PlainZIP

Lowden, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52255

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

1,208
11/sq mi
$71,250
Median income
$156,400
Median home value
21.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lowden pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

49th pct
household income, US ZIPs
28th pct
home value, US ZIPs
11
people per sq mi
81%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52255 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52255 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 112.9 square miles in Lowden, Cedar County, Iowa. The area is home to 1,208 residents, producing a population density of 11 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 52255 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52255 sits at $71,250 (7% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $42,486. The poverty rate stands at 9.6% and the unemployment rate at 4.0%. On housing, the median home value is $156,400 (11% below the state average) with median rent at $864 per month, and 81.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52255 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.5, and the average commute is —. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Cedar County, so you can benchmark 52255 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 →

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 52255, Lowden, 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

1,208

Population

112.9

Area (sq mi)

11

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 52255?

40.5

Median Age

51.0%

Male

49.0%

Female

0.0%

Foreign-Born

White 95.2%
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 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.9%

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?

$71,250

Median Household Income

-7% vs state

$42,486

Per Capita Income

9.6%

Poverty Rate

4.0%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 52255 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$71,250 49th percentile higher than 49% 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 66.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.0%

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

What does housing look like?

562

Total Housing Units

509

Occupied Units

53

Vacant Units

1.93

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.3%
Renter 18.7%

$156,400

Median Home Value

-11% vs state

$864

Median Rent

1938

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

-5.1%

YoY Change (2024)

140

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+40%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52255 have decreased 5.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +40% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +27.6% 161
2020 -15.2% 137
2021 +7.9% 147
2022 -5.1% 140
2024 — 140

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 24 business establishments in ZIP 52255, employing approximately 113 people with a combined annual payroll of $6,679,000.

24

Businesses

113

Employees

$6.7M

Annual Payroll

2

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 5 20.8%
Wholesale trade 4 16.7%

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 52255 vs 52216 →

ZIP 52255 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 52255 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 52255 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 52255 ranks #3 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
52216 Clarence, IA 1,428 4.5 mi
52721 Bennett, IA 798 7.4 mi
52777 Wheatland, IA 1,357 5.4 mi
52323 Oxford Junction, IA 867 8.3 mi
52765 New Liberty, IA 453 10.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Cedar County

52772 standard
Tipton, IA
Pop: 5,029
52358 standard
West Branch, IA
Pop: 3,733
52747 standard
Durant, IA
Pop: 2,106
52306 standard
Mechanicsville, IA
Pop: 1,754
52216 standard
Clarence, IA
Pop: 1,428
52337 standard
Stanwood, IA
Pop: 845

Related Areas

Cedar County Lowden, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52255 in? ▼
ZIP code 52255 (Lowden) is located in Cedar County, Iowa. Cedar County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cedar-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52255? ▼
ZIP code 52255 in Lowden, IA has a population of 1,208 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52255? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52255 is $71,250, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52255? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52255 is $156,400, which is 44% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52255? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52255 is White at 95.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52255? ▼
ZIP code 52255 has 24 business establishments employing approximately 113 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52255? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52255 decreased by 5.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 40%. 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 52255? ▼
In ZIP code 52255, 66.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 52255? ▼
In ZIP code 52255, approximately 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52255? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52255 is 9.6% 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 Lowden, 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.