51246 ZIP Code — Rock Rapids, IA

Lyon County, Iowa

ZIP code 51246 is located in Rock Rapids, Iowa, within Lyon County. It covers approximately 161.11 square miles and serves a population of 4,007 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 712.

About ZIP code 51246

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 $221,600. Owner-occupancy is high at 82%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $70,625. 30% 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 13 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 21% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Overall, ZIP code 51246 reflects a community defined by high homeownership and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

4,007

population

161.11

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

51246 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 51246

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 51246. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Rock Rapids	Acceptable
Rock Rapids	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

51230 Alvord (9 mi) 51235 Doon (9.3 mi) 51237 George (9.6 mi) 51243 Little Rock (11.3 mi) 56129 Ellsworth (12.2 mi) 56138 Hills (14.1 mi) 51239 Hull (14.9 mi) 51241 Larchwood (15.7 mi) 56158 Magnolia (16.3 mi) 51240 Inwood (17 mi) 51234 Boyden (17.2 mi) 56110 Adrian (17.3 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	4,007
Population density	25 / sq mi
State FIPS	19
County FIPS	119

Geography
Land area	161.11 sq mi
Water area	0.06 sq mi
Latitude	43.4151
Longitude	-96.1541
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	712

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	37.6%	35.8%	40.1%
$50k – $100k	38.5%	40.3%	33.4%
$100k – $200k	21.3%	21.9%	21.5%
Over $200k	2.6%	2.0%	5.0%

Demographics & statistics

4,007

Population

People per sq mi

38.2

Median age

$70,625

Median household income

$31,401

Per capita income

$221,600

Median home value

$756

Median monthly rent

82.4%

Home ownership

2.0%

Poverty rate

2.7%

Unemployment

1,356

Housing units

20.9%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

117

Under 5

110

226

5–9

212

202

10–14

189

179

15–19

167

20–24

108

25–34

101

360

35–44

337

173

45–54

163

159

55–59

149

119

60–64

111

166

65–74

155

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,285	32.1%
18 and over	2,722	67.9%
65 and over	669	16.7%
Median age	38.2 years

Race & ethnicity

White 92.5%

Two or more races 3.3%

Hispanic or Latino 2.9%

Other race 0.8%

Asian 0.3%

Black or African American 0.1%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	3,818	92.5%
Two or more races	136	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino	120	2.9%
Other race	31	0.8%
Asian	14	0.3%
Black or African American	4	0.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	4	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	37.6%	35.8%	40.1%
$50k – $100k	38.5%	40.3%	33.4%
$100k – $200k	21.3%	21.9%	21.5%
Over $200k	2.6%	2.0%	5.0%

Under $10k 1.1%

$10k–$15k 3.5%

$15k–$25k 4.6%

$25k–$35k 4.7%

$35k–$50k 14.2%

$50k–$75k 24.0%

$75k–$100k 16.2%

$100k–$150k 18.7%

$150k–$200k 6.2%

$200k+ 6.7%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	1.1%
$10k–$15k	3.5%
$15k–$25k	4.6%
$25k–$35k	4.7%
$35k–$50k	14.2%
$50k–$75k	24.0%
$75k–$100k	16.2%
$100k–$150k	18.7%
$150k–$200k	6.2%
$200k+	6.7%
Median income	$70,625

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 3.7%

$50k–$100k 13.7%

$100k–$150k 10.0%

$150k–$200k 12.1%

$200k–$300k 33.5%

$300k–$500k 17.0%

$500k–$1M 8.1%

$1M+ 1.9%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$221,600
Median rent / month	$756
Owner occupied	82.4%
Renter occupied	17.6%
Vacant	16.1%
Single-family detached	82.3%
Large apartment buildings	8.7%
Mobile homes	1.4%
Median rooms	6.9
Avg household size (owned)	3.03

