Essex ZIP Codes — Page County, IA

There is one unique ZIP code in Essex, Iowa and it is 51638. Area code: 712.
1
ZIP codes
80.44
sq mi land
0.19
sq mi water
712
area code
Essex, IA ZIP code map

About Essex, IA

Essex is a charming city located in the state of Iowa, specifically in Page County. Known for its small-town atmosphere, Essex offers a welcoming community for residents and visitors alike. The city exemplifies the serenity of rural Iowa with its unique charm and local culture.

Location & geography

Essex is situated in the southwestern part of Iowa and is surrounded by scenic landscapes and agricultural fields. It lies approximately 16 miles from the city of Clarinda to the north, 10 miles from the city of Shenandoah to the south, 20 miles from Red Oak to the southwest, and about 25 miles from the larger city of Council Bluffs to the east. Covering a total area of 80.44 square miles, Essex includes 0.19 square miles of water, contributing to the appealing rural terrain of the region.

Community & economy

The character of Essex is defined by its close-knit community, where residents often engage in local events and support one another. The economy primarily revolves around agriculture and local businesses, with many of its residents employed in farming or service industries. Daily life in Essex reflects the values of Midwestern hospitality and simplicity, making it a peaceful place to live and visit.

Transportation

Essex is easily accessible via several highways, including U.S. Route 34, which connects it to neighboring cities. The nearest commercial airport is located in Omaha, Nebraska, approximately 63 miles to the east, providing broader travel options for residents. Local transit is limited, with most residents relying on personal vehicles for mobility.

History

Essex was founded in the late 19th century and has a rich agricultural history that shaped its development. Over the years, the city has been a hub for local farming industries and has hosted various community events that celebrate its heritage. Notably, Essex is known for its annual events that draw visitors and reflect the town's strong sense of community.

Did you know?

A surprising fact about Essex is that it has only one ZIP code, 51638, which makes it unique among cities in Iowa. Additionally, the land-to-water ratio in Essex shows that the majority of its area is dedicated to land, emphasizing its agricultural roots.

ZIP codes for Essex, IA (1)
ZIP code City County Map
51638 Essex Page View map

Demographics & statistics

1,350
Population
51.0
Median age
$61,319
Median household income
$38,200
Per capita income
$100,200
Median home value
$667
Median monthly rent
77.7%
Home ownership
8.6%
Poverty rate
3.7%
Unemployment
525
Housing units
16.3%
Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female
27
Under 5
27
28
5–9
28
28
10–14
28
25
15–19
25
37
20–24
37
90
25–34
90
52
35–44
52
102
45–54
102
78
55–59
78
50
60–64
50
94
65–74
94
54
75–84
54
14
85+
14
← Male
Female →

Age summary

GroupCount%
Under 1820215.0%
18 and over1,14885.0%
65 and over32223.9%
Median age51.0 years

Race & ethnicity

White 92.8%
Two or more races 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
GroupCount%
White1,28192.8%
Two or more races523.8%
Hispanic or Latino312.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native171.2%

Household income

Under $10k 8.7%
$10k–$15k 3.3%
$15k–$25k 8.7%
$25k–$35k 8.0%
$35k–$50k 6.7%
$50k–$75k 23.2%
$75k–$100k 14.1%
$100k–$150k 20.2%
$150k–$200k 3.4%
$200k+ 3.6%
Range% of households
Under $10k8.7%
$10k–$15k3.3%
$15k–$25k8.7%
$25k–$35k8.0%
$35k–$50k6.7%
$50k–$75k23.2%
$75k–$100k14.1%
$100k–$150k20.2%
$150k–$200k3.4%
$200k+3.6%
Median income$61,319

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 20.7%
$50k–$100k 29.2%
$100k–$150k 21.8%
$150k–$200k 14.8%
$200k–$300k 8.0%
$300k–$500k 2.7%
$500k–$1M 2.3%
$1M+ 0.4%

Housing overview

MetricValue
Median home value$100,200
Median rent / month$667
Owner occupied77.7%
Renter occupied22.3%
Vacant7.9%
Single-family detached88.5%
Large apartment buildings0.0%
Mobile homes0.2%
Median rooms6.6
Avg household size (owned)2.26

Year built

Era%
2020 or later0.3%
2010–20190.0%
2000–20091.5%
1990–19998.8%
1980–19894.1%
1970–197916.8%
1960–19693.8%
1950–195911.3%
1940–19496.2%
1939 or earlier47.2%

