Zip code 51246: Rock Rapids, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51246?

51246 is assigned to Rock Rapids, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What is the population of 51246?

About 4,041 people live in 51246, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51246?

The median household income in 51246 is $72,400.

Q: What zip codes are near 51246?

The closest zip codes to 51246 are 56173, 51242, 56129, 51230, 51235.

Residential delivery areaLyon CountyCentral Time

Population

4,041

Median household income

$72K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$248K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$812/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

161 sq mi

25 people/sq mi

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

About 51246

51246 is a rural zip code in Rock Rapids, Iowa (Lyon County), covering 161 sq mi of land. About 4,041 people live here, or 25 per square mile. The median resident is 38 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $72,400 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $247,900, or 3.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 79% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $812 a month.

23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 13.4 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; transportation and moving goods; and education. 18% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 51246 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1831.7%
98th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%70th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers18%
96th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%244th of 911 in IA
Government workers20.9%
87th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%111th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy14.5%
85th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%196th of 909 in IA
Homeownership rate78.8%
76th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%573rd of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older17.1%
54th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%641st of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$48,193
50th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712414th of 910 in IA
Broadband access91.7%
46th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%275th of 909 in IA
Median age38
42nd
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6694th of 911 in IA
Work from home11.2%
42nd
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%321st of 911 in IA
Median household income$72,400
39th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059498th of 896 in IA
Median home value$247,900
33rd
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000134th of 881 in IA
Tech workers1.8%
29th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%262nd of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher22.7%
28th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%382nd of 911 in IA
Per capita income$31,514
23rd
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877767th of 911 in IA
Veterans3.7%
23rd
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%806th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate3.4%
16th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%478th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents2.2%
13th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%306th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.387
12th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444512th of 908 in IA
Unemployment rate2.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%428th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$812
8th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972412th of 771 in IA
Diversity index15.2
8th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4384th of 911 in IA
Population4,041
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507161st of 911 in IA
Poverty rate4.2%
7th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%739th of 909 in IA
Healthcare workers5.5%
5th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%706th of 911 in IA
Population density25/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi385th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters21.5%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%618th of 882 in IA
Average commute13.4 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min881st of 902 in IA

Measure	51246	Lyon	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Residents under 18	31.7%	28.2%	22.9%	22%	98th	70th of 911
Self-employed workers	18%	18.2%	10.2%	10%	96th	244th of 911
Government workers	20.9%	14.6%	14.5%	14.5%	87th	111th of 911
Housing vacancy	14.5%	8%	8.5%	10.1%	85th	196th of 909
Homeownership rate	78.8%	80.9%	71.7%	65.2%	76th	573rd of 909
Residents 65 and older	17.1%	19.1%	18.1%	17.2%	54th	641st of 911
Median earnings per worker	$48,193	$46,882	$47,712	$49,666	50th	414th of 910
Broadband access	91.7%	90.2%	88.9%	91%	46th	275th of 909
Median age	38	38.2	38.6	38.9	42nd	694th of 911
Work from home	11.2%	9.8%	11.3%	15.1%	42nd	321st of 911
Median household income	$72,400	$76,746	$75,059	$80,734	39th	498th of 896
Median home value	$247,900	$230,000	$208,000	$332,700	33rd	134th of 881
Tech workers	1.8%	1.2%	2.9%	3.8%	29th	262nd of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	22.7%	20.4%	31.4%	35.7%	28th	382nd of 911
Per capita income	$31,514	$36,117	$40,877	$44,673	23rd	767th of 911
Veterans	3.7%	5.7%	6.5%	6.2%	23rd	806th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	3.4%	4%	5%	8.4%	16th	478th of 911
Foreign-born residents	2.2%	2%	5.9%	14.1%	13th	306th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.387	0.415	0.444	0.483	12th	512th of 908
Unemployment rateStrength	2.4%	2.3%	3.6%	5.2%	9th	428th of 911
Median gross rent	$812	$843	$972	$1,413	8th	412th of 771
Diversity index	15.2	12.6	31.4	61.4	8th	384th of 911
Population	4,041	12,162	3,210,507	334,922,499	7th	161st of 911
Poverty rateStrength	4.2%	5.3%	11.1%	12.5%	7th	739th of 909
Healthcare workers	5.5%	9.6%	9.2%	9.7%	5th	706th of 911
Population density	25/sq mi	21/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	385th of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	21.5%	28.8%	43.9%	51.1%	2nd	618th of 882
Average commuteStrength	13.4 min	18.9 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	1st	881st 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

26%

5–17

18–24

25–34

15%

35–44

10%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

31.7%

65 and over

17.1%

Race and ethnicity

White92%
Black0.3%
Hispanic6%
Asian0.2%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

15.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

53.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.3%

Other

Households

Households: 1,330
Average household size: 3
Family households: 73.2%
Married couples: 63.5%
Living alone: 22.2%
Veterans (of adults): 3.7%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

12%

$25–50k

15%

$50–75k

24%

$75–100k

16%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51246

$72,400

Lyon Co.

$76,746

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,514

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

4.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.387

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51246

$247,900

Lyon Co.

$230,000

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51246

$812

Lyon Co.

$843

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

83%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

0.6%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,555
Owner-occupied: 78.8%
Vacant: 14.5%
Median year built: 1970
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 21.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17%
Home value to income: 3.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

72%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

0.4%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

58%

10–19

21%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

13.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

14%

Transportation and moving

11%

Education

10%

Management

Sales

Construction and repair

Production

Healthcare

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Farming, fishing and forestry

Police and fire

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Retail

13%

Education

13%

Manufacturing

13%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Other services

Construction

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

Information

Median earnings per worker

$48,193

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

18%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51246	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,356	$74,888
Service	$22,750	$26,804
Sales and office	$41,875	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$51,951	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,286	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

42%

Some college

21%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

20%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 95.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 3%
Households with broadband: 91.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81%
No internet access: 7.4%
Without health insurance: 3.4%
Limited-English households: 0.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Rock Rapids
State: Iowa
County: Lyon County
Center point: 43.4288° N, 96.1647° W
Land area: 161 sq mi
Water area: 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

Rock Rapids3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51246

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56173	Steen, MN	7.7 mi	307	$59,286	$215,900
51242	Lester, IA	8.7 mi	379	$95,625	$190,900
56129	Ellsworth, MN	9.3 mi	761	$62,614	$120,000
51230	Alvord, IA	9.4 mi	478	$75,625	$190,800
51235	Doon, IA	9.6 mi	1,007	$71,016	$240,700
51237	George, IA	10 mi	1,605	$61,667	$159,500
56146	Kanaranzi, MN	11 mi	55	$50,500	$206,300
56138	Hills, MN	13 mi	927	$78,631	$207,300
51243	Little Rock, IA	14 mi	735	$83,750	$92,200
56158	Magnolia, MN	15 mi	322	$53,462	$125,000
51241	Larchwood, IA	15 mi	2,103	$87,446	$280,600
51239	Hull, IA	16 mi	2,876	$77,540	$236,500

Zip codes like 51246 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51246

What city is zip code 51246?

51246 is assigned to Rock Rapids, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51246 in?

51246 is in Lyon County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51246?

About 4,041 people live in 51246, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51246 in?

51246 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51246?

The median household income in 51246 is $72,400.

What zip codes are near 51246?

The closest zip codes to 51246 are 56173, 51242, 56129, 51230, 51235.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51246, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.