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.6%
2010–2019	6.0%
2000–2009	6.6%
1990–1999	10.6%
1980–1989	4.0%
1970–1979	17.4%
1960–1969	16.3%
1950–1959	11.3%
1940–1949	7.4%
1939 or earlier	19.7%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.6%
1 bedroom	10.4%
2 bedrooms	20.3%
3 bedrooms	32.7%
4 bedrooms	27.4%
5+ bedrooms	8.6%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	2.5%
1 vehicle	19.1%
2 vehicles	37.1%
3 or more	41.3%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	58.7%
Electricity	25.4%
Propane / LP gas	11.5%
Fuel oil	0.4%
Wood	2.1%
No fuel used	0.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	857	64.2%
Cohabiting couple	86	6.4%
Male householder, no spouse	165	12.4%
Female householder, no spouse	227	17.0%
Households with children under 18	497	37.2%
Households with seniors (65+)	408	30.6%
Average household size	2.92

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	26.7%	21.2%
Married	60.5%	59.8%
Separated	2.4%	0.4%
Widowed	2.3%	13.7%
Divorced	8.0%	4.9%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.8%

Some HS, no diploma 2.0%

HS graduate 41.4%

Some college, no degree 19.1%

Associate's degree 13.8%

Bachelor's degree 16.2%

Graduate / professional 4.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	95.1%
Bachelor's or higher	20.9%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	29	2.4%
Kindergarten	34	2.9%
Elementary school	651	54.8%
High school	348	29.3%
College / grad school	127	10.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.7%

Manufacturing 12.4%

Retail trade 11.7%

Agriculture & mining 9.6%

Professional & management 7.1%

Finance & real estate 6.5%

Public administration 5.4%

Arts, food & hospitality 5.0%

Transportation & utilities 4.8%

Construction 4.3%

Other services 4.1%

Wholesale trade 3.4%

Information 0.9%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	40.0%
Service	14.3%
Sales & office	20.8%
Natural resources & construction	8.2%
Production & transportation	16.7%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	70.8%
Government	20.9%
Self-employed	8.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	80.7%
Carpool	4.7%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	4.9%
Work from home	9.7%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	12.7

Poverty

All people 2.0%

Under 18 years 0.4%

18 and over 2.8%

Married-couple families 0.6%

Female-led households 0.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	30.3%
Retirement income	19.5%
Supplemental Security	4.2%
Cash public assistance	4.8%
Food stamps / SNAP	3.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	32.4%
High blood pressure	32.7%
High cholesterol	32.6%
Diabetes	9.4%
Heart disease	6.8%
Stroke	3.0%
Asthma	8.8%
Arthritis	24.9%
Kidney disease	2.9%
Pulmonary disease	6.5%
Cancer	8.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	15.8%
Binge drinking	20.0%
No physical activity	23.1%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	29.0%
Depression	16.8%
Fair or poor health	11.8%
Poor mental health	12.5%
Poor physical health	9.0%
No health insurance	9.2%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.0%
Visited dentist	68.4%
Cholesterol screening	89.4%
Teeth loss	12.4%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	128	4.7%

Disability	%
Any disability	11.9%
Under 18	2.7%
18–64 years	9.8%
65 and over	38.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	78.2%
Public insurance	35.6%
No insurance	4.2%
Uninsured under 19	1.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,780	94.3%
Spanish	28	0.7%
Other Indo-European	27	0.7%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	1	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,938	98.3%
Born in same state	3,924	97.9%
Born in different state	2,232	55.7%
Foreign born	14	0.3%
Naturalized citizen	69	1.7%
Not a US citizen	17	24.6%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
English	1,107	27.6%
Arab	210	5.2%
Italian	202	5%
French	149	3.7%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	135	3.4%
Dutch	64	1.6%
German	5	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	33.3%
Internet access	91.3%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 51246

What city is ZIP code 51246 in?

ZIP code 51246 is primarily assigned to Rock Rapids, Iowa.

What county is ZIP code 51246 in?

ZIP code 51246 falls within Lyon County, Iowa.

Is ZIP code 51246 family-oriented?

32% of residents in ZIP code 51246 are under 18, reflecting a younger, family-oriented community.

Is ZIP code 51246 mostly owner-occupied?

82% of occupied units in ZIP code 51246 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

What is the population of ZIP code 51246?

ZIP code 51246 has an estimated population of 4,007 residents, with a density of 25 people per square mile.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 51246?

The median home value in ZIP code 51246 is $221,600.

What timezone is ZIP code 51246 in?

ZIP code 51246 observes the CST timezone.