Zip code 51638: Essex, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51638?

51638 is assigned to Essex, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51638 in?

51638 is mostly in Page County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51638?

About 1,258 people live in 51638, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51638?

The median household income in 51638 is $59,107.

Q: What zip codes are near 51638?

The closest zip codes to 51638 are 51603, 51601, 51645, 51656, 51636.

Residential delivery areaPage CountyCentral Time

Population

1,258

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$121K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$606/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

50.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

80 sq mi

16 people/sq mi

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

About 51638

51638 is a rural zip code in Essex, Iowa (Page County), covering 80 sq mi of land. About 1,258 people live here, or 16 per square mile. The median resident is 50.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,107 a year, 27% below the national median of $80,734. 12% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $120,700, or 2.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $606 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 25.5 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; office and administrative support; and transportation and moving goods. 18% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 51638 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers18.3%
96th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%233rd of 911 in IA
Median age50.5
95th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6161st of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older24.4%
91st
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%246th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate81.9%
83rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%467th of 909 in IA
Veterans8.1%
78th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%315th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.466
74th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444127th of 908 in IA
Government workers16.4%
68th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%267th of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy8.7%
64th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%475th of 909 in IA
Poverty rate12%
56th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%254th of 909 in IA
Average commute25.5 min
46th
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min297th of 902 in IA
Per capita income$36,660
39th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877548th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers7.9%
26th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%497th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$40,268
22nd
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712770th of 910 in IA
Median household income$59,107
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059769th of 896 in IA
Work from home7.5%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%535th of 911 in IA
Diversity index25.2
18th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4173rd of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher17.9%
16th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%596th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate3.4%
16th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%480th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents2.6%
16th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%273rd of 911 in IA
Residents under 1817.5%
16th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%753rd of 911 in IA
Broadband access83.5%
9th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%711th of 909 in IA
Tech workers0.5%
6th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%527th of 911 in IA
Median home value$120,700
5th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000669th of 881 in IA
Unemployment rate1.4%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%586th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters26.8%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%559th of 882 in IA
Population1,258
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507401st of 911 in IA
Population density16/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi590th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$606
1st
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972706th of 771 in IA

Measure	51638	Page	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Self-employed workers	18.3%	12.7%	10.2%	10%	96th	233rd of 911
Median age	50.5	45.1	38.6	38.9	95th	161st of 911
Residents 65 and older	24.4%	24.2%	18.1%	17.2%	91st	246th of 911
Homeownership rateStrength	81.9%	70.5%	71.7%	65.2%	83rd	467th of 909
Veterans	8.1%	8.3%	6.5%	6.2%	78th	315th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.466	0.458	0.444	0.483	74th	127th of 908
Government workers	16.4%	16.4%	14.5%	14.5%	68th	267th of 911
Housing vacancy	8.7%	10.7%	8.5%	10.1%	64th	475th of 909
Poverty rate	12%	13.8%	11.1%	12.5%	56th	254th of 909
Average commute	25.5 min	17.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	46th	297th of 902
Per capita income	$36,660	$33,365	$40,877	$44,673	39th	548th of 911
Healthcare workers	7.9%	10.1%	9.2%	9.7%	26th	497th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$40,268	$44,007	$47,712	$49,666	22nd	770th of 910
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,107	$57,953	$75,059	$80,734	19th	769th of 896
Work from home	7.5%	5.6%	11.3%	15.1%	19th	535th of 911
Diversity index	25.2	18.2	31.4	61.4	18th	173rd of 911
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.9%	19.2%	31.4%	35.7%	16th	596th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	3.4%	4.8%	5%	8.4%	16th	480th of 911
Foreign-born residents	2.6%	1.9%	5.9%	14.1%	16th	273rd of 911
Residents under 18	17.5%	19.2%	22.9%	22%	16th	753rd of 911
Broadband accessWeakness	83.5%	86.8%	88.9%	91%	9th	711th of 909
Tech workers	0.5%	0.3%	2.9%	3.8%	6th	527th of 911
Median home value	$120,700	$125,300	$208,000	$332,700	5th	669th of 881
Unemployment rateStrength	1.4%	5%	3.6%	5.2%	3rd	586th of 911
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	26.8%	40.6%	43.9%	51.1%	3rd	559th of 882
Population	1,258	15,131	3,210,507	334,922,499	2nd	401st of 911
Population density	16/sq mi	28/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	590th of 911
Median gross rent	$606	$705	$972	$1,413	1st	706th of 771

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

14%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

14%

45–54

17%

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

50.5

Under 18

17.5%

65 and over

24.4%

Race and ethnicity

White86%
Black0%
Hispanic10%
Asian0%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other3%
Multiracial0.9%

Diversity index

25.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

51.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 569
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 60.8%
Married couples: 50.4%
Living alone: 36.6%
Veterans (of adults): 8.1%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

24%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51638

$59,107

Page Co.

$57,953

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,660

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.466

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51638

$120,700

Page Co.

$125,300

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51638

$606

Page Co.

$705

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

0.3%

Housing units: 623
Owner-occupied: 81.9%
Vacant: 8.7%
Median year built: 1941
Median rooms: 6.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 26.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 10.3%
Home value to income: 2.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

81%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.6%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

41%

20–29

18%

30–44

14%

45–59

60+

Average commute

25.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

20%

Office and admin

13%

Transportation and moving

12%

Production

12%

Education

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Food service

Sales

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Farming, fishing and forestry

Police and fire

0.9%

Computer and math

0.5%

Arts, media and sports

0.5%

Industries

Manufacturing

19%

Health care and social assistance

18%

Agriculture and mining

12%

Retail

11%

Education

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Other services

Information

0.6%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$40,268

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

18.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51638	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,705	$74,888
Service	$15,500	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,063	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,417	$49,199
Production and transportation	$35,000	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

39%

Some college

25%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%
Households with broadband: 83.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 72.6%
No internet access: 16.5%
Without health insurance: 3.4%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Essex
State: Iowa
County: Page County
Center point: 40.8374° N, 95.2662° W
Land area: 80 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51638 spans 2 counties

Page County98% of land
Montgomery County2% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Essex2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51638

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51603	Shenandoah, IA · PO box	7.4 mi	—	—	—
51601	Shenandoah, IA	8.2 mi	5,629	$62,143	$124,200
51645	Imogene, IA	8.7 mi	419	$217,898	—
51656	Yorktown, IA	9.2 mi	57	$83,750	$76,100
51636	Coin, IA	12 mi	455	$63,516	$121,900
51566	Red Oak, IA	12 mi	7,010	$56,637	$134,200
51632	Clarinda, IA	13 mi	6,624	$55,055	$143,000
51639	Farragut, IA	13 mi	919	$84,688	$157,300
51573	Stanton, IA	13 mi	979	$86,438	$133,800
51649	Randolph, IA	14 mi	346	$58,333	$101,400
51591	Red Oak, IA · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
51533	Emerson, IA	15 mi	844	$68,750	$136,500

Zip codes like 51638 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51638

What city is zip code 51638?

51638 is assigned to Essex, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51638 in?

51638 is mostly in Page County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51638?

About 1,258 people live in 51638, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51638 in?

51638 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51638?

The median household income in 51638 is $59,107.

What zip codes are near 51638?

The closest zip codes to 51638 are 51603, 51601, 51645, 51656, 51636.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51638, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.