Zip code 52501: Ottumwa, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 52501?

52501 is assigned to Ottumwa, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 52501 in?

52501 is in Wapello County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 52501?

About 30,371 people live in 52501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 52501?

The median household income in 52501 is $63,426.

Q: What zip codes are near 52501?

The closest zip codes to 52501 are 52548, 52566, 52530, 52536, 52563.

Residential delivery areaWapello CountyCentral Time

Population

30,371

Median household income

$63K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$123K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$926/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

225 sq mi

135 people/sq mi

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

About 52501

52501 is a small-town zip code in Ottumwa, Iowa (Wapello County), covering 225 sq mi of land. About 30,371 people live here, or 135 per square mile. The median resident is 38.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $63,426 a year, 21% below the national median of $80,734. 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $122,700, or 1.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 66% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $926 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 19.1 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; transportation and moving goods; and management.

How 52501 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy11.7%
78th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%292nd of 909 in IA
Poverty rate16.5%
75th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%129th of 909 in IA
Residents under 1823.8%
65th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%411th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older18%
61st
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%600th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate7.5%
55th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%146th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents11.5%
55th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%41st of 911 in IA
Population30,371
50th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,50720th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.432
47th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444255th of 908 in IA
Median age38.5
46th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6675th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate65.9%
43rd
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%841st of 909 in IA
Diversity index44.6
43rd
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.446th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate4.4%
41st
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%192nd of 911 in IA
Veterans5.1%
40th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%675th of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers8.6%
40th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%700th of 911 in IA
Government workers12.3%
38th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%519th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters47.5%
37th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%227th of 882 in IA
Median earnings per worker$43,257
34th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712648th of 910 in IA
Healthcare workers8.4%
33rd
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%462nd of 911 in IA
Median household income$63,426
26th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059673rd of 896 in IA
Per capita income$32,047
25th
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877747th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher20.6%
22nd
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%474th of 911 in IA
Population density135/sq mi
16th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi154th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$926
16th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972233rd of 771 in IA
Broadband access86.3%
16th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%602nd of 909 in IA
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%392nd of 911 in IA
Average commute19.1 min
9th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min684th of 902 in IA
Work from home4.9%
7th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%708th of 911 in IA
Median home value$122,700
5th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000651st of 881 in IA

Measure	52501	Wapello	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Housing vacancy	11.7%	11%	8.5%	10.1%	78th	292nd of 909
Poverty rate	16.5%	15.8%	11.1%	12.5%	75th	129th of 909
Residents under 18	23.8%	23.8%	22.9%	22%	65th	411th of 911
Residents 65 and older	18%	18.4%	18.1%	17.2%	61st	600th of 911
Uninsured rate	7.5%	7.3%	5%	8.4%	55th	146th of 911
Foreign-born residents	11.5%	9.9%	5.9%	14.1%	55th	41st of 911
Population	30,371	35,362	3,210,507	334,922,499	50th	20th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.432	0.443	0.444	0.483	47th	255th of 908
Median age	38.5	39.2	38.6	38.9	46th	675th of 911
Homeownership rate	65.9%	68.4%	71.7%	65.2%	43rd	841st of 909
Diversity index	44.6	40.7	31.4	61.4	43rd	46th of 911
Unemployment rate	4.4%	4.3%	3.6%	5.2%	41st	192nd of 911
Veterans	5.1%	5.4%	6.5%	6.2%	40th	675th of 911
Self-employed workers	8.6%	9.5%	10.2%	10%	40th	700th of 911
Government workers	12.3%	13.3%	14.5%	14.5%	38th	519th of 911
Rent-burdened renters	47.5%	47.6%	43.9%	51.1%	37th	227th of 882
Median earnings per worker	$43,257	$43,442	$47,712	$49,666	34th	648th of 910
Healthcare workers	8.4%	8.4%	9.2%	9.7%	33rd	462nd of 911
Median household income	$63,426	$64,766	$75,059	$80,734	26th	673rd of 896
Per capita income	$32,047	$33,358	$40,877	$44,673	25th	747th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.6%	19.6%	31.4%	35.7%	22nd	474th of 911
Population density	135/sq mi	82/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	16th	154th of 911
Median gross rent	$926	$920	$972	$1,413	16th	233rd of 771
Broadband accessWeakness	86.3%	86.3%	88.9%	91%	16th	602nd of 909
Tech workers	1.1%	1.1%	2.9%	3.8%	15th	392nd of 911
Average commuteStrength	19.1 min	20 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	9th	684th of 902
Work from home	4.9%	5.5%	11.3%	15.1%	7th	708th of 911
Median home value	$122,700	$125,100	$208,000	$332,700	5th	651st of 881

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

13%

25–34

11%

35–44

13%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.5

Under 18

23.8%

65 and over

18%

Race and ethnicity

White73%
Black3%
Hispanic15%
Asian2%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander3%
Other0.2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

44.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

11.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

71%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

86%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 11,976
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 64.4%
Married couples: 45.5%
Living alone: 28.5%
Veterans (of adults): 5.1%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

22%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

52501

$63,426

Wapello Co.

$64,766

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,047

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

16.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.432

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

52501

$122,700

Wapello Co.

$125,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

52501

$926

Wapello Co.

$920

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 13,570
Owner-occupied: 65.9%
Vacant: 11.7%
Median year built: 1958
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 47.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 28%
Home value to income: 1.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

13%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

31%

10–19

38%

20–29

11%

30–44

10%

45–59

60+

Average commute

19.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

61.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

17%

Transportation and moving

13%

Management

10%

Sales

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Police and fire

0.7%

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Industries

Manufacturing

27%

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Information

0.9%

Arts and recreation

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$43,257

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	52501	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$62,758	$74,888
Service	$20,658	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,851	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$45,169	$49,199
Production and transportation	$43,862	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

38%

Some college

18%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

12%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.2%
Households with broadband: 86.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 63.5%
No internet access: 10%
Without health insurance: 7.5%
Limited-English households: 4.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Ottumwa
State: Iowa
County: Wapello County
Center point: 41.0444° N, 92.4291° W
Land area: 225 sq mi
Water area: 2.6 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Ottumwa7% of zip

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

Zip codes near 52501

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
52548	Chillicothe, IA	6 mi	83	$75,750	$85,000
52566	Kirkville, IA	7.1 mi	266	$58,750	$93,300
52530	Agency, IA	7.9 mi	945	$98,125	$192,000
52536	Blakesburg, IA	11 mi	814	$75,000	$133,500
52563	Hedrick, IA	12 mi	1,602	$98,438	$130,400
52543	Cedar, IA	12 mi	541	$83,511	—
52561	Fremont, IA	12 mi	1,112	$76,058	$123,200
52554	Eldon, IA	13 mi	1,078	$55,769	$82,400
52568	Martinsburg, IA	13 mi	80	$44,375	$66,300
52553	Eddyville, IA	14 mi	1,846	$64,583	$150,000
52533	Batavia, IA	15 mi	1,201	$62,799	$126,800
52560	Floris, IA	16 mi	458	$116,500	$261,000

Zip codes like 52501 elsewhere

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

Questions about 52501

What city is zip code 52501?

52501 is assigned to Ottumwa, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 52501 in?

52501 is in Wapello County, Iowa.

What is the population of 52501?

About 30,371 people live in 52501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 52501 in?

52501 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 52501?

The median household income in 52501 is $63,426.

What zip codes are near 52501?

The closest zip codes to 52501 are 52548, 52566, 52530, 52536, 52563.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 52501, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.