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Area data

Mason city, IA — ZIP 50401

Population: 28,703 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 50401 (Mason city, IA) is $160,563 — up 1.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $160,000 after a median 99 days on market. 9 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, winterweather, coldwave 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

$160,563

Median home value

+1.8%

1-year change

99

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$160,563
1-year appreciation
+1.8%
3-year appreciation
+8.7%
5-year appreciation
+25.9%
10-year appreciation
+74.0%
All-time peak (2026-06)
$160,589
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
$160,000
Median list price
$174,000
Median price per sqft
$139
1-year sale-price change
-27.8%
Median days on market
99 days
Homes sold (recent period)
6
For-sale inventory
143
Sale-to-list ratio
98.0%
Active listings
6
1-year forecast
+1.4%
Days to pending
81 days
New listings (monthly)
50

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

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$696/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$870/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,088/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,415/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,633/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
9
Elementary schools
4
Middle schools
2
High schools
2
Schools include
Alternative School, Harding Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, John Adams 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, winterWeather, coldWave, hail, strongWind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · strongWind: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 7% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
17.4%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Mason City Coal Gasification Plant (0.4 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
46.0°F
Average high
56.0°F
Average low
36.0°F
Annual precipitation
36.3 in
Annual snowfall
46.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5a (extreme annual low -20 to -15°F)

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

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
19
Days with Good air quality
58
Days with Moderate air quality
2
Highest AQI recorded (year)
56

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
19.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
196
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
12,587
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
10,128

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
20
Nearest airport
Harris Field (6 mi)
Nearest major airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) (7 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

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

Migration

Net migration (county)
-60 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,956
Housing built before 1970
66.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
9.3%
Median annual property tax
$2,224
Mean commute to work
13 min
Households with broadband internet
69.0%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
20,375
Average weekly wage
$1,024
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
30

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

How it compares

ZIP 50401State medianUS median
Median home value$160,563$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$160,000$220,000$325,000
Median days on market99 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,224$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 50401?
$160,563.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 50401?
$160,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 50401?
Median days on market: 99 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 50401?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,088/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 50401?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, winterWeather, coldWave, hail, strongWind.
Is ZIP 50401 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 50401?
Risk to homes is higher than 7% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 50401?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 50401?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Mason City Coal Gasification Plant, 0.4 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 50401?
9 schools (4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 50401 walkable?
Walkability index: 19.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 50401?
Good. Median AQI: 19. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 50401?
Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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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