PlainZIP

West Burlington, IA · standard

ZIP Code 52655

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

4,219
100/sq mi
$52,500
Median income
$132,600
Median home value
23.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

West Burlington pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

18th pct
household income, US ZIPs
20th pct
home value, US ZIPs
100
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 52655 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 52655 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 42.4 square miles in West Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. The area is home to 4,219 residents, producing a population density of 100 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 52655 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 52655 sits at $52,500 (31% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $28,895. The poverty rate stands at 25.8% and the unemployment rate at 1.7%. On housing, the median home value is $132,600 (24% below the state average) with median rent at $862 per month, and 71.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 52655 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is —. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Des Moines County, so you can benchmark 52655 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 52655

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 52655.

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 52655, West Burlington, 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

4,219

Population

42.4

Area (sq mi)

100

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 52655?

39.4

Median Age

51.5%

Male

48.5%

Female

1.7%

Foreign-Born

White 89.7%
African American 3.7%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 1.4%

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?

$52,500

Median Household Income

-31% vs state

$28,895

Per Capita Income

25.8%

Poverty Rate

1.7%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 52655 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$52,500 18th percentile higher than 18% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 60.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.3%

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

What does housing look like?

2,002

Total Housing Units

1,858

Occupied Units

144

Vacant Units

2.16

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.9%
Renter 28.1%

$132,600

Median Home Value

-24% vs state

$862

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

+5.7%

YoY Change (2024)

188

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+88%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 52655 have increased 5.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +88% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.8% 153
2021 +0.8% 155
2022 +27.7% 197
2023 -10.0% 178
2024 +5.7% 188

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 235 business establishments in ZIP 52655, employing approximately 5,368 people with a combined annual payroll of $322,878,000.

235

Businesses

5,368

Employees

$322.9M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 52 22.1%
Retail trade 48 20.4%
Other services (except public administration) 29 12.3%
Construction 19 8.1%
Wholesale trade 15 6.4%
Manufacturing 10 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 10 4.3%
Accommodation and food services 10 4.3%
Transportation and warehousing 7 3.0%
Information 7 3.0%
Finance and insurance 7 3.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 3.0%
Management of companies and enterprises 6 2.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 2.1%

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 52655 vs 52638 →

ZIP 52655 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 52655 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 52655 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 52655 ranks #7 of 7 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
52638 Middletown, IA 514 3.8 mi
52601 Burlington, IA 29,723 5.3 mi
52623 Danville, IA 1,993 6.6 mi
52650 Sperry, IA 826 7.6 mi
52658 Wever, IA 1,071 10.3 mi
52660 Yarmouth, IA 226 10.9 mi
52624 Denmark, IA 290 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Des Moines County

52601 standard
Burlington, IA
Pop: 29,723
52637 standard
Mediapolis, IA
Pop: 2,449
52623 standard
Danville, IA
Pop: 1,993
52650 standard
Sperry, IA
Pop: 826
52638 standard
Middletown, IA
Pop: 514
52660 standard
Yarmouth, IA
Pop: 226

Related Areas

Des Moines County West Burlington, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 52655 in? ▼
ZIP code 52655 (West Burlington) is located in Des Moines County, Iowa. Des Moines County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/des-moines-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 52655? ▼
ZIP code 52655 in West Burlington, IA has a population of 4,219 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 52655? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 52655 is $52,500, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 52655? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 52655 is $132,600, which is 52% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 52655? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 52655 is White at 89.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 52655? ▼
ZIP code 52655 has 235 business establishments employing approximately 5,368 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 52655? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 52655 are: Health care and social assistance (52), Retail trade (48), Other services (except public administration) (29). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 52655? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 52655 increased by 5.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 88%. 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 52655? ▼
In ZIP code 52655, 60.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.3% 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 52655? ▼
In ZIP code 52655, approximately 71.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 52655? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 52655 is 25.8% 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 West Burlington, 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.