PlainZIP

Iowa City, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52246

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

21,114
898/sq mi
$62,521
Median income
$348,900
Median home value
67.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Iowa City pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

34th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 27%
home value, US ZIPs
898
people per sq mi
45%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52246 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52246 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 23.5 square miles in Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa. The area is home to 21,114 residents, producing a population density of 898 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 52246 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52246 sits at $62,521 (18% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $46,110. The poverty rate stands at 24.1% and the unemployment rate at 3.9%. On housing, the median home value is $348,900 (99% above the state average) with median rent at $1,057 per month, and 45.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52246 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 67.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 8 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Johnson County, so you can benchmark 52246 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 52246

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52246.

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 52246, Iowa 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

21,114

Population

23.5

Area (sq mi)

898

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 52246?

28.3

Median Age

46.4%

Male

53.6%

Female

16.9%

Foreign-Born

White 64.0%
African American 13.2%
Asian 11.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 8.3%

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?

$62,521

Median Household Income

-18% vs state

$46,110

Per Capita Income

24.1%

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Unemployment Rate

18.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 52246 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$62,521 34th percentile higher than 34% 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 77.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 67.3%

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

What does housing look like?

10,654

Total Housing Units

9,651

Occupied Units

1,003

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 45.2%
Renter 54.8%

$348,900

Median Home Value

+99% vs state

$1,057

Median Rent

1990

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

+3.3%

YoY Change (2024)

202

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+102%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52246 have increased 3.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.2% 160
2021 +3.1% 165
2022 +10.9% 183
2023 +6.8% 195
2024 +3.3% 202

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 333 business establishments in ZIP 52246, employing approximately 6,297 people with a combined annual payroll of $452,141,000.

333

Businesses

6,297

Employees

$452.1M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 48 14.4%
Health care and social assistance 43 12.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 38 11.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 36 10.8%
Accommodation and food services 34 10.2%
Construction 27 8.1%
Other services (except public administration) 26 7.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 19 5.7%
Finance and insurance 15 4.5%
Wholesale trade 14 4.2%
Manufacturing 12 3.6%
Information 9 2.7%
Transportation and warehousing 4 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.2%

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 52246 vs 52242 →

ZIP 52246 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 52246 ranks #3 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 52246 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 52246 ranks #7 of 8 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
52242 Iowa City, IA 1,592 1.4 mi
52241 Coralville, IA 18,911 3.5 mi
52245 Iowa City, IA 22,573 3.5 mi
52240 Iowa City, IA 32,230 3.7 mi
52235 Hills, IA 698 5.8 mi
52340 Tiffin, IA 2,180 7.1 mi
52317 North Liberty, IA 14,775 8.3 mi
52247 Kalona, IA 5,645 12.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Johnson County

52240 standard
Iowa City, IA
Pop: 32,230
52245 standard
Iowa City, IA
Pop: 22,573
52241 standard
Coralville, IA
Pop: 18,911
52317 standard
North Liberty, IA
Pop: 14,775
52333 standard
Solon, IA
Pop: 6,168
52338 standard
Swisher, IA
Pop: 3,283

Related Areas

Johnson County Iowa City, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52246 in? ▼
ZIP code 52246 (Iowa City) is located in Johnson County, Iowa. Johnson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/johnson-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52246? ▼
ZIP code 52246 in Iowa City, IA has a population of 21,114 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52246? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52246 is $62,521, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52246? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52246 is $348,900, which is 25% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52246? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52246 is White at 64.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52246? ▼
ZIP code 52246 has 333 business establishments employing approximately 6,297 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52246? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52246 are: Retail trade (48), Health care and social assistance (43), Real estate and rental and leasing (38). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52246? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52246 increased by 3.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 102%. 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 52246? ▼
In ZIP code 52246, 77.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 67.3% 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 52246? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 52246 is 18.8 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 52246? ▼
In ZIP code 52246, approximately 45.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 54.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52246? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52246 is 24.1% 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 Iowa 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.