Zip code 51002: Alta, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51002?

51002 is assigned to Alta, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51002 in?

51002 is mostly in Buena Vista County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51002?

About 2,787 people live in 51002, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51002?

The median household income in 51002 is $70,625.

Q: What zip codes are near 51002?

The closest zip codes to 51002 are 51005, 50592, 50588, 50576, 51012.

Residential delivery areaBuena Vista CountyCentral Time

Population

2,787

Median household income

$71K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$167K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$953/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

35.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

110 sq mi

25 people/sq mi

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

About 51002

51002 is a rural zip code in Alta, Iowa (Buena Vista County), covering 110 sq mi of land. About 2,787 people live here, or 25 per square mile. The median resident is 35.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $70,625 a year, close to 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 $167,100, or 2.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $953 a month.

27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.5 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; production and manufacturing; and construction and repair.

How 51002 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate14.3%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%13th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1826.8%
85th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%212th of 911 in IA
Broadband access95.3%
79th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%72nd of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers12.1%
78th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%536th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents19.9%
74th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%13th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters57%
74th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%115th of 882 in IA
Homeownership rate77.8%
73rd
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%608th of 909 in IA
Housing vacancy10.3%
73rd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%370th of 909 in IA
Diversity index54.9
61st
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.420th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate6.3%
45th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%210th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$46,367
44th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712512th of 910 in IA
Government workers12.8%
43rd
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%479th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher27.4%
40th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%228th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$36,384
39th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877560th of 911 in IA
Median household income$70,625
37th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059540th of 896 in IA
Poverty rate8.7%
36th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%436th of 909 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.410
28th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444366th of 908 in IA
Veterans4.1%
27th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%767th of 911 in IA
Median age35.8
26th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6786th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older13.1%
24th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%810th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers7.6%
22nd
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%520th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$953
18th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972193rd of 771 in IA
Median home value$167,100
14th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000409th of 881 in IA
Tech workers0.9%
11th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%419th of 911 in IA
Work from home4.6%
6th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%718th of 911 in IA
Population2,787
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507215th of 911 in IA
Population density25/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi380th of 911 in IA
Average commute15.5 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min839th of 902 in IA

Measure	51002	Buena Vista	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Unemployment rateWeakness	14.3%	5.5%	3.6%	5.2%	99th	13th of 911
Residents under 18	26.8%	26.6%	22.9%	22%	85th	212th of 911
Broadband access	95.3%	92.1%	88.9%	91%	79th	72nd of 909
Self-employed workers	12.1%	10.4%	10.2%	10%	78th	536th of 911
Foreign-born residents	19.9%	21.3%	5.9%	14.1%	74th	13th of 911
Rent-burdened renters	57%	29.9%	43.9%	51.1%	74th	115th of 882
Homeownership rate	77.8%	73.2%	71.7%	65.2%	73rd	608th of 909
Housing vacancy	10.3%	9%	8.5%	10.1%	73rd	370th of 909
Diversity index	54.9	63.1	31.4	61.4	61st	20th of 911
Uninsured rate	6.3%	6.2%	5%	8.4%	45th	210th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$46,367	$45,386	$47,712	$49,666	44th	512th of 910
Government workers	12.8%	10.1%	14.5%	14.5%	43rd	479th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	27.4%	22.2%	31.4%	35.7%	40th	228th of 911
Per capita income	$36,384	$34,666	$40,877	$44,673	39th	560th of 911
Median household income	$70,625	$71,719	$75,059	$80,734	37th	540th of 896
Poverty rate	8.7%	7.8%	11.1%	12.5%	36th	436th of 909
Income inequality (Gini)	0.410	0.422	0.444	0.483	28th	366th of 908
Veterans	4.1%	4.1%	6.5%	6.2%	27th	767th of 911
Median age	35.8	35.6	38.6	38.9	26th	786th of 911
Residents 65 and older	13.1%	16.3%	18.1%	17.2%	24th	810th of 911
Healthcare workers	7.6%	6.3%	9.2%	9.7%	22nd	520th of 911
Median gross rent	$953	$894	$972	$1,413	18th	193rd of 771
Median home value	$167,100	$159,500	$208,000	$332,700	14th	409th of 881
Tech workers	0.9%	1%	2.9%	3.8%	11th	419th of 911
Work from home	4.6%	5.6%	11.3%	15.1%	6th	718th of 911
Population	2,787	20,753	3,210,507	334,922,499	4th	215th of 911
Population density	25/sq mi	36/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	380th of 911
Average commuteStrength	15.5 min	14 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	2nd	839th 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

18–24

13%

25–34

11%

35–44

13%

45–54

14%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

35.8

Under 18

26.8%

65 and over

13.1%

Race and ethnicity

White64%
Black7%
Hispanic13%
Asian11%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander3%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

54.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

19.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

65.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

81%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,053
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 61.2%
Married couples: 47.5%
Living alone: 25.7%
Veterans (of adults): 4.1%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

12%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

21%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51002

$70,625

Buena Vista Co.

$71,719

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,384

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.410

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51002

$167,100

Buena Vista Co.

$159,500

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51002

$953

Buena Vista Co.

$894

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

82%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,174
Owner-occupied: 77.8%
Vacant: 10.3%
Median year built: 1966
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 57%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 21%
Home value to income: 2.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

17%

Transit

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

24%

10–19

56%

20–29

11%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

14.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

75%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Production

13%

Construction and repair

13%

Office and admin

11%

Sales

Education

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Computer and math

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Food service

0.8%

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Industries

Manufacturing

24%

Education

14%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Retail

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Professional and technical services

0.9%

Wholesale

0.7%

Information

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$46,367

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51002	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,969	$74,888
Service	$43,359	$26,804
Sales and office	$38,125	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$58,510	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,625	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

34%

Some college

17%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

20%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.1%
Households with broadband: 95.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 64.5%
No internet access: 3.7%
Without health insurance: 6.3%
Limited-English households: 4.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Alta
State: Iowa
County: Buena Vista County
Center point: 42.7020° N, 95.3189° W
Land area: 110 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51002 spans 2 counties

Buena Vista County99% of land
Cherokee County1% of land

Zip codes near 51002

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51005	Aurelia, IA	5.3 mi	1,561	$75,938	$169,200
50592	Truesdale, IA	7.1 mi	187	$100,076	$35,800
50588	Storm Lake, IA	8.6 mi	13,431	$70,906	$184,900
50576	Rembrandt, IA	10 mi	277	$67,500	$116,300
51012	Cherokee, IA	13 mi	6,311	$69,531	$151,400
51020	Galva, IA	14 mi	632	$80,066	$92,500
51053	Schaller, IA	14 mi	1,016	$72,534	$91,800
51033	Linn Grove, IA	15 mi	421	$60,625	$181,800
50568	Newell, IA	17 mi	1,384	$75,250	$137,700
51047	Peterson, IA	17 mi	693	$101,000	$130,300
51029	Larrabee, IA	17 mi	261	$86,042	—
51049	Quimby, IA	17 mi	448	$57,120	$106,100

Zip codes like 51002 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51002

What city is zip code 51002?

51002 is assigned to Alta, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51002 in?

51002 is mostly in Buena Vista County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51002?

About 2,787 people live in 51002, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51002 in?

51002 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51002?

The median household income in 51002 is $70,625.

What zip codes are near 51002?

The closest zip codes to 51002 are 51005, 50592, 50588, 50576, 51012.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51002, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.