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Area data

Emerson, IA — ZIP 51533

Population: 844 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 51533 (Emerson, IA) is $193,629 — up 3.2% over the past year. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with drought 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

$193,629

Median home value

+3.2%

1-year change

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$193,629
1-year appreciation
+3.2%
3-year appreciation
+6.2%
5-year appreciation
+16.1%
10-year appreciation
+53.4%
All-time peak (2026-01)
$197,252
House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

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

Market activity

1-year forecast
+1.5%

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

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$960/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,040/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,220/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,630/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,810/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)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
drought
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 40% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
45.9%
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
51.0°F
Average high
62.0°F
Average low
40.0°F
Annual precipitation
33.4 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)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (31 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
14
Nearest airport
Red Oak Municipal Airport (9 mi)
Nearest major airport
Offutt Air Force Base (OFF) (26 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
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.1 kWh/m²/day)

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

Migration

Net migration (county)
+13 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,938
Housing built before 1970
73.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
3.3%
Median annual property tax
$1,754
Mean commute to work
23 min
Households with broadband internet
65.5%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
2,277
Average weekly wage
$1,043
Top industries (by employment)
Administrative Services, Wholesale Trade, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
33

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

How it compares

ZIP 51533State medianUS median
Median home value$193,629$211,348$289,727
Median annual property tax$1,754$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 51533?
$193,629.
What is typical rent in ZIP 51533?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,220/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 51533?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 51533?
Risk to homes is higher than 40% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 51533?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 51533?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 51533?
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