Zip code 50536: Emmetsburg, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50536?

50536 is assigned to Emmetsburg, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50536 in?

50536 is in Palo Alto County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 50536?

About 4,207 people live in 50536, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50536?

The median household income in 50536 is $59,261.

Q: What zip codes are near 50536?

The closest zip codes to 50536 are 50528, 51342, 51358, 50562, 50527.

Residential delivery areaPalo Alto CountyCentral Time

Population

4,207

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$122K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$632/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

142 sq mi

30 people/sq mi

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

About 50536

50536 is a rural zip code in Emmetsburg, Iowa (Palo Alto County), covering 142 sq mi of land. About 4,207 people live here, or 30 per square mile. The median resident is 43.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,261 a year, 27% below the national median of $80,734. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $122,000, or 2.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $632 a month.

16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 14.4 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; transportation and moving goods; and sales.

How 50536 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older24%
90th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%262nd of 911 in IA
Median age43.9
81st
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6377th of 911 in IA
Veterans8.4%
81st
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%288th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers12.7%
81st
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%504th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy11.1%
76th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%332nd of 909 in IA
Poverty rate15.2%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%155th of 909 in IA
Homeownership rate70.3%
54th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%778th of 909 in IA
Rent-burdened renters47.6%
38th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%223rd of 882 in IA
Healthcare workers8.7%
38th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%430th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$35,611
36th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877595th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1820.5%
36th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%620th of 911 in IA
Broadband access88.4%
25th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%468th of 909 in IA
Uninsured rate4.2%
24th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%399th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.404
24th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444396th of 908 in IA
Government workers10.6%
23rd
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%633rd of 911 in IA
Median household income$59,261
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059761st of 896 in IA
Median earnings per worker$37,254
15th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712833rd of 910 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher16.3%
12th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%664th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents1.7%
10th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%358th of 911 in IA
Population4,207
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507159th of 911 in IA
Work from home4.8%
7th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%712th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate2.2%
7th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%463rd of 911 in IA
Median home value$122,000
5th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000656th of 881 in IA
Population density30/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi342nd of 911 in IA
Tech workers0.3%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%577th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$632
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972669th of 771 in IA
Diversity index7
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4702nd of 911 in IA
Average commute14.4 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min865th of 902 in IA

Measure	50536	Palo Alto	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Residents 65 and older	24%	22.2%	18.1%	17.2%	90th	262nd of 911
Median age	43.9	41.9	38.6	38.9	81st	377th of 911
Veterans	8.4%	7.4%	6.5%	6.2%	81st	288th of 911
Self-employed workers	12.7%	13.6%	10.2%	10%	81st	504th of 911
Housing vacancy	11.1%	16.6%	8.5%	10.1%	76th	332nd of 909
Poverty rate	15.2%	11.6%	11.1%	12.5%	70th	155th of 909
Homeownership rate	70.3%	77.1%	71.7%	65.2%	54th	778th of 909
Rent-burdened renters	47.6%	42.4%	43.9%	51.1%	38th	223rd of 882
Healthcare workers	8.7%	8.5%	9.2%	9.7%	38th	430th of 911
Per capita income	$35,611	$37,828	$40,877	$44,673	36th	595th of 911
Residents under 18	20.5%	23.1%	22.9%	22%	36th	620th of 911
Broadband access	88.4%	89.8%	88.9%	91%	25th	468th of 909
Uninsured rate	4.2%	4.8%	5%	8.4%	24th	399th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.404	0.416	0.444	0.483	24th	396th of 908
Government workers	10.6%	11.1%	14.5%	14.5%	23rd	633rd of 911
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,261	$72,781	$75,059	$80,734	19th	761st of 896
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$37,254	$41,135	$47,712	$49,666	15th	833rd of 910
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16.3%	19%	31.4%	35.7%	12th	664th of 911
Foreign-born residents	1.7%	2.5%	5.9%	14.1%	10th	358th of 911
Population	4,207	8,863	3,210,507	334,922,499	7th	159th of 911
Work from home	4.8%	4.9%	11.3%	15.1%	7th	712th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	2.2%	2.2%	3.6%	5.2%	7th	463rd of 911
Median home value	$122,000	$123,200	$208,000	$332,700	5th	656th of 881
Population density	30/sq mi	16/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	342nd of 911
Tech workers	0.3%	0.4%	2.9%	3.8%	4th	577th of 911
Median gross rent	$632	$638	$972	$1,413	2nd	669th of 771
Diversity index	7	16.5	31.4	61.4	2nd	702nd of 911
Average commuteStrength	14.4 min	17.2 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	1st	865th of 902

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

14%

5–17

10%

18–24

11%

25–34

11%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

43.9

Under 18

20.5%

65 and over

24%

Race and ethnicity

White96%
Black0.1%
Hispanic2%
Asian1%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.5%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

81.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.3%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,859
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 52.2%
Married couples: 43.4%
Living alone: 40.6%
Veterans (of adults): 8.4%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50536

$59,261

Palo Alto Co.

$72,781

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,611

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.404

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50536

$122,000

Palo Alto Co.

$123,200

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50536

$632

Palo Alto Co.

$638

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: 2,092
Owner-occupied: 70.3%
Vacant: 11.1%
Median year built: 1960
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 47.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 13.9%
Home value to income: 2.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

Transit

0.7%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

57%

10–19

18%

20–29

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

14.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

19%

Transportation and moving

17%

Sales

12%

Healthcare

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Food service

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Education

Legal and social services

Police and fire

0.5%

Computer and math

0.3%

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Engineering and science

0.3%

Industries

Construction

15%

Retail

15%

Manufacturing

14%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Agriculture and mining

11%

Education

Arts and recreation

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Other services

Information

0.8%

Admin, support and management

Median earnings per worker

$37,254

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50536	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$63,348	$74,888
Service	$18,250	$26,804
Sales and office	$33,438	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,197	$49,199
Production and transportation	$32,236	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

32%

Some college

28%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

12%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.2%
Households with broadband: 88.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.2%
No internet access: 9.1%
Without health insurance: 4.2%
Limited-English households: 1.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Emmetsburg
State: Iowa
County: Palo Alto County
Center point: 43.1174° N, 94.6954° W
Land area: 142 sq mi
Water area: 1.5 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Emmetsburg3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50536

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50528	Cylinder, IA	7.9 mi	366	$116,429	$187,500
51342	Graettinger, IA	9.3 mi	1,385	$84,866	$108,900
51358	Ruthven, IA	10 mi	1,213	$64,583	$150,500
50562	Mallard, IA	11 mi	377	$72,500	$100,000
50527	Curlew, IA	11 mi	106	—	—
50515	Ayrshire, IA	12 mi	251	$63,333	$29,300
51365	Wallingford, IA	13 mi	416	$71,667	$129,300
50598	Whittemore, IA	14 mi	818	$78,558	$110,900
50578	Ringsted, IA	15 mi	633	$71,645	$106,500
51333	Dickens, IA	16 mi	374	$110,833	$195,600
50597	West Bend, IA	16 mi	1,341	$92,000	$179,700
50539	Fenton, IA	16 mi	444	$65,417	$70,800

Zip codes like 50536 elsewhere

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

Questions about 50536

What city is zip code 50536?

50536 is assigned to Emmetsburg, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50536 in?

50536 is in Palo Alto County, Iowa.

What is the population of 50536?

About 4,207 people live in 50536, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50536 in?

50536 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50536?

The median household income in 50536 is $59,261.

What zip codes are near 50536?

The closest zip codes to 50536 are 50528, 51342, 51358, 50562, 50527.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50536, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.