ZIP Code 51238, Iowa
ZIP Code 51238 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 51238 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in O'Brien County / Sioux County, Iowa. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 1,502. The land area covers 49.17 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 1,502 | ±297 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 36.9 yrs | ±7.1 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 556 | ±78 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 566 | ±78 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 556 | ±78 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 10 | ±15 |
| Median Home Value | $182,500 | ±$30,042 |
| Median Gross Rent | $684 | ±$182 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,000 | ±$22,282 |
| Per Capita Income | $33,317 | ±$6,216 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.6% | ±12.3% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 159 | ±187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% | ±2.9% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 740 | ±140 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 90.5% | ±7.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 14,260 (2024)
ID: 211245
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: CHAIRMAN
PO BOX 380, PRIMGHAR IA 51245
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | PK-06 | Boyden, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | 07-12 | Hull, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | Sheldon, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | 05-08 | Sanborn, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-03 | Sioux Center, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK | Sheldon, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Orange City, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Orange City, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Alton, IA | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Sheldon, IA |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwest Iowa Community College
|
College | 7.6 mi away | 603 W Park St, Sheldon, IA, 51201 |
7123245061
|
|
HOSPERS PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 0.7 mi away | 213 MAIN ST, HOSPERS, IA, 51238 |
(712) 752-8400
|
|
Northwestern College
|
College | 9.9 mi away | 101 Seventh St SW, Orange City, IA, 51041 |
7127077000
|
|
SHELDON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 7.5 mi away | 925 4TH AVE, SHELDON, IA, 51201 |
(712) 324-2442
|
|
Dordt University
|
College | 13.8 mi away | 700 7th St SE, Sioux Center, IA, 51250-1606 |
7127226000
|
|
ALTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 8.6 mi away | 605 10TH ST, ALTON, IA, 51003 |
(712) 756-4516
|
|
ORANGE CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 9.6 mi away | 112 ALBANY AVE SE, ORANGE CITY, IA, 51041 |
(712) 707-4302
|
|
BOYDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 9.9 mi away | 609 WEBB ST, BOYDEN, IA, 51234 |
(712) 725-2281
|
|
PAULLINA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.4 mi away | 113 S MICKLEY ST, PAULLINA, IA, 51046 |
(712) 949-3941
|
|
PRIMGHAR PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.5 mi away | 320 1ST ST NE, PRIMGHAR, IA, 51245 |
(712) 957-8981
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at SHELDON, IA US, located 7.6 miles from ZCTA5 51238. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.6° | 5.2° | 14.9° | 0.88" | 8.7" |
| February | 29.5° | 9.1° | 19.3° | 1.00" | 7.2" |
| March | 42.5° | 21.3° | 31.9° | 1.91" | 6.6" |
| April | 57.0° | 32.4° | 44.7° | 3.22" | 3.3" |
| May | 69.0° | 46.2° | 57.6° | 4.03" | 0.2" |
| June | 79.2° | 57.2° | 68.2° | 4.67" | 0.0" |
| July | 82.7° | 60.4° | 71.5° | 3.61" | 0.0" |
| August | 80.3° | 57.5° | 68.9° | 3.26" | 0.0" |
| September | 74.0° | 47.9° | 60.9° | 3.39" | 0.0" |
| October | 60.5° | 34.6° | 47.5° | 2.43" | 0.5" |
| November | 43.9° | 21.6° | 32.8° | 1.52" | 4.7" |
| December | 29.6° | 11.0° | 20.3° | 1.17" | 9.6" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospers city | City | 0.6 mi | — |
| Granville city | City | 6.2 mi | — |
| Sheldon city | City | 7.7 mi | — |
| Archer city | City | 8.0 mi | — |
| Alton city | City | 8.4 mi | — |
| Orange City city | City | 9.6 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 51238. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.