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 Low-density area
- $86,786
- Median income Above-median income area
- $234,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 52214 (Central City, IA) fell -1.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 233.0 in 2023 to 229.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 52214 covers 245.2 square miles in Central City, Linn County, Iowa (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,090 residents on file, a density of 13 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 52214 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $86,786 (13% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,548. The poverty rate is 10.7%, with unemployment at 3.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $234,600 (34% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 83.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $924.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.5, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Linn County, so 52214 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 52214
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Central City, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52214.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
11 establishments
- Construction
Construction
9 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
6 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
5 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
5 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 52214, Central City, 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
3,090
Population
245.2
Area (sq mi)
13
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 52214?
44.5
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
0.4%
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?
$86,786
Median Household Income
+13% vs state ZIP avg
$44,548
Per Capita Income
10.7%
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 52214 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Central City, 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)
$86,786 Top 25% higher than 75% 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
1,279housing units
1,279
Total Housing Units
1,116
Occupied Units
163
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$234,600
Median Home Value
+34% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 52302
Marion (52302)
36,980 residents
- 52214 3,090
Central City (52214)
3,090 residents
- 52336 2,363
Springville (52336)
2,363 residents
- 52218 1,788
Coggon (52218)
1,788 residents
- 52202 1,152
Alburnett (52202)
1,152 residents
- 52219 178
Prairieburg (52219)
178 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 52214 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 52214 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 52202
Alburnett (52202)
$105,362 median income
- 52336
Springville (52336)
$91,458 median income
- 52302
Marion (52302)
$87,983 median income
- 52214
Central City (52214)
$86,786 median income
- 52218
Coggon (52218)
$82,344 median income
- 52219
Prairieburg (52219)
$45,000 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 52214, 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 (3,090 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Linn County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 52214's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 52214 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Central City, 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.