Zip code 51537: Harlan, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51537?

51537 is assigned to Harlan, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51537 in?

51537 is in Shelby County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 51537?

About 6,382 people live in 51537, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51537?

The median household income in 51537 is $65,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 51537?

The closest zip codes to 51537 are 51578, 51447, 51446, 51593, 51562.

Residential delivery areaShelby CountyCentral Time

Population

6,382

Median household income

$65K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$167K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$790/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

164 sq mi

39 people/sq mi

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

About 51537

51537 is a rural zip code in Harlan, Iowa (Shelby County), covering 164 sq mi of land. About 6,382 people live here, or 39 per square mile. The median resident is 43 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $65,000 a year, 19% below the national median of $80,734. 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $166,800, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $790 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 14 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; transportation and moving goods; and management.

How 51537 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans10.1%
90th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%151st of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older23.4%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%284th of 911 in IA
Median age43
77th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6429th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy10.2%
72nd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%380th of 909 in IA
Homeownership rate76.1%
69th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%660th of 909 in IA
Residents under 1823.7%
64th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%418th of 911 in IA
Government workers15.7%
64th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%296th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%293rd of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers10.1%
60th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%621st of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.438
53rd
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444225th of 908 in IA
Per capita income$37,951
44th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877474th of 911 in IA
Work from home11.4%
43rd
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%307th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters48.2%
40th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%210th of 882 in IA
Unemployment rate4.1%
36th
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%212th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$44,047
36th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712607th of 910 in IA
Tech workers2.1%
35th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%226th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher25.1%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%299th of 911 in IA
Median household income$65,000
28th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059638th of 896 in IA
Poverty rate7.3%
27th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%538th of 909 in IA
Median home value$166,800
14th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000412th of 881 in IA
Broadband access85.5%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%635th of 909 in IA
Diversity index18.3
11th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4296th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents1.8%
11th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%344th of 911 in IA
Population6,382
10th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507120th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$790
6th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972438th of 771 in IA
Population density39/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi280th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate1.5%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%748th of 911 in IA
Average commute14 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min871st of 902 in IA

Measure	51537	Shelby	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Veterans	10.1%	8.6%	6.5%	6.2%	90th	151st of 911
Residents 65 and older	23.4%	23.1%	18.1%	17.2%	88th	284th of 911
Median age	43	44.3	38.6	38.9	77th	429th of 911
Housing vacancy	10.2%	10.3%	8.5%	10.1%	72nd	380th of 909
Homeownership rate	76.1%	77.8%	71.7%	65.2%	69th	660th of 909
Residents under 18	23.7%	22.9%	22.9%	22%	64th	418th of 911
Government workers	15.7%	15.4%	14.5%	14.5%	64th	296th of 911
Healthcare workers	10.3%	9.1%	9.2%	9.7%	62nd	293rd of 911
Self-employed workers	10.1%	15.1%	10.2%	10%	60th	621st of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.438	0.447	0.444	0.483	53rd	225th of 908
Per capita income	$37,951	$40,510	$40,877	$44,673	44th	474th of 911
Work from home	11.4%	12.8%	11.3%	15.1%	43rd	307th of 911
Rent-burdened renters	48.2%	51.1%	43.9%	51.1%	40th	210th of 882
Unemployment rate	4.1%	3.2%	3.6%	5.2%	36th	212th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$44,047	$48,259	$47,712	$49,666	36th	607th of 910
Tech workers	2.1%	1.4%	2.9%	3.8%	35th	226th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.1%	24.1%	31.4%	35.7%	34th	299th of 911
Median household income	$65,000	$72,738	$75,059	$80,734	28th	638th of 896
Poverty rate	7.3%	7.6%	11.1%	12.5%	27th	538th of 909
Median home value	$166,800	$164,000	$208,000	$332,700	14th	412th of 881
Broadband accessWeakness	85.5%	88.3%	88.9%	91%	14th	635th of 909
Diversity index	18.3	16.4	31.4	61.4	11th	296th of 911
Foreign-born residents	1.8%	1.6%	5.9%	14.1%	11th	344th of 911
Population	6,382	11,778	3,210,507	334,922,499	10th	120th of 911
Median gross rent	$790	$783	$972	$1,413	6th	438th of 771
Population density	39/sq mi	20/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	280th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	1.5%	2.3%	5%	8.4%	3rd	748th of 911
Average commuteStrength	14 min	18.5 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	1st	871st 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

17%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

17%

55–64

12%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

Under 18

23.7%

65 and over

23.4%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0.5%
Hispanic4%
Asian0%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.5%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

18.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

66.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 2,538
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 65.9%
Married couples: 58.8%
Living alone: 32.9%
Veterans (of adults): 10.1%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

51537

$65,000

Shelby Co.

$72,738

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,951

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

18.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.438

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51537

$166,800

Shelby Co.

$164,000

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51537

$790

Shelby Co.

$783

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

83%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,827
Owner-occupied: 76.1%
Vacant: 10.2%
Median year built: 1959
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 19.9%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

Transit

0.3%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

0.7%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

49%

10–19

29%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

14 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

15%

Transportation and moving

14%

Management

12%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Construction and repair

Food service

Production

Business and finance

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

0.8%

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Retail

15%

Education

10%

Manufacturing

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Construction

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Other services

Professional and technical services

Arts and recreation

Information

Admin, support and management

Median earnings per worker

$44,047

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

13.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51537	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,977	$74,888
Service	$25,712	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,851	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$44,732	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,794	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

33%

Some college

22%

Associate's

15%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.4%
Households with broadband: 85.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 69.5%
No internet access: 13.8%
Without health insurance: 1.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Harlan
State: Iowa
County: Shelby County
Center point: 41.6501° N, 95.2972° W
Land area: 164 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Harlan3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51537

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51578	Westphalia, IA	7 mi	116	$77,292	$97,600
51447	Kirkman, IA	7.3 mi	113	$68,214	$141,700
51446	Irwin, IA	10 mi	499	$62,750	$91,400
51593	Harlan, IA · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
51562	Panama, IA	11 mi	506	$81,250	$159,000
51521	Avoca, IA	12 mi	1,953	$73,769	$202,800
51543	Kimballton, IA	12 mi	478	$72,083	$163,000
51531	Elk Horn, IA	12 mi	889	$59,199	$131,500
51565	Portsmouth, IA	12 mi	516	$103,257	$182,100
51530	Earling, IA	12 mi	809	$73,750	$163,800
51570	Shelby, IA	12 mi	1,118	$77,708	$204,700
51527	Defiance, IA	13 mi	362	$64,750	$123,400

Zip codes like 51537 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51537

What city is zip code 51537?

51537 is assigned to Harlan, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51537 in?

51537 is in Shelby County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51537?

About 6,382 people live in 51537, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51537 in?

51537 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51537?

The median household income in 51537 is $65,000.

What zip codes are near 51537?

The closest zip codes to 51537 are 51578, 51447, 51446, 51593, 51562.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51537, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.