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Area data

Lester, IA — ZIP 51242

Population: 379 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 51242 (Lester, IA) is $293,367 — up 4.7% over the past year. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very 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

$293,367

Median home value

+4.7%

1-year change

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$293,367
1-year appreciation
+4.7%
3-year appreciation
+22.8%
All-time peak (2026-07)
$293,367
House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

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

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)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, hail, iceStorm, winterWeather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · strongWind: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 27% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
36.3%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
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
48.0°F
Average high
59.0°F
Average low
37.0°F
Annual precipitation
30.7 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)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Pipestone National Monument (39 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
11
Nearest airport
Zangger Vintage Airpark (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) (23 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1,090
Hospitals include
MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.1 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
3
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)
+16 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,972
Housing built before 1970
47.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
15.9%
Median annual property tax
$1,750
Households with broadband internet
75.6%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
3,981
Average weekly wage
$954
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Construction, Wholesale Trade
Annual residential building permits (county)
63

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

How it compares

ZIP 51242State medianUS median
Median home value$293,367$211,348$289,727
Median annual property tax$1,750$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 51242?
$293,367.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 51242?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, hail, iceStorm, winterWeather.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 51242?
Risk to homes is higher than 27% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 51242?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 51242?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 51242?
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