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Area data

Highland center, IA — ZIP 52501

Population: 30,371 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 52501 (Highland center, IA) is $126,439 — up 1.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $136,750 after a median 49.5 days on market. 10 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, strongwind, tornado 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

$126,439

Median home value

+1.7%

1-year change

49.5

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$126,439
1-year appreciation
+1.7%
3-year appreciation
+8.2%
5-year appreciation
+27.0%
10-year appreciation
+39.9%
All-time peak (2024-08)
$128,561
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
$136,750
Median list price
$145,250
Median price per sqft
$105
1-year sale-price change
-13.4%
Median days on market
49.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
62
For-sale inventory
142
Sale-to-list ratio
94.9%
Active listings
82
1-year forecast
+1.9%
Days to pending
73 days
New listings (monthly)
36

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
10
Elementary schools
7
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Schools include
Eisenhower Elementary School, Evans Middle School, Horace Mann Elementary School, James Elementary School, Ottumwa High School

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

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, strongWind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
A
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 53% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
38.6%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Fairfield Coal Gasification Plant (24 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
51.0°F
Average high
61.0°F
Average low
41.0°F
Annual precipitation
38.1 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
9.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
9,022
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
8,226

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
11
Nearest airport
Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) (5 mi)
Nearest major airport
Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) (5 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
OTTUMWA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
2.0 / 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)
-202 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,958
Housing built before 1970
64.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
9.0%
Median annual property tax
$2,042
Mean commute to work
18 min
Households with broadband internet
63.5%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
12,580
Average weekly wage
$1,023
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
2

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

How it compares

ZIP 52501State medianUS median
Median home value$126,439$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$136,750$220,000$325,000
Median days on market50 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,042$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 52501?
$126,439.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 52501?
$136,750.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 52501?
Median days on market: 49.5 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 52501?
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 52501?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, strongWind, tornado.
Is ZIP 52501 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 52501?
Risk to homes is higher than 53% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 52501?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 52501?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 52501?
10 schools (7 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 52501 walkable?
Walkability index: 9.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 52501?
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