Bedrooms

Size% of units
No bedroom (studio)0.0%
1 bedroom5.7%
2 bedrooms24.8%
3 bedrooms46.9%
4 bedrooms19.8%
5+ bedrooms2.7%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles% of households
No vehicle1.3%
1 vehicle28.4%
2 vehicles38.4%
3 or more31.9%

Heating fuel

Fuel type%
Utility gas47.0%
Electricity24.1%
Propane / LP gas27.4%
Wood0.5%
No fuel used0.3%

Households & families

Household typeCount%
Married-couple family26844.0%
Cohabiting couple274.4%
Male householder, no spouse18330.0%
Female householder, no spouse13121.5%
Households with children under 1811819.4%
Households with seniors (65+)25241.4%
Average household size2.22

Marital status

StatusMaleFemale
Never married21.3%26.3%
Married50.9%50.3%
Separated3.8%0.7%
Widowed7.7%7.1%
Divorced16.3%15.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 3.2%
Some HS, no diploma 6.0%
HS graduate 43.0%
Some college, no degree 24.0%
Associate's degree 7.5%
Bachelor's degree 11.9%
Graduate / professional 4.3%
Metric%
HS diploma or higher90.8%
Bachelor's or higher16.3%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

TypeCount%
Nursery / preschool179.2%
Kindergarten63.3%
Elementary school7339.7%
High school4826.1%
College / grad school4021.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Retail trade 18.3%
Manufacturing 18.0%
Education & healthcare 18.0%
Agriculture & mining 14.3%
Transportation & utilities 7.7%
Wholesale trade 3.9%
Public administration 3.9%
Other services 3.7%
Finance & real estate 3.4%
Professional & management 3.2%
Arts, food & hospitality 2.2%
Construction 2.1%
Information 1.4%

Occupation

Category%
Management, business & arts35.1%
Service9.1%
Sales & office17.6%
Natural resources & construction11.4%
Production & transportation26.8%

Employment type

Type%
Private sector77.7%
Government10.5%
Self-employed11.6%
Unpaid family workers0.3%

Commute

Method%
Drive alone86.8%
Carpool4.9%
Public transit0.0%
Walk0.3%
Other means1.1%
Avg commute (minutes)27.0

Poverty

All people 8.6%
Under 18 years 5.2%
18 and over 9.1%
Married-couple families 0.7%
Female-led households 10.0%

Income support

Source% of households
Social Security43.8%
Retirement income21.3%
Supplemental Security4.1%
Cash public assistance0.2%
Food stamps / SNAP4.9%

Health indicators

Condition%
High blood pressure35.3%
High cholesterol35.0%
Heart disease7.1%
Stroke3.1%
Asthma8.8%
Arthritis27.6%
Kidney disease3.0%
Pulmonary disease6.8%
Cancer8.1%
Behavior / access%
Binge drinking20.2%
No physical activity24.3%
Less than 7 hrs sleep32.3%
Fair or poor health12.2%
Poor mental health12.3%
Poor physical health9.5%
No health insurance8.4%
Visited doctor (checkup)76.8%
Visited dentist65.8%
Cholesterol screening90.9%
Teeth loss11.5%

Veterans & disability

VeteransCount%
Civilian veterans897.8%
Disability%
Any disability7.0%
Under 184.0%
18–64 years3.8%
65 and over17.4%

Health insurance coverage

Type%
Private insurance77.8%
Public insurance40.9%
Uninsured under 191.4%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

LanguageCount%
English only1,29796.1%
Spanish40.3%
Other Indo-European20.2%
Asian & Pacific Islander00.0%
Other languages00.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

OriginCount%
Native born (US)1,32898.4%
Born in same state1,32898.4%
Born in different state76356.5%
Foreign born00.0%
Naturalized citizen221.6%
Not a US citizen418.2%

Ancestry

AncestryCount%
Italian19114.1%
French14410.7%
Arab564.1%
Dutch372.7%
AncestryCount%
German100.7%
English50.4%
Polish50.4%

Technology access

Metric% of households
Computer access45.1%
Internet access86.7%

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

Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes does Essex, IA have?
Essex, IA has one ZIP code: 51638. Each ZIP code serves a distinct delivery area within the city and surrounding region.
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