Zip code 50278: Zearing, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50278?

50278 is assigned to Zearing, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50278 in?

50278 is in Story County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 50278?

About 891 people live in 50278, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50278?

The median household income in 50278 is $74,306.

Q: What zip codes are near 50278?

The closest zip codes to 50278 are 50154, 50239, 50102, 50206, 50051.

Residential delivery areaStory CountyCentral Time

Population

891

Median household income

$74K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$193K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$693/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

46 sq mi

19 people/sq mi

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

About 50278

50278 is a rural zip code in Zearing, Iowa (Story County), covering 46 sq mi of land. About 891 people live here, or 19 per square mile. The median resident is 37.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $74,306 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 13.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $193,000, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $693 a month.

35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.2 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; farming, fishing and forestry; and office and administrative support. 16% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 50278 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers16%
93rd
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%327th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate83.4%
86th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%397th of 909 in IA
Veterans9%
85th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%225th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1825.5%
78th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%286th of 911 in IA
Government workers17.6%
75th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%222nd of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older18.7%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%559th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate13.7%
64th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%197th of 909 in IA
Average commute28.2 min
64th
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min183rd of 902 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher35.1%
57th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%103rd of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents8.2%
44th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%75th of 911 in IA
Median household income$74,306
42nd
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059448th of 896 in IA
Tech workers2.4%
41st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%184th of 911 in IA
Median age37.6
39th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6708th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$35,680
36th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877589th of 911 in IA
Diversity index34.5
29th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.491st of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy4.3%
25th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%723rd of 909 in IA
Median home value$193,000
20th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000299th of 881 in IA
Median earnings per worker$36,875
13th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712842nd of 910 in IA
Healthcare workers6.7%
13th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%619th of 911 in IA
Work from home5.6%
10th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%659th of 911 in IA
Broadband access83.7%
9th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%706th of 909 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.361
4th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444650th of 908 in IA
Median gross rent$693
3rd
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972591st of 771 in IA
Population density19/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi491st of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters20.8%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%631st of 882 in IA
Population891
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507502nd of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%895th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate1%
1st
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%794th of 911 in IA

Measure	50278	Story	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Self-employed workers	16%	7.4%	10.2%	10%	93rd	327th of 911
Homeownership rateStrength	83.4%	55.5%	71.7%	65.2%	86th	397th of 909
Veterans	9%	4%	6.5%	6.2%	85th	225th of 911
Residents under 18	25.5%	16.2%	22.9%	22%	78th	286th of 911
Government workers	17.6%	27.9%	14.5%	14.5%	75th	222nd of 911
Residents 65 and older	18.7%	13.2%	18.1%	17.2%	65th	559th of 911
Poverty rate	13.7%	18.2%	11.1%	12.5%	64th	197th of 909
Average commute	28.2 min	17.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	64th	183rd of 902
Bachelor's degree or higher	35.1%	54.8%	31.4%	35.7%	57th	103rd of 911
Foreign-born residents	8.2%	8.6%	5.9%	14.1%	44th	75th of 911
Median household income	$74,306	$69,685	$75,059	$80,734	42nd	448th of 896
Tech workers	2.4%	3.9%	2.9%	3.8%	41st	184th of 911
Median age	37.6	26.9	38.6	38.9	39th	708th of 911
Per capita income	$35,680	$38,610	$40,877	$44,673	36th	589th of 911
Diversity index	34.5	33.5	31.4	61.4	29th	91st of 911
Housing vacancy	4.3%	7.1%	8.5%	10.1%	25th	723rd of 909
Median home value	$193,000	$258,700	$208,000	$332,700	20th	299th of 881
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,875	$37,654	$47,712	$49,666	13th	842nd of 910
Healthcare workers	6.7%	8.4%	9.2%	9.7%	13th	619th of 911
Work from home	5.6%	11.8%	11.3%	15.1%	10th	659th of 911
Broadband accessWeakness	83.7%	80.4%	88.9%	91%	9th	706th of 909
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.361	0.469	0.444	0.483	4th	650th of 908
Median gross rent	$693	$1,018	$972	$1,413	3rd	591st of 771
Population density	19/sq mi	176/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	491st of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	20.8%	48.6%	43.9%	51.1%	2nd	631st of 882
Population	891	100,466	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	502nd of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	4.8%	3.6%	5.2%	1st	895th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	1%	4.2%	5%	8.4%	1st	794th 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

19%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

14%

35–44

16%

45–54

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.6

Under 18

25.5%

65 and over

18.7%

Race and ethnicity

White80%
Black0.8%
Hispanic10%
Asian0.3%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial9%

Diversity index

34.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

79.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 337
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 58.8%
Married couples: 48.7%
Living alone: 36.8%
Veterans (of adults): 9%
Male / female: 55% / 45%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

50278

$74,306

Story Co.

$69,685

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,680

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.361

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50278

$193,000

Story Co.

$258,700

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50278

$693

Story Co.

$1,018

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

95%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.6%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 352
Owner-occupied: 83.4%
Vacant: 4.3%
Median year built: 1956
Median rooms: 6.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 20.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 12.5%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

69%

Carpooled

21%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

20%

20–29

21%

30–44

27%

45–59

60+

12%

Average commute

28.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

65.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

21%

Farming, fishing and forestry

16%

Office and admin

11%

Engineering and science

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Education

Sales

Computer and math

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Legal and social services

Food service

Business and finance

0.7%

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Police and fire

Industries

Agriculture and mining

31%

Manufacturing

18%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Education

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Retail

Information

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

0.9%

Other services

0.7%

Wholesale

0.7%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$36,875

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

16%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

1.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50278	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,000	$74,888
Service	$11,563	$26,804
Sales and office	$29,688	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$36,661	$49,199
Production and transportation	$55,833	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

26%

Some college

23%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

31%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 95.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 35.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.6%
Households with broadband: 83.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 67.4%
No internet access: 15.7%
Without health insurance: 1%
Limited-English households: 2.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Zearing
State: Iowa
County: Story County
Center point: 42.1556° N, 93.3012° W
Land area: 46 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Zearing2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50278

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50154	Mc Callsburg, IA	4.8 mi	394	$69,219	$187,500
50239	Saint Anthony, IA	5.1 mi	354	$151,250	$354,200
50102	Garden City, IA	8 mi	36	—	$110,200
50206	New Providence, IA	8 mi	349	$79,306	$112,500
50051	Clemons, IA	8.3 mi	224	$60,000	$207,000
50056	Colo, IA	9.3 mi	1,003	$73,333	$184,500
50236	Roland, IA	9.8 mi	1,761	$85,046	$198,900
50122	Hubbard, IA	9.9 mi	1,297	$81,739	$115,500
50201	Nevada, IA	11 mi	8,320	$81,027	$193,200
50247	State Center, IA	12 mi	2,004	$91,875	$181,300
50011	Ames, IA · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
50258	Union, IA	13 mi	958	$83,988	$109,800

Questions about 50278

What city is zip code 50278?

50278 is assigned to Zearing, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50278 in?

50278 is in Story County, Iowa.

What is the population of 50278?

About 891 people live in 50278, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50278 in?

50278 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50278?

The median household income in 50278 is $74,306.

What zip codes are near 50278?

The closest zip codes to 50278 are 50154, 50239, 50102, 50206, 50051.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50278, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.