Zip code 51238: Hospers, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51238?

51238 is assigned to Hospers, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51238 in?

51238 is mostly in Sioux County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51238?

About 1,502 people live in 51238, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51238?

The median household income in 51238 is $74,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 51238?

The closest zip codes to 51238 are 51022, 51003, 51201, 51231, 51041.

Residential delivery areaSioux CountyCentral Time

Population

1,502

Median household income

$74K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$183K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$684/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

49 sq mi

31 people/sq mi

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

About 51238

51238 is a rural zip code in Hospers, Iowa (Sioux County), covering 49 sq mi of land. About 1,502 people live here, or 31 per square mile. The median resident is 36.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $74,000 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $182,500, or 2.5 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 $684 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 14.9 minutes each way, and 15% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; construction and repair; and management. 27% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 51238 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1834.1%
99th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%44th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers27.4%
99th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%62nd of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate87.9%
93rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%236th of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older18.2%
62nd
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%587th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$52,038
61st
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712239th of 910 in IA
Work from home14.9%
60th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%171st of 911 in IA
Poverty rate10.6%
48th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%323rd of 909 in IA
Veterans5.5%
45th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%638th of 911 in IA
Median household income$74,000
42nd
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059454th of 896 in IA
Broadband access90.5%
37th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%338th of 909 in IA
Median age36.9
34th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6746th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents5.9%
33rd
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%113th of 911 in IA
Diversity index36.6
32nd
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.479th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$33,317
28th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877684th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher21.3%
24th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%444th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate3.9%
21st
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%428th of 911 in IA
Median home value$182,500
17th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000341st of 881 in IA
Government workers8.8%
11th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%726th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate2.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%433rd of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.374
8th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444581st of 908 in IA
Population density31/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi333rd of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy1.8%
3rd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%818th of 909 in IA
Rent-burdened renters27%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%555th of 882 in IA
Population1,502
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507347th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$684
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972599th of 771 in IA
Average commute14.9 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min857th of 902 in IA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%866th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers1.6%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%872nd of 911 in IA

Measure	51238	Sioux	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Residents under 18	34.1%	27.2%	22.9%	22%	99th	44th of 911
Self-employed workers	27.4%	16.6%	10.2%	10%	99th	62nd of 911
Homeownership rateStrength	87.9%	76.1%	71.7%	65.2%	93rd	236th of 909
Residents 65 and older	18.2%	16.2%	18.1%	17.2%	62nd	587th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$52,038	$45,574	$47,712	$49,666	61st	239th of 910
Work from home	14.9%	12.8%	11.3%	15.1%	60th	171st of 911
Poverty rate	10.6%	6.7%	11.1%	12.5%	48th	323rd of 909
Veterans	5.5%	3.7%	6.5%	6.2%	45th	638th of 911
Median household income	$74,000	$86,098	$75,059	$80,734	42nd	454th of 896
Broadband access	90.5%	92.4%	88.9%	91%	37th	338th of 909
Median age	36.9	33.8	38.6	38.9	34th	746th of 911
Foreign-born residents	5.9%	8.5%	5.9%	14.1%	33rd	113th of 911
Diversity index	36.6	29.4	31.4	61.4	32nd	79th of 911
Per capita income	$33,317	$37,166	$40,877	$44,673	28th	684th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.3%	30.6%	31.4%	35.7%	24th	444th of 911
Uninsured rate	3.9%	5.8%	5%	8.4%	21st	428th of 911
Median home value	$182,500	$250,100	$208,000	$332,700	17th	341st of 881
Government workers	8.8%	9.5%	14.5%	14.5%	11th	726th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	2.4%	1.5%	3.6%	5.2%	9th	433rd of 911
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.374	0.409	0.444	0.483	8th	581st of 908
Population density	31/sq mi	47/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	333rd of 911
Housing vacancy	1.8%	4.5%	8.5%	10.1%	3rd	818th of 909
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	27%	30%	43.9%	51.1%	3rd	555th of 882
Population	1,502	36,212	3,210,507	334,922,499	2nd	347th of 911
Median gross rent	$684	$908	$972	$1,413	2nd	599th of 771
Average commuteStrength	14.9 min	13.5 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	1st	857th of 902
Tech workers	0%	1.4%	2.9%	3.8%	1st	866th of 911
Healthcare workers	1.6%	8.1%	9.2%	9.7%	1st	872nd 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

29%

5–17

18–24

25–34

16%

35–44

45–54

10%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

36.9

Under 18

34.1%

65 and over

18.2%

Race and ethnicity

White77%
Black1%
Hispanic20%
Asian0%
Native American0.6%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

36.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

72.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 556
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 62.8%
Married couples: 58.5%
Living alone: 33.6%
Veterans (of adults): 5.5%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

Median household income

51238

$74,000

Sioux Co.

$86,098

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$33,317

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.374

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51238

$182,500

Sioux Co.

$250,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51238

$684

Sioux Co.

$908

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

94%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

0.5%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 566
Owner-occupied: 87.9%
Vacant: 1.8%
Median year built: 1955
Median rooms: 7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 27%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.3%
Home value to income: 2.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

15%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

22%

10–19

57%

20–29

12%

30–44

45–59

60+

0.2%

Average commute

14.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

16%

Construction and repair

12%

Management

11%

Production

11%

Office and admin

10%

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Food service

Legal and social services

Education

Farming, fishing and forestry

Engineering and science

Healthcare

Police and fire

0.1%

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Manufacturing

18%

Retail

13%

Agriculture and mining

12%

Construction

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Education

Admin, support and management

Health care and social assistance

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Information

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$52,038

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

27.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

3.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51238	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$76,591	$74,888
Service	$31,850	$26,804
Sales and office	$26,563	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$56,875	$49,199
Production and transportation	$51,888	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

41%

Some college

17%

Associate's

15%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%
Households with broadband: 90.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.6%
No internet access: 7%
Without health insurance: 3.9%
Limited-English households: 3.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Hospers
State: Iowa
County: Sioux County
Center point: 43.0744° N, 95.8924° W
Land area: 49 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51238 spans 2 counties

Sioux County68% of land
O'Brien County32% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Hospers1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51238

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51022	Granville, IA	7 mi	960	$96,505	$174,800
51003	Alton, IA	7.5 mi	1,938	$101,250	$232,700
51201	Sheldon, IA	7.6 mi	6,430	$68,799	$197,800
51231	Archer, IA	7.9 mi	562	$108,058	$189,500
51041	Orange City, IA	9.9 mi	7,324	$83,643	$277,000
51234	Boyden, IA	10 mi	1,172	$84,318	$211,800
51244	Matlock, IA	12 mi	144	$83,365	$95,000
51046	Paullina, IA	13 mi	1,326	$84,125	$160,300
51245	Primghar, IA	15 mi	1,377	$69,531	$149,700
51248	Sanborn, IA	15 mi	1,534	$64,375	$172,800
51239	Hull, IA	16 mi	2,876	$77,540	$236,500
51232	Ashton, IA	16 mi	658	$82,917	$107,500

Zip codes like 51238 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51238

What city is zip code 51238?

51238 is assigned to Hospers, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51238 in?

51238 is mostly in Sioux County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51238?

About 1,502 people live in 51238, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51238 in?

51238 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51238?

The median household income in 51238 is $74,000.

What zip codes are near 51238?

The closest zip codes to 51238 are 51022, 51003, 51201, 51231, 51041.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51238, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.