Zip code 51521: Avoca, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51521?

51521 is assigned to Avoca, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51521 in?

51521 is mostly in Pottawattamie County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51521?

About 1,953 people live in 51521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51521?

The median household income in 51521 is $73,769.

Q: What zip codes are near 51521?

The closest zip codes to 51521 are 51593, 51570, 51536, 51577, 51553.

Residential delivery areaPottawattamie CountyCentral Time

Population

1,953

Median household income

$74K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$203K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$860/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

45.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

87 sq mi

22 people/sq mi

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

About 51521

51521 is a rural zip code in Avoca, Iowa (Pottawattamie County), covering 87 sq mi of land. About 1,953 people live here, or 22 per square mile. The median resident is 45.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $73,769 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $202,800, or 2.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $860 a month.

28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.3 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; transportation and moving goods; and healthcare.

How 51521 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older26.5%
94th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%176th of 911 in IA
Veterans9.8%
89th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%170th of 911 in IA
Median age45.2
86th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6327th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers12.6%
86th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%167th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers12.5%
80th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%510th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.461
70th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444140th of 908 in IA
Housing vacancy9%
66th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%458th of 909 in IA
Per capita income$46,316
65th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877168th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate73.3%
62nd
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%719th of 909 in IA
Median earnings per worker$51,827
61st
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712246th of 910 in IA
Rent-burdened renters52.3%
56th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%143rd of 882 in IA
Residents under 1822.2%
51st
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%514th of 911 in IA
Government workers12.8%
43rd
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%484th of 911 in IA
Median household income$73,769
41st
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059460th of 896 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher28%
41st
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%215th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate8.9%
38th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%426th of 909 in IA
Average commute23.3 min
32nd
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min422nd of 902 in IA
Tech workers1.5%
23rd
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%310th of 911 in IA
Median home value$202,800
21st
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000263rd of 881 in IA
Work from home6.8%
15th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%579th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$860
11th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972318th of 771 in IA
Uninsured rate2.7%
10th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%577th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents1.4%
8th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%396th of 911 in IA
Broadband access81.7%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%760th of 909 in IA
Diversity index9.5
4th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4611th of 911 in IA
Population1,953
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507285th of 911 in IA
Population density22/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi419th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate1%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%660th of 911 in IA

Measure	51521	Pottawattamie	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Residents 65 and older	26.5%	18.7%	18.1%	17.2%	94th	176th of 911
Veterans	9.8%	8.4%	6.5%	6.2%	89th	170th of 911
Median age	45.2	40.1	38.6	38.9	86th	327th of 911
Healthcare workers	12.6%	8.6%	9.2%	9.7%	86th	167th of 911
Self-employed workers	12.5%	8.8%	10.2%	10%	80th	510th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.461	0.428	0.444	0.483	70th	140th of 908
Housing vacancy	9%	6.1%	8.5%	10.1%	66th	458th of 909
Per capita income	$46,316	$37,477	$40,877	$44,673	65th	168th of 911
Homeownership rate	73.3%	69.9%	71.7%	65.2%	62nd	719th of 909
Median earnings per worker	$51,827	$48,352	$47,712	$49,666	61st	246th of 910
Rent-burdened renters	52.3%	44.8%	43.9%	51.1%	56th	143rd of 882
Residents under 18	22.2%	22.9%	22.9%	22%	51st	514th of 911
Government workers	12.8%	12.3%	14.5%	14.5%	43rd	484th of 911
Median household income	$73,769	$73,602	$75,059	$80,734	41st	460th of 896
Bachelor's degree or higher	28%	23.6%	31.4%	35.7%	41st	215th of 911
Poverty rate	8.9%	12.1%	11.1%	12.5%	38th	426th of 909
Average commute	23.3 min	19.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	32nd	422nd of 902
Tech workers	1.5%	2.5%	2.9%	3.8%	23rd	310th of 911
Median home value	$202,800	$195,700	$208,000	$332,700	21st	263rd of 881
Work from home	6.8%	9.8%	11.3%	15.1%	15th	579th of 911
Median gross rent	$860	$1,018	$972	$1,413	11th	318th of 771
Uninsured rateStrength	2.7%	5%	5%	8.4%	10th	577th of 911
Foreign-born residents	1.4%	4%	5.9%	14.1%	8th	396th of 911
Broadband accessWeakness	81.7%	86.2%	88.9%	91%	6th	760th of 909
Diversity index	9.5	27.6	31.4	61.4	4th	611th of 911
Population	1,953	93,424	3,210,507	334,922,499	3rd	285th of 911
Population density	22/sq mi	98/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	419th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	1%	3.8%	3.6%	5.2%	2nd	660th 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

