Zip code 50597: West Bend, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50597?

50597 is assigned to West Bend, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50597 in?

50597 is mostly in Palo Alto County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 50597?

About 1,341 people live in 50597, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50597?

The median household income in 50597 is $92,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 50597?

The closest zip codes to 50597 are 50570, 50598, 50562, 50581, 50519.

Residential delivery areaPalo Alto CountyCentral Time

Population

1,341

Median household income

$92K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$180K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$613/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

83 sq mi

16 people/sq mi

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

About 50597

50597 is a rural zip code in West Bend, Iowa (Palo Alto County), covering 83 sq mi of land. About 1,341 people live here, or 16 per square mile. The median resident is 37.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $92,000 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 5.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $179,700, or 2.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 88% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $613 a month.

23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 16.1 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; transportation and moving goods; and healthcare. 22% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 50597 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers22.4%
99th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%125th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate88.1%
93rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%228th of 909 in IA
Residents under 1827.1%
87th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%201st of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers12.5%
85th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%170th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older19.9%
73rd
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%481st of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy9.9%
71st
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%406th of 909 in IA
Median household income$92,000
64th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059166th of 896 in IA
Per capita income$43,214
58th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877244th of 911 in IA
Veterans6.1%
54th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%554th of 911 in IA
Broadband access91.7%
46th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%277th of 909 in IA
Median earnings per worker$46,429
45th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712510th of 910 in IA
Median age37.5
38th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6713th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.415
33rd
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444334th of 908 in IA
Uninsured rate4.8%
31st
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%338th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher23.2%
29th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%367th of 911 in IA
Median home value$179,700
17th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000354th of 881 in IA
Poverty rate5.5%
15th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%658th of 909 in IA
Foreign-born residents2%
12th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%324th of 911 in IA
Diversity index18.2
11th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4297th of 911 in IA
Work from home5.7%
10th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%653rd of 911 in IA
Government workers7.8%
6th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%772nd of 911 in IA
Tech workers0.4%
5th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%550th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate1.8%
4th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%522nd of 911 in IA
Population1,341
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507382nd of 911 in IA
Population density16/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi580th of 911 in IA
Average commute16.1 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min824th of 902 in IA
Rent-burdened renters20.4%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%635th of 882 in IA
Median gross rent$613
1st
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972699th of 771 in IA

Measure	50597	Palo Alto	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Self-employed workers	22.4%	13.6%	10.2%	10%	99th	125th of 911
Homeownership rateStrength	88.1%	77.1%	71.7%	65.2%	93rd	228th of 909
Residents under 18	27.1%	23.1%	22.9%	22%	87th	201st of 911
Healthcare workers	12.5%	8.5%	9.2%	9.7%	85th	170th of 911
Residents 65 and older	19.9%	22.2%	18.1%	17.2%	73rd	481st of 911
Housing vacancy	9.9%	16.6%	8.5%	10.1%	71st	406th of 909
Median household income	$92,000	$72,781	$75,059	$80,734	64th	166th of 896
Per capita income	$43,214	$37,828	$40,877	$44,673	58th	244th of 911
Veterans	6.1%	7.4%	6.5%	6.2%	54th	554th of 911
Broadband access	91.7%	89.8%	88.9%	91%	46th	277th of 909
Median earnings per worker	$46,429	$41,135	$47,712	$49,666	45th	510th of 910
Median age	37.5	41.9	38.6	38.9	38th	713th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.415	0.416	0.444	0.483	33rd	334th of 908
Uninsured rate	4.8%	4.8%	5%	8.4%	31st	338th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	23.2%	19%	31.4%	35.7%	29th	367th of 911
Median home value	$179,700	$123,200	$208,000	$332,700	17th	354th of 881
Poverty rateStrength	5.5%	11.6%	11.1%	12.5%	15th	658th of 909
Foreign-born residents	2%	2.5%	5.9%	14.1%	12th	324th of 911
Diversity index	18.2	16.5	31.4	61.4	11th	297th of 911
Work from home	5.7%	4.9%	11.3%	15.1%	10th	653rd of 911
Government workers	7.8%	11.1%	14.5%	14.5%	6th	772nd of 911
Tech workers	0.4%	0.4%	2.9%	3.8%	5th	550th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	1.8%	2.2%	3.6%	5.2%	4th	522nd of 911
Population	1,341	8,863	3,210,507	334,922,499	2nd	382nd of 911
Population density	16/sq mi	16/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	580th of 911
Average commuteStrength	16.1 min	17.2 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	2nd	824th of 902
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	20.4%	42.4%	43.9%	51.1%	2nd	635th of 882
Median gross rent	$613	$638	$972	$1,413	1st	699th of 771

