Zip code 50588: Storm Lake, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50588?

50588 is assigned to Storm Lake, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50588 in?

50588 is mostly in Buena Vista County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 50588?

About 13,431 people live in 50588, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50588?

The median household income in 50588 is $70,906.

Q: What zip codes are near 50588?

The closest zip codes to 50588 are 50592, 50568, 51002, 50567, 50576.

Residential delivery areaBuena Vista CountyCentral Time

Population

13,431

Median household income

$71K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$185K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$897/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

32.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

139 sq mi

97 people/sq mi

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

About 50588

50588 is a small-town zip code in Storm Lake, Iowa (Buena Vista County), covering 139 sq mi of land. About 13,431 people live here, or 97 per square mile. The median resident is 32.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $70,906 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 7.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $184,900, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $897 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 10.9 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; transportation and moving goods; and office and administrative support. 52% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 50588 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Diversity index67.5
88th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.44th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1826.9%
86th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%207th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents27.6%
84th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%4th of 911 in IA
Broadband access94%
66th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%141st of 909 in IA
Homeownership rate69.3%
52nd
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%795th of 909 in IA
Uninsured rate6.7%
49th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%182nd of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy6.1%
45th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%623rd of 909 in IA
Median earnings per worker$45,009
40th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712567th of 910 in IA
Self-employed workers8.4%
38th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%711th of 911 in IA
Median household income$70,906
37th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059536th of 896 in IA
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%217th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.416
33rd
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444331st of 908 in IA
Residents 65 and older14.2%
32nd
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%767th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate7.7%
30th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%507th of 909 in IA
Per capita income$32,895
27th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877707th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher22.3%
27th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%399th of 911 in IA
Population13,431
20th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,50762nd of 911 in IA
Median home value$184,900
18th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000329th of 881 in IA
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%380th of 911 in IA
Population density97/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi171st of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$897
13th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972267th of 771 in IA
Veterans2.6%
11th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%857th of 911 in IA
Government workers8.6%
10th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%733rd of 911 in IA
Median age32.2
8th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6851st of 911 in IA
Work from home5%
8th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%692nd of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers5.3%
5th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%721st of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters27.7%
4th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%544th of 882 in IA
Average commute10.9 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min898th of 902 in IA

Measure	50588	Buena Vista	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Diversity index	67.5	63.1	31.4	61.4	88th	4th of 911
Residents under 18	26.9%	26.6%	22.9%	22%	86th	207th of 911
Foreign-born residents	27.6%	21.3%	5.9%	14.1%	84th	4th of 911
Broadband access	94%	92.1%	88.9%	91%	66th	141st of 909
Homeownership rate	69.3%	73.2%	71.7%	65.2%	52nd	795th of 909
Uninsured rate	6.7%	6.2%	5%	8.4%	49th	182nd of 911
Housing vacancy	6.1%	9%	8.5%	10.1%	45th	623rd of 909
Median earnings per worker	$45,009	$45,386	$47,712	$49,666	40th	567th of 910
Self-employed workers	8.4%	10.4%	10.2%	10%	38th	711th of 911
Median household income	$70,906	$71,719	$75,059	$80,734	37th	536th of 896
Unemployment rate	4%	5.5%	3.6%	5.2%	34th	217th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.416	0.422	0.444	0.483	33rd	331st of 908
Residents 65 and older	14.2%	16.3%	18.1%	17.2%	32nd	767th of 911
Poverty rate	7.7%	7.8%	11.1%	12.5%	30th	507th of 909
Per capita income	$32,895	$34,666	$40,877	$44,673	27th	707th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	22.3%	22.2%	31.4%	35.7%	27th	399th of 911
Population	13,431	20,753	3,210,507	334,922,499	20th	62nd of 911
Median home value	$184,900	$159,500	$208,000	$332,700	18th	329th of 881
Tech workers	1.1%	1%	2.9%	3.8%	15th	380th of 911
Population density	97/sq mi	36/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	171st of 911
Median gross rent	$897	$894	$972	$1,413	13th	267th of 771
Veterans	2.6%	4.1%	6.5%	6.2%	11th	857th of 911
Government workers	8.6%	10.1%	14.5%	14.5%	10th	733rd of 911
Median age	32.2	35.6	38.6	38.9	8th	851st of 911
Work from home	5%	5.6%	11.3%	15.1%	8th	692nd of 911
Healthcare workers	5.3%	6.3%	9.2%	9.7%	5th	721st of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	27.7%	29.9%	43.9%	51.1%	4th	544th of 882
Average commuteStrength	10.9 min	14 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	1st	898th 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

