately 78.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52136? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52136 is 9.5% 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 Cresco, 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.