ZIP Code Tabulation Area · Iowa

ZIP Code 51537: Shelby County, IA

ZIP Code 51537 (Shelby County, Iowa) has an estimated 6,382 residents in 2,538 households. The median household income is $65,000, the median home value is $166,800 and the median gross rent is $790/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

Total population

6,382

Margin of error ±316

Median household income

$65,000

Margin of error ±$15,588

Median home value

$166,800

Margin of error ±$8,855

Median gross rent

$790/mo

Margin of error ±$128

Median age

43.0 yrs

Margin of error ±3.5 yrs

Mean travel time to work

14.0 min

Margin of error ±2.7 min

How ZIP 51537 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 5153743.0 yrsIowa38.6 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 51537$65,000Iowa$75,059United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 51537$37,951Iowa$40,877United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 515377.3%Iowa11.1%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 515374.1%Iowa3.6%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 5153725.1%Iowa31.4%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 51537$166,800Iowa$208,000United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 51537$790/moIowa$972/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 5153776.1%Iowa71.7%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 5153714.0 minIowa19.8 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 5153711.4%Iowa11.3%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 51537

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 51537 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 51537	Margin of error	Iowa	United States
Total population	6,382	±316	3,210,507	334,922,499
Median age	43.0 yrs	±3.5 yrs	38.6 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	2,538	±167	1,315,707	129,227,496
Median household income	$65,000	±$15,588	$75,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,951	±$3,583	$40,877	$44,673
Poverty rate	7.3%	±2.9 pts	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	±2.3 pts	3.6%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.1%	±4.8 pts	31.4%	35.7%
Median home value	$166,800	±$8,855	$208,000	$332,700
Median gross rent	$790/mo	±$128	$972/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	76.1%	±6.6 pts	71.7%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	14.0 min	±2.7 min	19.8 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	11.4%	±3.7 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 51537
Group	ZIP 51537	Iowa	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	90.2%	82.3%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	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	0.0%	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	0.5%	0.3%	0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	3.5%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	4.3%	7.3%	19.3%

Where ZIP 51537 is

State: Iowa
Main county: Shelby County
Largest overlapping place: Harlan (3% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 163.79 sq mi· about 39 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 Shelby County

51446 Shelby County, IA 51447 Shelby County, IA 51527 Shelby County, IA 51530 Shelby County, IA 51531 Shelby County, IA 51562 Shelby County, IA 51565 Shelby County, IA 51570 Shelby County, IA 51578 Westphalia, IA

See every ZIP code in Iowa, or compare ZIP 51537 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.