Zip code 51531: Elk Horn, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51531?

51531 is assigned to Elk Horn, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51531 in?

51531 is mostly in Shelby County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51531?

About 889 people live in 51531, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51531?

The median household income in 51531 is $59,199.

Q: What zip codes are near 51531?

The closest zip codes to 51531 are 51543, 51552, 50042, 51577, 51447.

Residential delivery areaShelby CountyCentral Time

Population

889

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$132K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$668/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

27 sq mi

33 people/sq mi

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

About 51531

51531 is a rural zip code in Elk Horn, Iowa (Shelby County), covering 27 sq mi of land. About 889 people live here, or 33 per square mile. The median resident is 46 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,199 a year, 27% below the national median of $80,734. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $131,500, or 2.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $668 a month.

29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.2 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; education; and healthcare.

How 51531 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Government workers27.9%
97th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%29th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers13.6%
91st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%124th of 911 in IA
Median age46
89th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6299th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy15.6%
87th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%173rd of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older22.3%
84th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%331st of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers12.4%
79th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%519th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate78.4%
75th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%593rd of 909 in IA
Broadband access93.1%
58th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%201st of 909 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.436
51st
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444238th of 908 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher28.6%
43rd
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%199th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate9.6%
42nd
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%381st of 909 in IA
Per capita income$37,230
41st
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877513th of 911 in IA
Veterans4.9%
37th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%702nd of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate4.5%
27th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%373rd of 911 in IA
Median household income$59,199
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059765th of 896 in IA
Work from home7.5%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%536th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents3.1%
19th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%220th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$39,355
19th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712798th of 910 in IA
Diversity index23.1
16th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4209th of 911 in IA
Average commute20.2 min
13th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min615th of 902 in IA
Rent-burdened renters35.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%426th of 882 in IA
Median home value$131,500
7th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000610th of 881 in IA
Residents under 1814.2%
7th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%821st of 911 in IA
Population density33/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi316th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate1.4%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%589th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$668
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972623rd of 771 in IA
Population889
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507505th of 911 in IA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%863rd of 911 in IA

Measure	51531	Shelby	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Government workers	27.9%	15.4%	14.5%	14.5%	97th	29th of 911
Healthcare workers	13.6%	9.1%	9.2%	9.7%	91st	124th of 911
Median age	46	44.3	38.6	38.9	89th	299th of 911
Housing vacancy	15.6%	10.3%	8.5%	10.1%	87th	173rd of 909
Residents 65 and older	22.3%	23.1%	18.1%	17.2%	84th	331st of 911
Self-employed workers	12.4%	15.1%	10.2%	10%	79th	519th of 911
Homeownership rate	78.4%	77.8%	71.7%	65.2%	75th	593rd of 909
Broadband access	93.1%	88.3%	88.9%	91%	58th	201st of 909
Income inequality (Gini)	0.436	0.447	0.444	0.483	51st	238th of 908
Bachelor's degree or higher	28.6%	24.1%	31.4%	35.7%	43rd	199th of 911
Poverty rate	9.6%	7.6%	11.1%	12.5%	42nd	381st of 909
Per capita income	$37,230	$40,510	$40,877	$44,673	41st	513th of 911
Veterans	4.9%	8.6%	6.5%	6.2%	37th	702nd of 911
Uninsured rate	4.5%	2.3%	5%	8.4%	27th	373rd of 911
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,199	$72,738	$75,059	$80,734	19th	765th of 896
Work from home	7.5%	12.8%	11.3%	15.1%	19th	536th of 911
Foreign-born residents	3.1%	1.6%	5.9%	14.1%	19th	220th of 911
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,355	$48,259	$47,712	$49,666	19th	798th of 910
Diversity index	23.1	16.4	31.4	61.4	16th	209th of 911
Average commuteStrength	20.2 min	18.5 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	13th	615th of 902
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	35.4%	51.1%	43.9%	51.1%	9th	426th of 882
Median home value	$131,500	$164,000	$208,000	$332,700	7th	610th of 881
Residents under 18	14.2%	22.9%	22.9%	22%	7th	821st of 911
Population density	33/sq mi	20/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	316th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	1.4%	3.2%	3.6%	5.2%	3rd	589th of 911
Median gross rent	$668	$783	$972	$1,413	2nd	623rd of 771
Population	889	11,778	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	505th of 911
Tech workers	0%	1.4%	2.9%	3.8%	1st	863rd 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

11%

5–17

15%

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

14%

45–54

15%

55–64

65–74

14%

75+

Median age

Under 18

14.2%

65 and over

22.3%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black0%
Hispanic3%
Asian6%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

23.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 389
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 58.9%
Married couples: 49.1%
Living alone: 35.5%
Veterans (of adults): 4.9%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

12%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

27%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51531

$59,199

Shelby Co.

$72,738

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,230

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

9.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

13.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.436

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51531

$131,500

Shelby Co.

$164,000

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51531

$668

Shelby Co.

$783

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: 461
Owner-occupied: 78.4%
Vacant: 15.6%
Median year built: 1939 or earlier
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 35.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 25%
Home value to income: 2.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

0.4%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

15%

20–29

41%

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

25%

Education

15%

Healthcare

14%

Management

10%

Construction and repair

Legal and social services

Food service

Office and admin

Sales

Production

Arts, media and sports

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Business and finance

0.6%

Police and fire

0.6%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Computer and math

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Education

15%

Retail

12%

Manufacturing

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

10%

Wholesale

Public administration

Construction

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.6%

Professional and technical services

0.4%

Admin, support and management

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$39,355

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

27.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51531	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$42,692	$74,888
Service	$7,443	$26,804
Sales and office	$25,625	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$46,000	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,500	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

37%

Some college

19%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 28.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.4%
Households with broadband: 93.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 84.8%
No internet access: 6.4%
Without health insurance: 4.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Elk Horn
State: Iowa
County: Shelby County
Center point: 41.5875° N, 95.0884° W
Land area: 27 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51531 spans 2 counties

Shelby County79% of land
Audubon County22% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Elk Horn3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51531

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51543	Kimballton, IA	4.9 mi	478	$72,083	$163,000
51552	Marne, IA	7.1 mi	169	$90,000	$125,000
50042	Brayton, IA	10 mi	226	$92,500	$160,900
51577	Walnut, IA	10 mi	1,561	$71,518	$134,100
51447	Kirkman, IA	11 mi	113	$68,214	$141,700
51537	Harlan, IA	12 mi	6,382	$65,000	$166,800
50022	Atlantic, IA	13 mi	8,526	$63,125	$157,600
50076	Exira, IA	13 mi	1,301	$55,313	$114,100
51446	Irwin, IA	14 mi	499	$62,750	$91,400
50025	Audubon, IA	15 mi	3,148	$52,438	$118,100
51521	Avoca, IA	15 mi	1,953	$73,769	$202,800
51593	Harlan, IA · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—

Questions about 51531

What city is zip code 51531?

51531 is assigned to Elk Horn, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51531 in?

51531 is mostly in Shelby County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51531?

About 889 people live in 51531, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51531 in?

51531 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51531?

The median household income in 51531 is $59,199.

What zip codes are near 51531?

The closest zip codes to 51531 are 51543, 51552, 50042, 51577, 51447.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51531, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.