PlainZIP

Central City, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52214

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

3,090
13/sq mi
$86,786
Median income
$234,600
Median home value
22.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Central City pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 30%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 46%
home value, US ZIPs
13
people per sq mi
84%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52214 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52214 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 245.2 square miles in Central City, Linn County, Iowa. The area is home to 3,090 residents, producing a population density of 13 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 52214 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52214 sits at $86,786 (13% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $44,548. The poverty rate stands at 10.7% and the unemployment rate at 3.2%. On housing, the median home value is $234,600 (34% above the state average) with median rent at $924 per month, and 83.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52214 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 22.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.5, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Linn County, so you can benchmark 52214 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 52214

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52214.

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 52214, Central City, 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

3,090

Population

245.2

Area (sq mi)

13

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 52214?

44.5

Median Age

49.4%

Male

50.6%

Female

0.4%

Foreign-Born

White 98.1%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.7%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%

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?

$86,786

Median Household Income

+13% vs state

$44,548

Per Capita Income

10.7%

Poverty Rate

3.2%

Unemployment Rate

26.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 52214 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$86,786 Top 30% higher than 70% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 64.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.5%

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

What does housing look like?

1,279

Total Housing Units

1,116

Occupied Units

163

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 83.5%
Renter 16.5%

$234,600

Median Home Value

+34% vs state

$924

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

-1.6%

YoY Change (2024)

229

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+129%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52214 have decreased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +129% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -5.6% 167
2021 +15.9% 194
2022 -2.3% 190
2023 +22.9% 233
2024 -1.6% 229

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 59 business establishments in ZIP 52214, employing approximately 248 people with a combined annual payroll of $10,724,000.

59

Businesses

248

Employees

$10.7M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 11 18.6%
Construction 9 15.3%
Retail trade 6 10.2%
Finance and insurance 5 8.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 8.5%
Accommodation and food services 5 8.5%
Manufacturing 3 5.1%
Transportation and warehousing 3 5.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 5.1%

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 52214 vs 52219 →

ZIP 52214 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 52214 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 52214 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 52214 ranks #4 of 6 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
52219 Prairieburg, IA 178 5.3 mi
52218 Coggon, IA 1,788 7.2 mi
52202 Alburnett, IA 1,152 7.1 mi
52336 Springville, IA 2,363 9.1 mi
52302 Marion, IA 36,980 9.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Linn County

52402 standard
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop: 40,149
52404 standard
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop: 37,796
52302 standard
Marion, IA
Pop: 36,980
52403 standard
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop: 23,673
52405 standard
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop: 23,621
52233 standard
Hiawatha, IA
Pop: 6,981

Related Areas

Linn County Central City, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52214 in? ▼
ZIP code 52214 (Central City) is located in Linn County, Iowa. Linn County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/linn-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52214? ▼
ZIP code 52214 in Central City, IA has a population of 3,090 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52214? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52214 is $86,786, which is 14% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52214? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52214 is $234,600, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52214? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52214 is White at 98.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52214? ▼
ZIP code 52214 has 59 business establishments employing approximately 248 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52214? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52214 are: Other services (except public administration) (11), Construction (9), Retail trade (6). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52214? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52214 decreased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 129%. 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 52214? ▼
In ZIP code 52214, 64.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.5% 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 52214? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52214 is 26.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 52214? ▼
In ZIP code 52214, approximately 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52214? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52214 is 10.7% 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 Central City, 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.