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 Moderate-density area
- $74,127
- Median income Near-median income area
- $120,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 18.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 52208 (Belle Plaine, IA) rose +9.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 187.0 in 2023 to 204.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 52208 covers 150.1 square miles in Belle Plaine, Benton County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,153 residents on file, a density of 21 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 52208 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $74,127 (3% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,266. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.0% and unemployment is 1.0%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $120,700 (31% below the average Iowa ZIP), and median rent is $847; owner occupancy is 82.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 50.3, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Benton County, so 52208 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 52208
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Belle Plaine, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52208.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
14 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
10 establishments
- Construction
Construction
7 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
7 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
7 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 52208, Belle Plaine, 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
3,153
Population
150.1
Area (sq mi)
21
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 52208?
50.3
Median Age
53.0%
Male
47.0%
Female
2.6%
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?
$74,127
Median Household Income
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$41,266
Per Capita Income
4.0%
Poverty Rate
1.0%
Unemployment Rate
23.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 52208 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Belle Plaine, 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)
$74,127 Top 50% higher than 50% 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
1,397housing units
1,397
Total Housing Units
1,259
Occupied Units
138
Vacant Units
2.25
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$120,700
Median Home Value
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 52208
Belle Plaine (52208)
3,153 residents
- 52249 965
Keystone (52249)
965 residents
- 52215 843
Chelsea (52215)
843 residents
- 52225 447
Elberon (52225)
447 residents
- 52257 210
Luzerne (52257)
210 residents
- 52232 178
Hartwick (52232)
178 residents
- 52348 51
Vining (52348)
51 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 52208 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 52208 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 52232
Hartwick (52232)
$99,391 median income
- 52257
Luzerne (52257)
$94,464 median income
- 52249
Keystone (52249)
$75,417 median income
- 52208
Belle Plaine (52208)
$74,127 median income
- 52348
Vining (52348)
$72,500 median income
- 52225
Elberon (52225)
$61,944 median income
- 52215
Chelsea (52215)
$61,932 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 52208, 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 (3,153 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Benton County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 52208's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 52208 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Belle Plaine, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.