50424 ZIP Code — Buffalo Center, IA

Winnebago County, Iowa

ZIP code 50424 is located in Buffalo Center, Iowa, within Winnebago County. It covers approximately 139.20 square miles and serves a population of 1,532 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 641.

About ZIP code 50424

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $105,200. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 74%.

Median household income is $59,100. The poverty rate of 6% is below the national average. 48% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 18 minutes is near the national average.

Educational attainment is near the national average, with 27% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

1,532

population

139.20

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

50424 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 50424

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 50424. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Buffalo Center	Acceptable
Buffalo Center	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

50478 Thompson (8 mi) 50451 Lakota (8 mi) 50484 Woden (10.9 mi) 56033 Frost (11.8 mi) 50480 Titonka (12 mi) 50556 Ledyard (12.9 mi) 50473 Scarville (13.8 mi) 50453 Leland (13.9 mi) 50436 Forest City (14.9 mi) 56014 Bricelyn (14.9 mi) 56051 Kiester (15 mi) 56027 Elmore (15.1 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	1,532
Population density	11 / sq mi
State FIPS	19
County FIPS	189

Geography
Land area	139.20 sq mi
Water area	0.00 sq mi
Latitude	43.3919
Longitude	-93.9216
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	641

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	48.5%	45.7%	40.1%
$50k – $100k	30.4%	33.4%	33.4%
$100k – $200k	16.5%	18.5%	21.5%
Over $200k	4.6%	2.4%	5.0%

Demographics & statistics

1,532

Population

People per sq mi

54.2

Median age

$59,100

Median household income

$36,917

Per capita income

$105,200

Median home value

$633

Median monthly rent

74.4%

Home ownership

6.1%

Poverty rate

5.1%

Unemployment

631

Housing units

27.4%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

35–44

114

45–54

107

55–59

60–64

106

65–74

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	295	19.3%
18 and over	1,237	80.7%
65 and over	378	24.7%
Median age	54.2 years

Race & ethnicity

White 97.3%

Two or more races 1.2%

Hispanic or Latino 0.9%

Asian 0.6%

Group	Count	%
White	1,504	97.3%
Two or more races	19	1.2%
Hispanic or Latino	14	0.9%
Asian	9	0.6%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	48.5%	45.7%	40.1%
$50k – $100k	30.4%	33.4%	33.4%
$100k – $200k	16.5%	18.5%	21.5%
Over $200k	4.6%	2.4%	5.0%

Under $10k 8.1%

$10k–$15k 0.7%

$15k–$25k 17.1%

$25k–$35k 5.6%

$35k–$50k 12.4%

$50k–$75k 15.6%

$75k–$100k 9.0%

$100k–$150k 22.6%

$150k–$200k 3.4%

$200k+ 5.4%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	8.1%
$10k–$15k	0.7%
$15k–$25k	17.1%
$25k–$35k	5.6%
$35k–$50k	12.4%
$50k–$75k	15.6%
$75k–$100k	9.0%
$100k–$150k	22.6%
$150k–$200k	3.4%
$200k+	5.4%
Median income	$59,100

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 14.6%

$50k–$100k 30.3%

$100k–$150k 38.2%

$150k–$200k 6.3%

$200k–$300k 7.9%

$300k–$500k 0.6%

$500k–$1M 2.1%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$105,200
Median rent / month	$633
Owner occupied	74.4%
Renter occupied	25.6%
Vacant	13.6%
Single-family detached	85.3%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	3.1%
Median rooms	6.5
Avg household size (owned)	2.02

