Zip code 50479: Thornton, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50479?

50479 is assigned to Thornton, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50479 in?

50479 is mostly in Cerro Gordo County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 50479?

About 655 people live in 50479, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50479?

The median household income in 50479 is $68,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 50479?

The closest zip codes to 50479 are 50457, 50477, 50449, 50420, 50475.

Residential delivery areaCerro Gordo CountyCentral Time

Population

655

Median household income

$69K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$121K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$839/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

32.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

58 sq mi

11 people/sq mi

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

About 50479

50479 is a rural zip code in Thornton, Iowa (Cerro Gordo County), covering 58 sq mi of land. About 655 people live here, or 11 per square mile. The median resident is 32.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $68,750 a year, 15% below the national median of $80,734. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $121,100, or 1.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 87% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $839 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.7 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; office and administrative support; and production and manufacturing.

How 50479 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate87.2%
92nd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%256th of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older21.2%
80th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%396th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1825.2%
76th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%300th of 911 in IA
Tech workers4.2%
71st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%77th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy9.7%
70th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%413th of 909 in IA
Broadband access93.8%
64th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%155th of 909 in IA
Veterans6.3%
57th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%527th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$50,109
56th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712324th of 910 in IA
Government workers12.7%
42nd
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%486th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$35,464
36th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877603rd of 911 in IA
Poverty rate8.7%
36th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%437th of 909 in IA
Median household income$68,750
34th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059573rd of 896 in IA
Average commute23.7 min
34th
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min383rd of 902 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher21%
23rd
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%452nd of 911 in IA
Work from home6.7%
15th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%583rd of 911 in IA
Diversity index18
11th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4304th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$839
9th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972358th of 771 in IA
Median age32.3
9th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6848th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters35.5%
9th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%422nd of 882 in IA
Uninsured rate2.3%
7th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%627th of 911 in IA
Median home value$121,100
5th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000663rd of 881 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.365
5th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444626th of 908 in IA
Foreign-born residents0.5%
3rd
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%562nd of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers4.5%
3rd
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%848th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate1.2%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%613th of 911 in IA
Population655
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507606th of 911 in IA
Population density11/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi724th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers3%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%823rd of 911 in IA

Measure	50479	Cerro Gordo	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Homeownership rateStrength	87.2%	70.4%	71.7%	65.2%	92nd	256th of 909
Residents 65 and older	21.2%	23.5%	18.1%	17.2%	80th	396th of 911
Residents under 18	25.2%	20.8%	22.9%	22%	76th	300th of 911
Tech workers	4.2%	1%	2.9%	3.8%	71st	77th of 911
Housing vacancy	9.7%	14.3%	8.5%	10.1%	70th	413th of 909
Broadband access	93.8%	89.2%	88.9%	91%	64th	155th of 909
Veterans	6.3%	7.9%	6.5%	6.2%	57th	527th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$50,109	$44,266	$47,712	$49,666	56th	324th of 910
Government workers	12.7%	11.2%	14.5%	14.5%	42nd	486th of 911
Per capita income	$35,464	$41,560	$40,877	$44,673	36th	603rd of 911
Poverty rate	8.7%	10.6%	11.1%	12.5%	36th	437th of 909
Median household income	$68,750	$68,189	$75,059	$80,734	34th	573rd of 896
Average commute	23.7 min	15.6 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	34th	383rd of 902
Bachelor's degree or higher	21%	24%	31.4%	35.7%	23rd	452nd of 911
Work from home	6.7%	7.2%	11.3%	15.1%	15th	583rd of 911
Diversity index	18	21.7	31.4	61.4	11th	304th of 911
Median gross rent	$839	$850	$972	$1,413	9th	358th of 771
Median age	32.3	44	38.6	38.9	9th	848th of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	35.5%	34.6%	43.9%	51.1%	9th	422nd of 882
Uninsured rateStrength	2.3%	4.5%	5%	8.4%	7th	627th of 911
Median home value	$121,100	$166,400	$208,000	$332,700	5th	663rd of 881
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.365	0.456	0.444	0.483	5th	626th of 908
Foreign-born residents	0.5%	2.6%	5.9%	14.1%	3rd	562nd of 911
Self-employed workers	4.5%	9.9%	10.2%	10%	3rd	848th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	1.2%	2.6%	3.6%	5.2%	2nd	613th of 911
Population	655	42,632	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	606th of 911
Population density	11/sq mi	75/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	724th of 911
Healthcare workers	3%	11.2%	9.2%	9.7%	1st	823rd 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

16%

5–17

18–24

21%

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

16%

75+

Median age

32.3

Under 18

25.2%

65 and over

21.2%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0%
Hispanic7%
Asian0.2%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

0.3%

Other

Households

Households: 288
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 71.2%
Married couples: 57.6%
Living alone: 26.4%
Veterans (of adults): 6.3%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

30%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50479

$68,750

Cerro Gordo Co.

$68,189

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,464

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.365

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50479

$121,100

Cerro Gordo Co.

$166,400

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50479

$839

Cerro Gordo Co.

$850

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

94%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 319
Owner-occupied: 87.2%
Vacant: 9.7%
Median year built: 1945
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 35.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 25.8%
Home value to income: 1.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

26%

20–29

38%

30–44

19%

45–59

60+

Average commute

23.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

15%

Office and admin

14%

Production

12%

Transportation and moving

10%

Education

Sales

Management

Farming, fishing and forestry

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Healthcare

Business and finance

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Food service

Industries

Manufacturing

24%

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Agriculture and mining

Education

Construction

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

0.9%

Information

0.6%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$50,109

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

4.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50479	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,250	$74,888
Service	$45,313	$26,804
Sales and office	$44,375	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$51,406	$49,199
Production and transportation	$38,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

30%

Some college

26%

Associate's

17%

Bachelor's

19%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.1%
Households with broadband: 93.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 69.4%
No internet access: 4.9%
Without health insurance: 2.3%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Thornton
State: Iowa
County: Cerro Gordo County
Center point: 42.9412° N, 93.4082° W
Land area: 58 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50479 spans 2 counties

Cerro Gordo County73% of land
Franklin County28% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Thornton2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50479

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50457	Meservey, IA	4.7 mi	463	$47,250	$90,800
50477	Swaledale, IA	5.2 mi	250	$52,321	$83,000
50449	Klemme, IA	8.2 mi	785	$59,524	$94,800
50420	Alexander, IA	9.6 mi	473	$76,250	$101,600
50475	Sheffield, IA	11 mi	1,446	$70,938	$165,300
50439	Goodell, IA	11 mi	454	$94,167	$80,000
50452	Latimer, IA	11 mi	946	$66,250	$120,200
50469	Rockwell, IA	11 mi	1,527	$71,250	$211,700
50427	Chapin, IA	12 mi	137	$73,091	$94,000
50421	Belmond, IA	13 mi	3,168	$64,438	$135,900
50482	Ventura, IA	13 mi	748	$98,289	$238,000
50428	Clear Lake, IA	14 mi	9,071	$81,037	$283,400

Questions about 50479

What city is zip code 50479?

50479 is assigned to Thornton, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50479 in?

50479 is mostly in Cerro Gordo County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 50479?

About 655 people live in 50479, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50479 in?

50479 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50479?

The median household income in 50479 is $68,750.

What zip codes are near 50479?

The closest zip codes to 50479 are 50457, 50477, 50449, 50420, 50475.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50479, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.