Zip code 50851: Lenox, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50851?

50851 is assigned to Lenox, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50851 in?

50851 is mostly in Taylor County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 50851?

About 2,193 people live in 50851, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50851?

The median household income in 50851 is $70,926.

Q: What zip codes are near 50851?

The closest zip codes to 50851 are 50840, 50862, 50842, 50859, 50845.

Residential delivery areaTaylor CountyCentral Time

Population

2,193

Median household income

$71K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$121K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,054/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

133 sq mi

17 people/sq mi

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

About 50851

50851 is a rural zip code in Lenox, Iowa (Taylor County), covering 133 sq mi of land. About 2,193 people live here, or 17 per square mile. The median resident is 40.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $70,926 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 11.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $121,000, or 1.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 79% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,054 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 17.1 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; management; and transportation and moving goods.

How 50851 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy13.7%
84th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%219th of 909 in IA
Residents under 1826.2%
82nd
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%242nd of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older21.1%
79th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%408th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate78.5%
75th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%588th of 909 in IA
Veterans7.7%
74th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%367th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers11.3%
72nd
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%567th of 911 in IA
Median age40.3
60th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6585th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers10%
58th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%318th of 911 in IA
Government workers14.7%
58th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%357th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate11.3%
52nd
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%289th of 909 in IA
Median household income$70,926
37th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059535th of 896 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444306th of 908 in IA
Median earnings per worker$43,750
35th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712628th of 910 in IA
Foreign-born residents5.4%
31st
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%127th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$33,567
29th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877673rd of 911 in IA
Diversity index32.9
27th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4105th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$1,054
25th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972125th of 771 in IA
Work from home7.4%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%543rd of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher18.4%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%575th of 911 in IA
Broadband access84.4%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%678th of 909 in IA
Uninsured rate2.2%
6th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%652nd of 911 in IA
Median home value$121,000
5th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000665th of 881 in IA
Tech workers0.4%
5th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%555th of 911 in IA
Average commute17.1 min
4th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min783rd of 902 in IA
Rent-burdened renters28.5%
4th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%527th of 882 in IA
Population2,193
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507259th of 911 in IA
Population density17/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi560th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate0.9%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%684th of 911 in IA

Measure	50851	Taylor	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Housing vacancy	13.7%	13.9%	8.5%	10.1%	84th	219th of 909
Residents under 18	26.2%	22.7%	22.9%	22%	82nd	242nd of 911
Residents 65 and older	21.1%	22.9%	18.1%	17.2%	79th	408th of 911
Homeownership rate	78.5%	77.9%	71.7%	65.2%	75th	588th of 909
Veterans	7.7%	8.7%	6.5%	6.2%	74th	367th of 911
Self-employed workers	11.3%	14%	10.2%	10%	72nd	567th of 911
Median age	40.3	43.8	38.6	38.9	60th	585th of 911
Healthcare workers	10%	12.3%	9.2%	9.7%	58th	318th of 911
Government workers	14.7%	18.4%	14.5%	14.5%	58th	357th of 911
Poverty rate	11.3%	11%	11.1%	12.5%	52nd	289th of 909
Median household income	$70,926	$67,740	$75,059	$80,734	37th	535th of 896
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.421	0.444	0.483	36th	306th of 908
Median earnings per worker	$43,750	$45,137	$47,712	$49,666	35th	628th of 910
Foreign-born residents	5.4%	3.2%	5.9%	14.1%	31st	127th of 911
Per capita income	$33,567	$35,477	$40,877	$44,673	29th	673rd of 911
Diversity index	32.9	20.3	31.4	61.4	27th	105th of 911
Median gross rent	$1,054	$765	$972	$1,413	25th	125th of 771
Work from home	7.4%	3%	11.3%	15.1%	19th	543rd of 911
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	18.4%	16%	31.4%	35.7%	17th	575th of 911
Broadband accessWeakness	84.4%	84.5%	88.9%	91%	11th	678th of 909
Uninsured rateStrength	2.2%	3.5%	5%	8.4%	6th	652nd of 911
Median home value	$121,000	$117,200	$208,000	$332,700	5th	665th of 881
Tech workers	0.4%	1.1%	2.9%	3.8%	5th	555th of 911
Average commuteStrength	17.1 min	20.9 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	4th	783rd of 902
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	28.5%	31.4%	43.9%	51.1%	4th	527th of 882
Population	2,193	5,868	3,210,507	334,922,499	3rd	259th of 911
Population density	17/sq mi	11/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	560th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	0.9%	2.9%	3.6%	5.2%	1st	684th 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

21%

5–17

10%

18–24

25–34

12%

35–44

14%

45–54

10%

55–64

10%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

40.3

Under 18

26.2%

65 and over

21.1%

Race and ethnicity

White80%
Black0%
Hispanic17%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

32.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

66.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

88%

Spanish

12%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 860
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 72.4%
Married couples: 58.4%
Living alone: 25.3%
Veterans (of adults): 7.7%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50851

$70,926

Taylor Co.

$67,740

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$33,567

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

11.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50851

$121,000

Taylor Co.

$117,200

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50851

$1,054

Taylor Co.

$765

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

84%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 997
Owner-occupied: 78.5%
Vacant: 13.7%
Median year built: 1960
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 28.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.3%
Home value to income: 1.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

15%

Transit

0.2%

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

43%

10–19

18%

20–29

21%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

17.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

0.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

65.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

17%

Management

13%

Transportation and moving

12%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

Sales

Construction and repair

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Education

Legal and social services

0.7%

Computer and math

0.4%

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Manufacturing

29%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Agriculture and mining

11%

Retail

11%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Education

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Information

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Professional and technical services

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$43,750

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50851	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$46,955	$74,888
Service	$19,375	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,056	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$27,344	$49,199
Production and transportation	$45,711	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

39%

Some college

23%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
Households with broadband: 84.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 56.6%
No internet access: 11.3%
Without health insurance: 2.2%
Limited-English households: 1.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Lenox
State: Iowa
County: Taylor County
Center point: 40.9086° N, 94.5370° W
Land area: 133 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50851 spans 4 counties

Taylor County44% of land
Adams County34% of land
Union County17% of land
Ringgold County4% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Lenox1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 50851

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50840	Clearfield, IA	8.7 mi	552	$63,125	$180,200
50862	Sharpsburg, IA	8.9 mi	123	$61,953	$108,800
50842	Cromwell, IA	9.9 mi	99	$59,583	$104,700
50859	Prescott, IA	11 mi	676	$76,875	$163,500
50845	Diagonal, IA	12 mi	831	$66,563	$100,000
50801	Creston, IA	14 mi	9,034	$58,015	$124,900
50841	Corning, IA	14 mi	2,340	$66,875	$116,700
50848	Gravity, IA	14 mi	256	$68,250	$158,800
50861	Shannon City, IA	15 mi	311	$63,125	—
50835	Benton, IA	16 mi	69	$58,125	—
50831	Arispe, IA	17 mi	22	$95,625	—
50839	Carbon, IA	18 mi	46	$48,750	—

Zip codes like 50851 elsewhere

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

Questions about 50851

What city is zip code 50851?

50851 is assigned to Lenox, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50851 in?

50851 is mostly in Taylor County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 50851?

About 2,193 people live in 50851, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50851 in?

50851 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50851?

The median household income in 50851 is $70,926.

What zip codes are near 50851?

The closest zip codes to 50851 are 50840, 50862, 50842, 50859, 50845.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50851, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.