PlainZIP

Ely, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52227

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

2,461
33/sq mi
$120,230
Median income
$341,900
Median home value
39.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ely pairs a top-decile household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 10%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 28%
home value, US ZIPs
33
people per sq mi
84%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52227 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52227 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 74.8 square miles in Ely, Linn County, Iowa. The area is home to 2,461 residents, producing a population density of 33 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 52227 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52227 sits at $120,230 (57% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $49,050. The poverty rate stands at 1.8% and the unemployment rate at 1.6%. On housing, the median home value is $341,900 (95% above the state average) with median rent at $897 per month, and 84.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52227 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 39.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Linn County, so you can benchmark 52227 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 52227

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52227.

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 52227, Ely, 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

2,461

Population

74.8

Area (sq mi)

33

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 52227?

38.3

Median Age

50.1%

Male

49.9%

Female

1.6%

Foreign-Born

White 97.1%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino 0.0%

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?

$120,230

Median Household Income

+57% vs state

$49,050

Per Capita Income

1.8%

Poverty Rate

1.6%

Unemployment Rate

20.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 52227 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$120,230 Top 10% higher than 90% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $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 61.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 39.3%

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

What does housing look like?

1,136

Total Housing Units

1,123

Occupied Units

13

Vacant Units

2.67

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 84.1%
Renter 15.9%

$341,900

Median Home Value

+95% vs state

$897

Median Rent

1998

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

-1.3%

YoY Change (2024)

208

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+108%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52227 have decreased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +108% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.5% 153
2021 +10.4% 169
2022 +14.8% 194
2023 +8.7% 211
2024 -1.3% 208

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 37 business establishments in ZIP 52227, employing approximately 494 people with a combined annual payroll of $21,608,000.

37

Businesses

494

Employees

$21.6M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 9 24.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 13.5%
Other services (except public administration) 5 13.5%
Finance and insurance 3 8.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 3 8.1%
Accommodation and food services 3 8.1%

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 52227 vs 52403 →

ZIP 52227 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 52227 ranks #9 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 52227 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 52227 ranks the highest of 9 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
52403 Cedar Rapids, IA 23,673 4.8 mi
52314 Mount Vernon, IA 5,865 6.3 mi
52404 Cedar Rapids, IA 37,796 7.0 mi
52333 Solon, IA 6,168 7.4 mi
52401 Cedar Rapids, IA 2,017 7.2 mi
52317 North Liberty, IA 14,775 10.1 mi
52338 Swisher, IA 3,283 8.9 mi
52402 Cedar Rapids, IA 40,149 9.8 mi
52233 Hiawatha, IA 6,981 12.0 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 Ely, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52227 in? ▼
ZIP code 52227 (Ely) 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 52227? ▼
ZIP code 52227 in Ely, IA has a population of 2,461 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52227? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52227 is $120,230, which is 58% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52227? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52227 is $341,900, which is 23% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52227? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52227 is White at 97.1%.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52227? ▼
ZIP code 52227 has 37 business establishments employing approximately 494 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52227? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52227 are: Construction (9), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (5), Other services (except public administration) (5). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52227? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52227 decreased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 108%. 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 52227? ▼
In ZIP code 52227, 61.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 39.3% 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 52227? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52227 is 20.6 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 52227? ▼
In ZIP code 52227, approximately 84.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52227? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52227 is 1.8% 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 Ely, 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.