15%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

10%

35–44

13%

45–54

11%

55–64

16%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

45.2

Under 18

22.2%

65 and over

26.5%

Race and ethnicity

White95%
Black0%
Hispanic2%
Asian0.8%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.5%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

9.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

0.3%

Other Indo-European

0.1%

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 878
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 60.5%
Married couples: 51.5%
Living alone: 34.4%
Veterans (of adults): 9.8%
Male / female: 44% / 56%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

24%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51521

$73,769

Pottawattamie Co.

$73,602

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$46,316

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.461

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51521

$202,800

Pottawattamie Co.

$195,700

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51521

$860

Pottawattamie Co.

$1,018

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

90%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 965
Owner-occupied: 73.3%
Vacant: 9%
Median year built: 1948
Median rooms: 6.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 52.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.9%
Home value to income: 2.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

90%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

28%

10–19

22%

20–29

15%

30–44

17%

45–59

14%

60+

Average commute

23.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Transportation and moving

13%

Healthcare

13%

Office and admin

11%

Education

Construction and repair

Production

Sales

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

0.9%

Legal and social services

0.8%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Retail

15%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

12%

Education

11%

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Professional and technical services

Agriculture and mining

Other services

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$51,827

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51521	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$69,412	$74,888
Service	$35,000	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,679	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$53,125	$49,199
Production and transportation	$48,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

33%

Some college

21%

Associate's

14%

Bachelor's

15%

Graduate

13%

High school graduate or higher: 96.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 28%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.6%
Households with broadband: 81.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 62.2%
No internet access: 15.8%
Without health insurance: 2.7%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Avoca
State: Iowa
County: Pottawattamie County
Center point: 41.4855° N, 95.3447° W
Land area: 87 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51521 spans 2 counties

Pottawattamie County69% of land
Shelby County31% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Avoca3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51521

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51593	Harlan, IA · PO box	1.3 mi	—	—	—
51570	Shelby, IA	6.9 mi	1,118	$77,708	$204,700
51536	Hancock, IA	7.1 mi	613	$101,750	$163,200
51577	Walnut, IA	7.4 mi	1,561	$71,518	$134,100
51553	Minden, IA	12 mi	998	$96,932	$225,900
51537	Harlan, IA	12 mi	6,382	$65,000	$166,800
51552	Marne, IA	12 mi	169	$90,000	$125,000
51560	Oakland, IA	12 mi	1,772	$75,481	$177,100
51563	Persia, IA	14 mi	629	$69,297	$209,400
51565	Portsmouth, IA	14 mi	516	$103,257	$182,100
51531	Elk Horn, IA	15 mi	889	$59,199	$131,500
51559	Neola, IA	16 mi	1,841	$74,761	$201,800

Zip codes like 51521 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51521

What city is zip code 51521?

51521 is assigned to Avoca, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51521 in?

51521 is mostly in Pottawattamie County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51521?

About 1,953 people live in 51521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51521 in?

51521 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51521?

The median household income in 51521 is $73,769.

What zip codes are near 51521?

The closest zip codes to 51521 are 51593, 51570, 51536, 51577, 51553.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51521, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.