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Area data

Van meter, IA — ZIP 50261

Population: 3,399 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 50261 (Van meter, IA) is $425,289 — up 0.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $362,450 after a median 184 days on market. 3 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, hail, icestorm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$425,289

Median home value

+0.8%

1-year change

184

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$425,289
1-year appreciation
+0.8%
3-year appreciation
+7.1%
5-year appreciation
+24.7%
10-year appreciation
+66.5%
All-time peak (2026-01)
$430,667
House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$362,450
Median list price
$457,500
Median price per sqft
$266
1-year sale-price change
-4.2%
Median days on market
184 days
Homes sold (recent period)
8
For-sale inventory
16
Sale-to-list ratio
99.8%
Active listings
7
1-year forecast
+1.2%
New listings (monthly)
3

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$890/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$930/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,100/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,500/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,540/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
89.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
3
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Schools include
Van Meter Elementary School, Van Meter High School, Van Meter Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, hail, iceStorm, strongWind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 28% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
29.9%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination (13.2 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
50.0°F
Average high
61.0°F
Average low
39.0°F
Annual precipitation
42.1 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
3.3 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
12,320
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
10,227

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
20
Nearest airport
Hobbes Field (7 mi)
Nearest major airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (14 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
3
Hospitals include
VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI, CLIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.5 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+1,007 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,985
Housing built before 1970
27.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
40.5%
Median annual property tax
$4,627
Mean commute to work
18 min
Households with broadband internet
75.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
47,757
Average weekly wage
$1,474
Top industries (by employment)
Finance & Insurance, Health Care, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
873

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 50261State medianUS median
Median home value$425,289$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$362,450$220,000$325,000
Median days on market184 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$4,627$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 50261?
$425,289.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 50261?
$362,450.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 50261?
Median days on market: 184 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 50261?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,100/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 50261?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, hail, iceStorm, strongWind, tornado.
Is ZIP 50261 in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 50261?
Risk to homes is higher than 28% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 50261?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 50261?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 50261?
3 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 50261 walkable?
Walkability index: 3.3/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 50261?
Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

Selling a home in Van meter, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents