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Area data

Fairfield, IA — ZIP 52556

Population: 11,448 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 52556 (Fairfield, IA) is $184,939 — up 3.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $187,000 after a median 73 days on market. Typical rent runs $813/month. 4 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with drought, hail, heatwave 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

$184,939

Median home value

+3.7%

1-year change

73

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$184,939
1-year appreciation
+3.7%
3-year appreciation
+10.6%
5-year appreciation
+22.5%
10-year appreciation
+58.2%
All-time peak (2026-04)
$186,657
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
$187,000
Median list price
$185,000
Median price per sqft
$120
1-year sale-price change
+4.5%
Median days on market
73 days
Homes sold (recent period)
35
For-sale inventory
99
Sale-to-list ratio
95.3%
Active listings
56
1-year forecast
+0.8%
New listings (monthly)
21

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

Rents

Typical rent
$813/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$1,024/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,155/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,266/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,583/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,801/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
4
Elementary schools
2
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Schools include
Fairfield High School, Fairfield Middle School, Pence Elementary, Washington Elementary

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

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, hail, heatWave, lightning, strongWind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Low · lightning: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 43% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
41.4%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Fairfield Coal Gasification Plant (2.6 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
79.0°F
Average high
80.0°F
Average low
78.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.3 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
9.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
6,078
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
5,117

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (54 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
9
Nearest airport
Fairfield Municipal Airport (FFL) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) (28 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH CENTER
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)
-135 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,968
Housing built before 1970
52.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
15.0%
Median annual property tax
$2,607
Mean commute to work
10 min
Households with broadband internet
71.2%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
6,153
Average weekly wage
$1,008
Top industries (by employment)
Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
1

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

How it compares

ZIP 52556State medianUS median
Median home value$184,939$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$187,000$220,000$325,000
Median days on market73 days48 days51 days
Typical rent$813/mo$1,175/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$2,607$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 52556?
$184,939.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 52556?
$187,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 52556?
Median days on market: 73 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 52556?
Typical rent: $813/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 52556?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, hail, heatWave, lightning, strongWind.
Is ZIP 52556 in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 52556?
Risk to homes is higher than 43% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 52556?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 52556?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Fairfield Coal Gasification Plant, 2.6 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 52556?
4 schools (2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 52556 walkable?
Walkability index: 9.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 52556?
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