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

21%

5–17

11%

18–24

25–34

13%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.5

Under 18

27.1%

65 and over

19.9%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0.7%
Hispanic8%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

18.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 494
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 68.2%
Married couples: 62.6%
Living alone: 25.5%
Veterans (of adults): 6.1%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

13%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

24%

$150–200k

13%

$200k+

Median household income

50597

$92,000

Palo Alto Co.

$72,781

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$43,214

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

5.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

21.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.415

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50597

$179,700

Palo Alto Co.

$123,200

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50597

$613

Palo Alto Co.

$638

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

92%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.4%

Mobile home

0.9%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 548
Owner-occupied: 88.1%
Vacant: 9.9%
Median year built: 1962
Median rooms: 6.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 20.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.3%
Home value to income: 2.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

0.3%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

46%

10–19

20%

20–29

18%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

16.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

68.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

22%

Transportation and moving

13%

Healthcare

13%

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Production

Education

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Farming, fishing and forestry

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Food service

Computer and math

0.4%

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Police and fire

Industries

Agriculture and mining

19%

Health care and social assistance

18%

Manufacturing

10%

Retail

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Education

Construction

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

0.9%

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Information

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$46,429

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

22.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

7.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50597	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$62,143	$74,888
Service	$24,464	$26,804
Sales and office	$41,250	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$67,679	$49,199
Production and transportation	$43,063	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

23%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

19%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Households with broadband: 91.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 69.4%
No internet access: 7.3%
Without health insurance: 4.8%
Limited-English households: 4.5%

Geography

City (USPS): West Bend
State: Iowa
County: Palo Alto County
Center point: 42.9753° N, 94.4517° W
Land area: 83 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50597 spans 4 counties

Palo Alto County55% of land
Kossuth County42% of land
Humboldt County1% of land
Pocahontas County1% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

West Bend1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50597

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50570	Ottosen, IA	7 mi	203	$67,813	$202,000
50598	Whittemore, IA	7.4 mi	818	$78,558	$110,900
50562	Mallard, IA	9.7 mi	377	$72,500	$100,000
50581	Rolfe, IA	10 mi	809	$57,500	$93,000
50519	Bode, IA	11 mi	765	$72,083	$123,600
50573	Plover, IA	11 mi	31	$48,542	—
50520	Bradgate, IA	12 mi	114	$73,750	$44,300
50528	Cylinder, IA	12 mi	366	$116,429	$187,500
50511	Algona, IA	14 mi	7,240	$66,642	$180,800
50582	Rutland, IA	15 mi	170	$87,125	—
50536	Emmetsburg, IA	16 mi	4,207	$59,261	$122,000
50546	Havelock, IA	16 mi	356	$64,583	—

Zip codes like 50597 elsewhere

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

Questions about 50597

What city is zip code 50597?

50597 is assigned to West Bend, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50597 in?

50597 is mostly in Palo Alto County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 50597?

About 1,341 people live in 50597, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50597 in?

50597 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50597?

The median household income in 50597 is $92,000.

What zip codes are near 50597?

The closest zip codes to 50597 are 50570, 50598, 50562, 50581, 50519.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50597, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.