Zip code 51242: Lester, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51242?

51242 is assigned to Lester, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What is the population of 51242?

About 379 people live in 51242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51242?

The median household income in 51242 is $95,625.

Q: What zip codes are near 51242?

The closest zip codes to 51242 are 51230, 51241, 56138, 56173, 51246.

Residential delivery areaLyon CountyCentral Time

Population

379

Small sample: rough estimates

Median household income

$96K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$191K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

5.5 sq mi

70 people/sq mi

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

About 51242

51242 is a small-town zip code in Lester, Iowa (Lyon County), covering 5.5 sq mi of land. About 379 people live here, or 70 per square mile. The median resident is 38.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally. With so few residents, the Census figures below are rough estimates with wide margins of error.

The median household earns $95,625 a year, 18% above the national median of $80,734. 1.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $190,900, or 2.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 87% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 17.7 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; production and manufacturing; and healthcare.

How 51242 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Only about 379 people live here, so these survey estimates have wide margins of error.

Homeownership rate86.6%
91st
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%283rd of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older19.5%
71st
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%496th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1824.5%
71st
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%352nd of 911 in IA
Government workers16.8%
71st
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%253rd of 911 in IA
Median household income$95,625
68th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059138th of 896 in IA
Veterans6.8%
63rd
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%461st of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$52,500
62nd
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712226th of 910 in IA
Broadband access92.9%
57th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%208th of 909 in IA
Per capita income$39,556
48th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877389th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate6.2%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%225th of 911 in IA
Median age38.1
43rd
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6692nd of 911 in IA
Tech workers2.5%
43rd
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%173rd of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers8.4%
33rd
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%459th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers7.9%
31st
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%738th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents5%
29th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%136th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher20.5%
22nd
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%475th of 911 in IA
Median home value$190,900
19th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000307th of 881 in IA
Housing vacancy3.8%
19th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%743rd of 909 in IA
Diversity index23.4
16th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4202nd of 911 in IA
Work from home6.8%
15th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%577th of 911 in IA
Population density70/sq mi
10th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi195th of 911 in IA
Average commute17.7 min
5th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min757th of 902 in IA
Population379
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507745th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate1.3%
1st
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%873rd of 909 in IA
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%854th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%853rd of 882 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.310
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444831st of 908 in IA

Measure	51242	Lyon	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Homeownership rateStrength	86.6%	80.9%	71.7%	65.2%	91st	283rd of 909
Residents 65 and older	19.5%	19.1%	18.1%	17.2%	71st	496th of 911
Residents under 18	24.5%	28.2%	22.9%	22%	71st	352nd of 911
Government workers	16.8%	14.6%	14.5%	14.5%	71st	253rd of 911
Median household income	$95,625	$76,746	$75,059	$80,734	68th	138th of 896
Veterans	6.8%	5.7%	6.5%	6.2%	63rd	461st of 911
Median earnings per worker	$52,500	$46,882	$47,712	$49,666	62nd	226th of 910
Broadband access	92.9%	90.2%	88.9%	91%	57th	208th of 909
Per capita income	$39,556	$36,117	$40,877	$44,673	48th	389th of 911
Uninsured rate	6.2%	4%	5%	8.4%	44th	225th of 911
Median age	38.1	38.2	38.6	38.9	43rd	692nd of 911
Tech workers	2.5%	1.2%	2.9%	3.8%	43rd	173rd of 911
Healthcare workers	8.4%	9.6%	9.2%	9.7%	33rd	459th of 911
Self-employed workers	7.9%	18.2%	10.2%	10%	31st	738th of 911
Foreign-born residents	5%	2%	5.9%	14.1%	29th	136th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.5%	20.4%	31.4%	35.7%	22nd	475th of 911
Median home value	$190,900	$230,000	$208,000	$332,700	19th	307th of 881
Housing vacancy	3.8%	8%	8.5%	10.1%	19th	743rd of 909
Diversity index	23.4	12.6	31.4	61.4	16th	202nd of 911
Work from home	6.8%	9.8%	11.3%	15.1%	15th	577th of 911
Population density	70/sq mi	21/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	10th	195th of 911
Average commuteStrength	17.7 min	18.9 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	5th	757th of 902
Population	379	12,162	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	745th of 911
Poverty rateStrength	1.3%	5.3%	11.1%	12.5%	1st	873rd of 909
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	2.3%	3.6%	5.2%	1st	854th of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	28.8%	43.9%	51.1%	1st	853rd of 882
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.310	0.415	0.444	0.483	1st	831st 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

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

19%

35–44

45–54

11%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.1

Under 18

24.5%

65 and over

19.5%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black0%
Hispanic11%
Asian1%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

23.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

38.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

91%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 127
Average household size: 3
Family households: 81.9%
Married couples: 72.4%
Living alone: 18.1%
Veterans (of adults): 6.8%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

28%

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

13%

$200k+

Median household income

51242

$95,625

Lyon Co.

$76,746

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$39,556

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

1.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

20.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.310

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51242

$190,900

Lyon Co.

$230,000

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51242

—

Lyon Co.

$843

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

91%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 132
Owner-occupied: 86.6%
Vacant: 3.8%
Median year built: 1972
Median rooms: 7.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 2.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

71%

Carpooled

15%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

33%

10–19

24%

20–29

22%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

17.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

20%

Production

11%

Healthcare

Education

Sales

Farming, fishing and forestry

Transportation and moving

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Management

Business and finance

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Food service

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

25%

Manufacturing

13%

Agriculture and mining

13%

Education

11%

Other services

Construction

Retail

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

0.5%

Information

Median earnings per worker

$52,500

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

27.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51242	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,875	$74,888
Service	$11,490	$26,804
Sales and office	$65,625	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$80,192	$49,199
Production and transportation	$56,250	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

38%

Some college

19%

Associate's

18%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.3%
Households with broadband: 92.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.6%
No internet access: 5.5%
Without health insurance: 6.2%
Limited-English households: 7.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Lester
State: Iowa
County: Lyon County
Center point: 43.4323° N, 96.3381° W
Land area: 5.5 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Lester34% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51242

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51230	Alvord, IA	5.3 mi	478	$75,625	$190,800
51241	Larchwood, IA	6.3 mi	2,103	$87,446	$280,600
56138	Hills, MN	7.5 mi	927	$78,631	$207,300
56173	Steen, MN	8 mi	307	$59,286	$215,900
51246	Rock Rapids, IA	8.7 mi	4,041	$72,400	$247,900
51240	Inwood, IA	10 mi	1,914	$83,929	$232,600
51235	Doon, IA	11 mi	1,007	$71,016	$240,700
57068	Valley Springs, SD	13 mi	1,603	$112,847	$260,400
56116	Beaver Creek, MN	13 mi	559	$95,000	$220,800
56146	Kanaranzi, MN	16 mi	55	$50,500	$206,300
56129	Ellsworth, MN	16 mi	761	$62,614	$120,000
51247	Rock Valley, IA	17 mi	5,094	$78,358	$262,900

Questions about 51242

What city is zip code 51242?

51242 is assigned to Lester, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51242 in?

51242 is in Lyon County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51242?

About 379 people live in 51242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51242 in?

51242 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51242?

The median household income in 51242 is $95,625.

What zip codes are near 51242?

The closest zip codes to 51242 are 51230, 51241, 56138, 56173, 51246.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51242, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.