ZIP Code Tabulation Area · Iowa

ZIP Code 50278: Story County, IA

ZIP Code 50278 (Story County, Iowa) has an estimated 891 residents in 337 households. The median household income is $74,306, the median home value is $193,000 and the median gross rent is $693/mo. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the matching ZIP Code Tabulation Area.

American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · Updated Oct 26, 2026

Some estimates have a large margin of error. One figure for this ZIP (bachelor's or higher) is marked with *. ACS figures come from a sample, and small areas have fewer responses, so treat these numbers as rough ranges.

Total population

891

Margin of error ±164

Median household income

$74,306

Margin of error ±$13,225

Median home value

$193,000

Margin of error ±$17,358

Median gross rent

$693/mo

Margin of error ±$239

Median age

37.6 yrs

Margin of error ±4.3 yrs

Mean travel time to work

28.2 min

Margin of error ±10.4 min

How ZIP 50278 compares with Iowa and the U.S.

State and national figures are the Census Bureau's own estimates for those areas from the same ACS release, not averages of ZIP codes.

Median age

ZIP 5027837.6 yrsIowa38.6 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 50278$74,306Iowa$75,059United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 50278$35,680Iowa$40,877United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 5027813.7%Iowa11.1%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 502780.0%Iowa3.6%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 5027835.1%*Iowa31.4%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 50278$193,000Iowa$208,000United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 50278$693/moIowa$972/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 5027883.4%Iowa71.7%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 5027828.2 minIowa19.8 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 502785.6%Iowa11.3%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 50278

Each estimate has a 90% margin of error: the true value is likely within that range. * marks estimates with a large margin of error (a coefficient of variation above 30%, or ±10 percentage points or more for rates).

ZIP 50278 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 50278	Margin of error	Iowa	United States
Total population	891	±164	3,210,507	334,922,499
Median age	37.6 yrs	±4.3 yrs	38.6 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	337	±60	1,315,707	129,227,496
Median household income	$74,306	±$13,225	$75,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$35,680	±$3,702	$40,877	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.7%	±9.0 pts	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	0.0%	±2.2 pts	3.6%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	35.1%*	±16.7 pts	31.4%	35.7%
Median home value	$193,000	±$17,358	$208,000	$332,700
Median gross rent	$693/mo	±$239	$972/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	83.4%	±8.1 pts	71.7%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	28.2 min	±10.4 min	19.8 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	5.6%	±2.3 pts	11.3%	15.1%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Shares of the total population by the Census Bureau's race and Hispanic or Latino origin categories (table B03002), listed in the Census Bureau's order. People self-identify on the survey.

Population by race and Hispanic or Latino origin, ZIP 50278
Group	ZIP 50278	Iowa	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	79.8%	82.3%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	3.8%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.2%	0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	2.5%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.2%	0.2%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.3%	0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	9.4%	3.5%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	9.7%	7.3%	19.3%

Where ZIP 50278 is

State: Iowa
Main county: Story County
Largest overlapping place: Zearing (2% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 46.39 sq mi· about 19 people per sq mi

County and place names come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files. A ZIP code's mailing city, set by the U.S. Postal Service, can differ from these names.

Other ZIP codes in Story County

50010 Ames, IA 50012 Ames, IA 50013 Ames, IA 50014 Story County, IA 50046 Story County, IA 50055 Story County, IA 50056 Story County, IA 50105 Story County, IA 50124 Story County, IA 50134 Story County, IA 50154 Story County, IA 50201 Story County, IA 50236 Story County, IA 50248 Story County, IA

See every ZIP code in Iowa, or compare ZIP 50278 with another ZIP code.

Census figures describe residents as a group and cannot tell you about any one home or street. For a specific address, check local government and housing records.

About ZIP codes and ZCTAs: the Census Bureau publishes statistics for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP code delivery areas. Learn how they differ.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, detailed tables B01003, B01002, B11001, B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003, B25077, B25064, B25003, B08013, B08303, B08301, B03002 — snapshot Oct 26, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA5 relationship files (county and place).
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (detailed tables) and 2020 Census ZCTA relationship files. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. These agencies do not endorse OpenZIP.