20%

5–17

13%

18–24

13%

25–34

14%

35–44

10%

45–54

10%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

32.2

Under 18

26.9%

65 and over

14.2%

Race and ethnicity

White39%
Black3%
Hispanic40%
Asian11%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander4%
Other0.5%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

67.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

27.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

51.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

48%

Spanish

35%

Other Indo-European

0.8%

Asian / Pacific

12%

Other

Households

Households: 4,630
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 64%
Married couples: 47.1%
Living alone: 25.6%
Veterans (of adults): 2.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

11%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

19%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50588

$70,906

Buena Vista Co.

$71,719

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,895

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.416

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50588

$184,900

Buena Vista Co.

$159,500

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50588

$897

Buena Vista Co.

$894

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

11%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,929
Owner-occupied: 69.3%
Vacant: 6.1%
Median year built: 1969
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 27.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.7%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

69%

Carpooled

19%

Transit

0.9%

Walked

Bicycle

0.4%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

55%

10–19

34%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

10.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

68.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

30%

Transportation and moving

10%

Office and admin

Management

Sales

Construction and repair

Education

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Industries

Manufacturing

39%

Education

12%

Retail

11%

Health care and social assistance

Construction

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

0.6%

Information

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$45,009

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50588	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,837	$74,888
Service	$28,644	$26,804
Sales and office	$46,458	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,052	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,630	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

25%

High school

32%

Some college

12%

Associate's

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 75.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 8%
Households with broadband: 94%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.6%
No internet access: 4.3%
Without health insurance: 6.7%
Limited-English households: 22.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Storm Lake
State: Iowa
County: Buena Vista County
Center point: 42.6546° N, 95.1616° W
Land area: 139 sq mi
Water area: 4.9 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50588 spans 2 counties

Buena Vista County99% of land
Sac County1% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Storm Lake4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50588

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50592	Truesdale, IA	5.3 mi	187	$100,076	$35,800
50568	Newell, IA	8.2 mi	1,384	$75,250	$137,700
51002	Alta, IA	8.6 mi	2,787	$70,625	$167,100
50567	Nemaha, IA	9.9 mi	280	$78,125	$170,000
50576	Rembrandt, IA	10 mi	277	$67,500	$116,300
50510	Albert City, IA	12 mi	1,042	$76,397	$110,700
51053	Schaller, IA	13 mi	1,016	$72,534	$91,800
50593	Varina, IA	13 mi	29	$50,625	$55,000
50535	Early, IA	14 mi	1,198	$91,995	$94,800
51005	Aurelia, IA	14 mi	1,561	$75,938	$169,200
51020	Galva, IA	16 mi	632	$80,066	$92,500
50565	Marathon, IA	16 mi	380	$51,875	$59,700

Zip codes like 50588 elsewhere

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

Questions about 50588

What city is zip code 50588?

50588 is assigned to Storm Lake, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50588 in?

50588 is mostly in Buena Vista County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 50588?

About 13,431 people live in 50588, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50588 in?

50588 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50588?

The median household income in 50588 is $70,906.

What zip codes are near 50588?

The closest zip codes to 50588 are 50592, 50568, 51002, 50567, 50576.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50588, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.