Zip code 51301: Spencer, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51301?

51301 is assigned to Spencer, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What is the population of 51301?

About 12,638 people live in 51301, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51301?

The median household income in 51301 is $63,402.

Q: What zip codes are near 51301?

The closest zip codes to 51301 are 51340, 51333, 51338, 51343, 51357.

Residential delivery areaClay CountyCentral Time

Population

12,638

Median household income

$63K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$188K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$807/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

158 sq mi

80 people/sq mi

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

About 51301

51301 is a small-town zip code in Spencer, Iowa (Clay County), covering 158 sq mi of land. About 12,638 people live here, or 80 per square mile. The median resident is 41.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $63,402 a year, 21% below the national median of $80,734. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $188,300, or 3.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $807 a month.

29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 16.2 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and transportation and moving goods.

How 51301 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers13.5%
85th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%450th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older22.2%
84th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%334th of 911 in IA
Median age41.8
70th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6503rd of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers10.9%
70th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%249th of 911 in IA
Veterans7%
66th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%425th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1823.5%
63rd
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%435th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy8.2%
62nd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%497th of 909 in IA
Poverty rate13.1%
61st
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%216th of 909 in IA
Homeownership rate70.3%
54th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%777th of 909 in IA
Government workers13.4%
48th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%435th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$37,984
44th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877472nd of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher29%
44th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%190th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate6.2%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%218th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$44,808
39th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712582nd of 910 in IA
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%219th of 911 in IA
Broadband access89.8%
33rd
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%379th of 909 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.413
31st
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444344th of 908 in IA
Tech workers1.8%
29th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%255th of 911 in IA
Median household income$63,402
26th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059674th of 896 in IA
Population12,638
19th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,50768th of 911 in IA
Median home value$188,300
19th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000318th of 881 in IA
Foreign-born residents3%
18th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%222nd of 911 in IA
Work from home6.4%
13th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%605th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters38.4%
13th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%368th of 882 in IA
Population density80/sq mi
11th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi185th of 911 in IA
Diversity index17.4
10th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4319th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$807
7th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972416th of 771 in IA
Average commute16.2 min
3rd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min818th of 902 in IA

Measure	51301	Clay	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Self-employed workers	13.5%	15.7%	10.2%	10%	85th	450th of 911
Residents 65 and older	22.2%	22.4%	18.1%	17.2%	84th	334th of 911
Median age	41.8	42.3	38.6	38.9	70th	503rd of 911
Healthcare workers	10.9%	10.5%	9.2%	9.7%	70th	249th of 911
Veterans	7%	7.5%	6.5%	6.2%	66th	425th of 911
Residents under 18	23.5%	23.3%	22.9%	22%	63rd	435th of 911
Housing vacancy	8.2%	10.7%	8.5%	10.1%	62nd	497th of 909
Poverty rate	13.1%	11.4%	11.1%	12.5%	61st	216th of 909
Homeownership rate	70.3%	73.3%	71.7%	65.2%	54th	777th of 909
Government workers	13.4%	12.8%	14.5%	14.5%	48th	435th of 911
Per capita income	$37,984	$38,651	$40,877	$44,673	44th	472nd of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	29%	27.5%	31.4%	35.7%	44th	190th of 911
Uninsured rate	6.2%	5.5%	5%	8.4%	44th	218th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$44,808	$44,968	$47,712	$49,666	39th	582nd of 910
Unemployment rate	4%	3.5%	3.6%	5.2%	34th	219th of 911
Broadband access	89.8%	89.5%	88.9%	91%	33rd	379th of 909
Income inequality (Gini)	0.413	0.417	0.444	0.483	31st	344th of 908
Tech workers	1.8%	1.5%	2.9%	3.8%	29th	255th of 911
Median household income	$63,402	$65,428	$75,059	$80,734	26th	674th of 896
Population	12,638	16,461	3,210,507	334,922,499	19th	68th of 911
Median home value	$188,300	$178,600	$208,000	$332,700	19th	318th of 881
Foreign-born residents	3%	2.5%	5.9%	14.1%	18th	222nd of 911
Work from home	6.4%	6.1%	11.3%	15.1%	13th	605th of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	38.4%	36.4%	43.9%	51.1%	13th	368th of 882
Population density	80/sq mi	29/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	11th	185th of 911
Diversity index	17.4	16.7	31.4	61.4	10th	319th of 911
Median gross rent	$807	$811	$972	$1,413	7th	416th of 771
Average commuteStrength	16.2 min	17.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	3rd	818th 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

18%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

12%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

41.8

Under 18

23.5%

65 and over

22.2%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0.3%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.8%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

17.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

0.9%

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 5,680
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 54.4%
Married couples: 42.8%
Living alone: 40.1%
Veterans (of adults): 7%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

26%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51301

$63,402

Clay Co.

$65,428

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,984

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.413

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51301

$188,300

Clay Co.

$178,600

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51301

$807

Clay Co.

$811

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

71%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

10%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 6,185
Owner-occupied: 70.3%
Vacant: 8.2%
Median year built: 1971
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 38.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 19%
Home value to income: 3.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

81%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.4%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

48%

10–19

29%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

16.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

65.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Healthcare

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Office and admin

10%

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Education

Food service

Production

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Police and fire

0.3%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Retail

14%

Manufacturing

11%

Education

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Other services

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$44,808

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51301	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$54,207	$74,888
Service	$24,831	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,199	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$56,850	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,906	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

28%

Some college

20%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

21%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.6%
Households with broadband: 89.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74%
No internet access: 3.8%
Without health insurance: 6.2%
Limited-English households: 1.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Spencer
State: Iowa
County: Clay County
Center point: 43.1531° N, 95.1498° W
Land area: 158 sq mi
Water area: 0.9 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Spencer7% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51301

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51340	Fostoria, IA	6 mi	75	$90,250	$133,800
51333	Dickens, IA	7.6 mi	374	$110,833	$195,600
51338	Everly, IA	9.2 mi	852	$57,500	$125,200
51343	Greenville, IA	9.4 mi	172	$60,625	$98,800
51357	Royal, IA	9.4 mi	910	$68,333	$118,500
51341	Gillett Grove, IA	11 mi	40	—	$61,000
51351	Milford, IA	11 mi	4,988	$73,824	$273,100
51358	Ruthven, IA	13 mi	1,213	$64,583	$150,500
51364	Terril, IA	14 mi	803	$66,875	$156,900
51331	Arnolds Park, IA	14 mi	935	$89,167	$448,800
51366	Webb, IA	15 mi	245	$87,500	$130,800
51346	Hartley, IA	16 mi	2,247	$72,426	$156,800

Zip codes like 51301 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51301

What city is zip code 51301?

51301 is assigned to Spencer, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51301 in?

51301 is in Clay County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51301?

About 12,638 people live in 51301, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51301 in?

51301 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51301?

The median household income in 51301 is $63,402.

What zip codes are near 51301?

The closest zip codes to 51301 are 51340, 51333, 51338, 51343, 51357.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51301, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.