Zip code 50049: Chariton, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50049?

50049 is assigned to Chariton, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50049 in?

50049 is mostly in Lucas County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 50049?

About 6,414 people live in 50049, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50049?

The median household income in 50049 is $61,190.

Q: What zip codes are near 50049?

The closest zip codes to 50049 are 50272, 50238, 50151, 50068, 50139.

Residential delivery areaLucas CountyCentral Time

Population

6,414

Median household income

$61K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$125K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$704/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

209 sq mi

31 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 50049

50049 is a rural zip code in Chariton, Iowa (Lucas County), covering 209 sq mi of land. About 6,414 people live here, or 31 per square mile. The median resident is 40.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $61,190 a year, 24% below the national median of $80,734. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $124,900, or 2.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 75% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $704 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 19 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; sales; and construction and repair.

How 50049 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older20.8%
78th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%424th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate6.5%
74th
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%95th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1824.4%
70th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%358th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate14.5%
68th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%173rd of 909 in IA
Uninsured rate9.3%
67th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%100th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate74.5%
65th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%693rd of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers10.5%
64th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%603rd of 911 in IA
Government workers15.5%
63rd
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%309th of 911 in IA
Veterans6.7%
62nd
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%473rd of 911 in IA
Median age40.2
59th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6591st of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.445
59th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444193rd of 908 in IA
Housing vacancy5.7%
41st
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%646th of 909 in IA
Foreign-born residents4.9%
29th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%140th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$41,099
25th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712735th of 910 in IA
Per capita income$31,580
23rd
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877763rd of 911 in IA
Median household income$61,190
22nd
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059729th of 896 in IA
Tech workers1.4%
20th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%324th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher17.1%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%637th of 911 in IA
Population6,414
10th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507119th of 911 in IA
Average commute19 min
9th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min688th of 902 in IA
Median home value$124,900
6th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000633rd of 881 in IA
Work from home4.3%
5th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%735th of 911 in IA
Diversity index11.8
5th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4514th of 911 in IA
Broadband access80.8%
5th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%773rd of 909 in IA
Population density31/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi329th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$704
3rd
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972575th of 771 in IA
Rent-burdened renters18.3%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%661st of 882 in IA
Healthcare workers3.2%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%819th of 911 in IA

Measure	50049	Lucas	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Residents 65 and older	20.8%	22%	18.1%	17.2%	78th	424th of 911
Unemployment rate	6.5%	5.2%	3.6%	5.2%	74th	95th of 911
Residents under 18	24.4%	23.5%	22.9%	22%	70th	358th of 911
Poverty rate	14.5%	14.9%	11.1%	12.5%	68th	173rd of 909
Uninsured rate	9.3%	8%	5%	8.4%	67th	100th of 911
Homeownership rate	74.5%	78.8%	71.7%	65.2%	65th	693rd of 909
Self-employed workers	10.5%	10.7%	10.2%	10%	64th	603rd of 911
Government workers	15.5%	15.5%	14.5%	14.5%	63rd	309th of 911
Veterans	6.7%	6.7%	6.5%	6.2%	62nd	473rd of 911
Median age	40.2	41.9	38.6	38.9	59th	591st of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.445	0.433	0.444	0.483	59th	193rd of 908
Housing vacancy	5.7%	9%	8.5%	10.1%	41st	646th of 909
Foreign-born residents	4.9%	4.1%	5.9%	14.1%	29th	140th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$41,099	$43,457	$47,712	$49,666	25th	735th of 910
Per capita income	$31,580	$32,274	$40,877	$44,673	23rd	763rd of 911
Median household income	$61,190	$61,793	$75,059	$80,734	22nd	729th of 896
Tech workers	1.4%	1.2%	2.9%	3.8%	20th	324th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.1%	15.8%	31.4%	35.7%	14th	637th of 911
Population	6,414	8,716	3,210,507	334,922,499	10th	119th of 911
Average commuteStrength	19 min	22.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	9th	688th of 902
Median home value	$124,900	$120,200	$208,000	$332,700	6th	633rd of 881
Work from home	4.3%	4.3%	11.3%	15.1%	5th	735th of 911
Diversity index	11.8	11.5	31.4	61.4	5th	514th of 911
Broadband accessWeakness	80.8%	80.4%	88.9%	91%	5th	773rd of 909
Population density	31/sq mi	20/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	329th of 911
Median gross rent	$704	$709	$972	$1,413	3rd	575th of 771
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	18.3%	18.8%	43.9%	51.1%	2nd	661st of 882
Healthcare workers	3.2%	5.8%	9.2%	9.7%	1st	819th of 911

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

18%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

10%

35–44

10%

45–54

14%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.2

Under 18

24.4%

65 and over

20.8%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black0.4%
Hispanic3%
Asian1%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

11.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

72.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

0.2%

Households

Households: 2,667
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 63.6%
Married couples: 51.7%
Living alone: 33.6%
Veterans (of adults): 6.7%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50049

$61,190

Lucas Co.

$61,793

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,580

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.445

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50049

$124,900

Lucas Co.

$120,200

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50049

$704

Lucas Co.

$709

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,827
Owner-occupied: 74.5%
Vacant: 5.7%
Median year built: 1962
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 18.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 5.8%
Home value to income: 2.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

81%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

0.2%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

51%

10–19

19%

20–29

12%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

19 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

17%

Sales

12%

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Education

Management

Food service

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Healthcare

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.2%

Industries

Retail

29%

Manufacturing

11%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Education

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Information

Other services

Arts and recreation

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$41,099

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

3.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50049	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$51,250	$74,888
Service	$17,241	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,818	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,734	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,357	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

47%

Some college

17%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.2%
Households with broadband: 80.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 50.6%
No internet access: 14.9%
Without health insurance: 9.3%
Limited-English households: 2.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Chariton
State: Iowa
County: Lucas County
Center point: 41.0344° N, 93.2955° W
Land area: 209 sq mi
Water area: 0.9 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50049 spans 3 counties

Lucas County97% of land
Wayne County2% of land
Marion County1% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Chariton2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 50049

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50272	Williamson, IA	4.2 mi	190	$45,000	—
50238	Russell, IA	7.6 mi	1,195	$59,625	$83,300
50151	Lucas, IA	11 mi	727	$91,061	$149,400
50068	Derby, IA	11 mi	215	$36,500	$113,200
50139	Lacona, IA	12 mi	1,025	$72,400	$151,600
50165	Millerton, IA	13 mi	44	$89,375	$135,900
50057	Columbia, IA	13 mi	327	$118,882	$221,300
52569	Melrose, IA	13 mi	550	$51,477	$84,300
50163	Melcher Dallas, IA	13 mi	689	$73,618	$97,800
50062	Melcher Dallas, IA	14 mi	789	$51,146	$198,100
50275	Woodburn, IA	15 mi	506	$72,232	$122,400
50145	Liberty Center, IA	15 mi	139	$50,962	$232,100

Zip codes like 50049 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 50049

What city is zip code 50049?

50049 is assigned to Chariton, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50049 in?

50049 is mostly in Lucas County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 50049?

About 6,414 people live in 50049, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50049 in?

50049 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50049?

The median household income in 50049 is $61,190.

What zip codes are near 50049?

The closest zip codes to 50049 are 50272, 50238, 50151, 50068, 50139.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50049, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.