PlainZIP

Belle Plaine, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52208

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

3,153
21/sq mi
$74,127
Median income
$120,700
Median home value
18.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Belle Plaine pairs an above-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 47%
household income, US ZIPs
17th pct
home value, US ZIPs
21
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52208 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52208 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 150.1 square miles in Belle Plaine, Benton County, Iowa. The area is home to 3,153 residents, producing a population density of 21 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 52208 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52208 sits at $74,127 (3% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $41,266. The poverty rate stands at 4.0% and the unemployment rate at 1.0%. On housing, the median home value is $120,700 (31% below the state average) with median rent at $847 per month, and 82.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52208 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 50.3, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Benton County, so you can benchmark 52208 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 52208

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52208.

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 52208, Belle Plaine, 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

3,153

Population

150.1

Area (sq mi)

21

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 52208?

50.3

Median Age

53.0%

Male

47.0%

Female

2.6%

Foreign-Born

White 93.6%
African American 0.7%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%

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?

$74,127

Median Household Income

-3% vs state

$41,266

Per Capita Income

4.0%

Poverty Rate

1.0%

Unemployment Rate

23.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 52208 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$74,127 Top 47% higher than 53% 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 56.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.0%

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

What does housing look like?

1,397

Total Housing Units

1,259

Occupied Units

138

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 82.0%
Renter 18.0%

$120,700

Median Home Value

-31% vs state

$847

Median Rent

1947

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

+9.6%

YoY Change (2024)

205

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+105%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52208 have increased 9.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +105% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.7% 145
2021 +8.1% 156
2022 +14.4% 179
2023 +4.5% 187
2024 +9.6% 205

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 80 business establishments in ZIP 52208, employing approximately 511 people with a combined annual payroll of $23,987,000.

80

Businesses

511

Employees

$24.0M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 14 17.5%
Other services (except public administration) 10 12.5%
Construction 7 8.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 7 8.8%
Health care and social assistance 7 8.8%
Accommodation and food services 7 8.8%
Finance and insurance 6 7.5%
Manufacturing 5 6.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 6.3%
Wholesale trade 4 5.0%
Transportation and warehousing 4 5.0%

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 52208 vs 52257 →

ZIP 52208 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 52208 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 52208 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 52208 ranks #4 of 7 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
52257 Luzerne, IA 210 4.9 mi
52232 Hartwick, IA 178 6.8 mi
52215 Chelsea, IA 843 7.3 mi
52249 Keystone, IA 965 9.5 mi
52225 Elberon, IA 447 9.5 mi
52348 Vining, IA 51 9.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Benton County

52349 standard
Vinton, IA
Pop: 7,643
52206 standard
Atkins, IA
Pop: 2,303
52352 standard
Walker, IA
Pop: 2,025
52332 standard
Shellsburg, IA
Pop: 2,006
52345 standard
Urbana, IA
Pop: 1,468
52351 standard
Walford, IA
Pop: 1,455

Related Areas

Benton County Belle Plaine, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52208 in? ▼
ZIP code 52208 (Belle Plaine) is located in Benton County, Iowa. Benton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/benton-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52208? ▼
ZIP code 52208 in Belle Plaine, IA has a population of 3,153 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52208? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52208 is $74,127, which is 3% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52208? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52208 is $120,700, which is 57% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52208? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52208 is White at 93.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52208? ▼
ZIP code 52208 has 80 business establishments employing approximately 511 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52208? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52208 are: Retail trade (14), Other services (except public administration) (10), Construction (7). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52208? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52208 increased by 9.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 105%. 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 52208? ▼
In ZIP code 52208, 56.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.0% 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 52208? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52208 is 23.5 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 52208? ▼
In ZIP code 52208, approximately 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52208? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52208 is 4.0% 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 Belle Plaine, 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.