Zip code 51231: Archer, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51231?

51231 is assigned to Archer, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51231 in?

51231 is in O'Brien County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 51231?

About 562 people live in 51231, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51231?

The median household income in 51231 is $108,058.

Q: What zip codes are near 51231?

The closest zip codes to 51231 are 51245, 51238, 51248, 51201, 51022.

Residential delivery areaO'Brien CountyCentral Time

Population

562

Median household income

$108K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$190K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

15.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

24 sq mi

23 people/sq mi

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

About 51231

51231 is a rural zip code in Archer, Iowa (O'Brien County), covering 24 sq mi of land. About 562 people live here, or 23 per square mile. The median resident is 15.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $108,058 a year, 34% above the national median of $80,734. 29.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $189,500, or 1.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 94% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.1 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; education; and construction and repair.

How 51231 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate94.3%
99th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%67th of 909 in IA
Residents under 1855.5%
99th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%1st of 911 in IA
Poverty rate29.7%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%21st of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers12.3%
79th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%524th of 911 in IA
Median household income$108,058
78th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,05963rd of 896 in IA
Median earnings per worker$55,263
68th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712151st of 910 in IA
Broadband access92.9%
57th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%209th of 909 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher33.5%
53rd
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%123rd of 911 in IA
Average commute26.1 min
50th
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min271st of 902 in IA
Government workers13.2%
46th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%452nd of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate5.9%
42nd
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%242nd of 911 in IA
Median home value$189,500
19th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000313th of 881 in IA
Veterans2.4%
10th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%877th of 911 in IA
Work from home4.9%
7th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%704th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$22,575
5th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877897th of 911 in IA
Population density23/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi407th of 911 in IA
Diversity index7.5
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4684th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy1.4%
2nd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%833rd of 909 in IA
Population562
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507644th of 911 in IA
Median age15.1
1st
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6910th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%873rd of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%851st of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%865th of 882 in IA
Residents 65 and older5.9%
1st
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%898th of 911 in IA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%826th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers1%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%882nd of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.283
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444872nd of 908 in IA

Measure	51231	O'Brien	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Homeownership rateStrength	94.3%	76.1%	71.7%	65.2%	99th	67th of 909
Residents under 18	55.5%	24.4%	22.9%	22%	99th	1st of 911
Poverty rateWeakness	29.7%	13.3%	11.1%	12.5%	96th	21st of 909
Self-employed workers	12.3%	14.6%	10.2%	10%	79th	524th of 911
Median household income	$108,058	$68,356	$75,059	$80,734	78th	63rd of 896
Median earnings per worker	$55,263	$45,659	$47,712	$49,666	68th	151st of 910
Broadband access	92.9%	90.1%	88.9%	91%	57th	209th of 909
Bachelor's degree or higher	33.5%	22%	31.4%	35.7%	53rd	123rd of 911
Average commute	26.1 min	19 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	50th	271st of 902
Government workers	13.2%	12.5%	14.5%	14.5%	46th	452nd of 911
Uninsured rate	5.9%	3%	5%	8.4%	42nd	242nd of 911
Median home value	$189,500	$173,100	$208,000	$332,700	19th	313th of 881
Veterans	2.4%	6.2%	6.5%	6.2%	10th	877th of 911
Work from home	4.9%	7.1%	11.3%	15.1%	7th	704th of 911
Per capita incomeWeakness	$22,575	$35,198	$40,877	$44,673	5th	897th of 911
Population density	23/sq mi	25/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	407th of 911
Diversity index	7.5	23.7	31.4	61.4	2nd	684th of 911
Housing vacancy	1.4%	11.5%	8.5%	10.1%	2nd	833rd of 909
Population	562	14,126	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	644th of 911
Median age	15.1	39.5	38.6	38.9	1st	910th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	1%	3.6%	5.2%	1st	873rd of 911
Foreign-born residents	0%	4.4%	5.9%	14.1%	1st	851st of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	31.9%	43.9%	51.1%	1st	865th of 882
Residents 65 and older	5.9%	21.2%	18.1%	17.2%	1st	898th of 911
Tech workers	0%	1.2%	2.9%	3.8%	1st	826th of 911
Healthcare workers	1%	8.4%	9.2%	9.7%	1st	882nd of 911
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.283	0.392	0.444	0.483	1st	872nd of 908

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

18%

Under 5

38%

5–17

18–24

19%

25–34

10%

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

15.1

Under 18

55.5%

65 and over

5.9%

Race and ethnicity

White96%
Black0%
Hispanic0.2%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

7.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

92.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

91%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 141
Average household size: 4
Family households: 80.1%
Married couples: 80.1%
Living alone: 19.9%
Veterans (of adults): 2.4%
Male / female: 60% / 40%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

43%

$150–200k

18%

$200k+

Median household income

51231

$108,058

O'Brien Co.

$68,356

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$22,575

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

29.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

17.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.283

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51231

$189,500

O'Brien Co.

$173,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51231

—

O'Brien Co.

$868

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

100%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 143
Owner-occupied: 94.3%
Vacant: 1.4%
Median year built: 1957
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 1.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

81%

Carpooled

14%

Transit

Walked

0.5%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

28%

20–29

30–44

30%

45–59

23%

60+

Average commute

26.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

77.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

28%

Education

22%

Construction and repair

17%

Management

Legal and social services

Sales

Office and admin

Police and fire

Business and finance

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Healthcare

Production

0.5%

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Education

30%

Manufacturing

30%

Construction

14%

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Health care and social assistance

Public administration

Wholesale

Retail

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

0.5%

Admin, support and management

0.5%

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$55,263

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51231	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$54,403	$74,888
Service	$72,500	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$45,809	$49,199
Production and transportation	$56,205	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

21%

Some college

32%

Associate's

Bachelor's

32%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 88.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 33.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.7%
Households with broadband: 92.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 89.4%
No internet access: 1.4%
Without health insurance: 5.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Archer
State: Iowa
County: O'Brien County
Center point: 43.1057° N, 95.7413° W
Land area: 24 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 51231

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51245	Primghar, IA	7.3 mi	1,377	$69,531	$149,700
51238	Hospers, IA	7.9 mi	1,502	$74,000	$182,500
51248	Sanborn, IA	8 mi	1,534	$64,375	$172,800
51201	Sheldon, IA	8.2 mi	6,430	$68,799	$197,800
51022	Granville, IA	10 mi	960	$96,505	$174,800
51046	Paullina, IA	10 mi	1,326	$84,125	$160,300
51232	Ashton, IA	14 mi	658	$82,917	$107,500
51244	Matlock, IA	14 mi	144	$83,365	$95,000
51009	Calumet, IA	15 mi	113	$58,750	$83,300
51003	Alton, IA	15 mi	1,938	$101,250	$232,700
51234	Boyden, IA	15 mi	1,172	$84,318	$211,800
51058	Sutherland, IA	16 mi	1,096	$63,036	$133,000

Questions about 51231

What city is zip code 51231?

51231 is assigned to Archer, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51231 in?

51231 is in O'Brien County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51231?

About 562 people live in 51231, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51231 in?

51231 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51231?

The median household income in 51231 is $108,058.

What zip codes are near 51231?

The closest zip codes to 51231 are 51245, 51238, 51248, 51201, 51022.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51231, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.