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	3.3%
2000–2009	1.6%
1990–1999	0.6%
1980–1989	0.4%
1970–1979	19.6%
1960–1969	11.6%
1950–1959	20.7%
1940–1949	12.1%
1939 or earlier	30.0%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.2%
1 bedroom	6.0%
2 bedrooms	36.0%
3 bedrooms	35.1%
4 bedrooms	19.0%
5+ bedrooms	3.6%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	0.7%
1 vehicle	36.4%
2 vehicles	38.1%
3 or more	24.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	45.1%
Electricity	14.1%
Propane / LP gas	36.4%
Fuel oil	3.3%
No fuel used	1.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	376	53.7%
Cohabiting couple	23	3.3%
Male householder, no spouse	180	25.7%
Female householder, no spouse	121	17.3%
Households with children under 18	139	19.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	240	34.3%
Average household size	2.14

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	25.9%	10.5%
Married	56.7%	65.0%
Separated	0.0%	1.3%
Widowed	1.8%	18.5%
Divorced	15.6%	4.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 1.8%

Some HS, no diploma 0.8%

HS graduate 37.3%

Some college, no degree 15.4%

Associate's degree 17.3%

Bachelor's degree 23.4%

Graduate / professional 4.0%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	97.3%
Bachelor's or higher	27.4%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	4	1.5%
Kindergarten	0	0.0%
Elementary school	205	75.4%
High school	58	21.3%
College / grad school	5	1.8%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 18.7%

Agriculture & mining 16.6%

Transportation & utilities 13.6%

Finance & real estate 11.2%

Construction 10.4%

Retail trade 9.5%

Arts, food & hospitality 7.9%

Manufacturing 5.0%

Professional & management 3.2%

Other services 2.8%

Wholesale trade 0.8%

Public administration 0.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	36.9%
Service	10.7%
Sales & office	24.8%
Natural resources & construction	14.2%
Production & transportation	13.4%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	72.3%
Government	8.9%
Self-employed	18.5%
Unpaid family workers	0.3%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	65.7%
Carpool	7.6%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	15.1%
Work from home	11.6%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	18.3

Poverty

All people 6.1%

Under 18 years 2.0%

18 and over 7.1%

Married-couple families 0.8%

Female-led households 10.5%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	48.1%
Retirement income	22.3%
Supplemental Security	0.7%
Cash public assistance	0.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	14.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	37.5%
High blood pressure	40.7%
High cholesterol	38.0%
Diabetes	12.6%
Heart disease	9.5%
Stroke	4.2%
Asthma	9.0%
Arthritis	31.1%
Kidney disease	3.9%
Pulmonary disease	8.6%
Cancer	9.7%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	16.2%
Binge drinking	17.6%
No physical activity	27.3%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	29.9%
Depression	16.2%
Fair or poor health	15.3%
Poor mental health	12.1%
Poor physical health	11.1%
No health insurance	9.6%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.6%
Visited dentist	67.0%
Cholesterol screening	91.0%
Teeth loss	14.6%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	119	9.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	14.4%
Under 18	1.7%
18–64 years	15.2%
65 and over	23.0%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	70.4%
Public insurance	47.9%
No insurance	3.3%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,487	97.1%
Spanish	23	1.5%
Other Indo-European	18	1.2%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	5	0.3%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	1,506	98.3%
Born in same state	1,506	98.3%
Born in different state	1,068	69.7%
Foreign born	0	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	26	1.7%
Not a US citizen	24	92.3%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	447	29.2%
English	218	14.2%
French	111	7.2%

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	107	7%
Arab	50	3.3%
Dutch	2	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	45.7%
Internet access	94.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 50424

What city is ZIP code 50424 in?

ZIP code 50424 is primarily assigned to Buffalo Center, Iowa.

What county is ZIP code 50424 in?

ZIP code 50424 falls within Winnebago County, Iowa.

Does ZIP code 50424 have a large retiree population?

48% of households in ZIP code 50424 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 50424?

The median home value in ZIP code 50424 is $105,200.

Does ZIP code 50424 have a large veteran population?

10% of civilians in ZIP code 50424 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

What is the population of ZIP code 50424?

ZIP code 50424 has an estimated population of 1,532 residents, with a density of 11 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 50424 in?

ZIP code 50424 observes the CST timezone.