Mason City ZIP Codes — Cerro Gordo County, IA

There are 2 unique ZIP codes in Mason City, Iowa. Area code: 641.

ZIP codes

148.17

sq mi land

0.47

sq mi water

641

area code

Mason City, IA ZIP code map

About Mason City, IA

Mason City, located in Iowa, is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage and community spirit. As the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, it serves as a hub for both economic and social activities in the region. The city is characterized by its historical architecture and strong local industries, making it a unique place to live and visit.

Location & geography

Mason City is situated in north-central Iowa, easily accessible via U.S. Highway 18 and U.S. Highway 65. The city is approximately 30 miles northeast of Ames, 85 miles northwest of Waterloo, about 120 miles south of Minneapolis, and 100 miles west of Dubuque. Covering a total land area of 148.17 square miles and a water area of 0.47 square miles, the terrain is primarily flat with scenic parks and water features.

Community & economy

The character of Mason City is defined by its friendly residents and a strong sense of community involvement. The city has a diverse economy with industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing, contributing to a stable job market. Daily life in Mason City is enhanced by various events and recreational opportunities that promote a close-knit community atmosphere.

Transportation

Mason City is served by major highways including U.S. Highway 18 and U.S. Highway 65, providing easy access to surrounding areas. The nearest commercial airport is the Mason City Municipal Airport, which facilitates regional travel. Public transit options are available within the city, catering to the transportation needs of residents.

History

Founded in the mid-19th century, Mason City quickly developed into a key location for shipping and trade due to its favorable positioning along the rivers. The city historically thrived on industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, which laid the groundwork for its economic development. Notable events in its history include the establishment of various cultural institutions that celebrate the city’s artistic contributions.

Did you know?

A surprising fact about Mason City is that it is home to a unique architectural style known as Prairie School, which is prominently featured in several local buildings. Additionally, the city is known as the 'River City' due to its scenic location by the Winnebago River.

ZIP codes for Mason City, IA (2)

ZIP code	City	County	Map
50401	Mason City	Cerro Gordo	View map
50402	Mason City	Cerro Gordo	View map

Demographics & statistics

28,909

Population

42.8

Median age

$61,703

Median household income

$35,439

Per capita income

$129,600

Median home value

$838

Median monthly rent

68.7%

Home ownership

10.0%

Poverty rate

3.2%

Unemployment

10,605

Housing units

21.1%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

701

Under 5

702

675

5–9

676

1,089

10–14

1,090

780

15–19

781

861

20–24

861

1,811

25–34

1,812

1,650

35–44

1,652

1,670

45–54

1,672

929

55–59

929

1,139

60–64

1,141

1,757

65–74

1,758

962

75–84

963

424

85+

424

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	5,903	20.4%
18 and over	23,006	79.6%
65 and over	6,288	21.8%
Median age	42.8 years

Race & ethnicity

White 89.1%

Two or more races 4.1%

Black or African American 2.5%

Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

Asian 0.7%

Other race 0.5%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%

Group	Count	%
White	26,388	89.1%
Two or more races	1,214	4.1%
Black or African American	746	2.5%
Hispanic or Latino	704	2.4%
Asian	216	0.7%
Other race	137	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	120	0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	88	0.3%

Household income

Under $10k 3.5%

$10k–$15k 3.9%

$15k–$25k 9.0%

$25k–$35k 9.0%

$35k–$50k 14.8%

$50k–$75k 20.8%

$75k–$100k 14.2%

$100k–$150k 16.0%

$150k–$200k 4.2%

$200k+ 4.6%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	3.5%
$10k–$15k	3.9%
$15k–$25k	9.0%
$25k–$35k	9.0%
$35k–$50k	14.8%
$50k–$75k	20.8%
$75k–$100k	14.2%
$100k–$150k	16.0%
$150k–$200k	4.2%
$200k+	4.6%
Median income	$61,703

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 4.2%

$50k–$100k 27.8%

$100k–$150k 28.0%

$150k–$200k 13.8%

$200k–$300k 15.1%

$300k–$500k 9.4%

$500k–$1M 1.6%

$1M+ 0.1%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$129,600
Median rent / month	$838
Owner occupied	68.7%
Renter occupied	31.3%
Vacant	9.6%
Single-family detached	76.5%
Large apartment buildings	6.3%
Mobile homes	2.0%
Median rooms	5.7
Avg household size (owned)	2.18

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.2%
2010–2019	3.1%
2000–2009	4.7%
1990–1999	6.4%
1980–1989	5.0%
1970–1979	13.1%
1960–1969	8.6%
1950–1959	17.5%
1940–1949	8.2%
1939 or earlier	33.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.8%
1 bedroom	10.7%
2 bedrooms	32.3%
3 bedrooms	36.5%
4 bedrooms	15.4%
5+ bedrooms	3.3%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	6.7%
1 vehicle	34.9%
2 vehicles	41.7%
3 or more	16.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	77.9%
Electricity	15.9%
Propane / LP gas	5.2%
Wood	0.6%
No fuel used	0.2%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	5,667	42.4%
Cohabiting couple	1,025	7.7%
Male householder, no spouse	3,216	24.1%
Female householder, no spouse	3,459	25.9%
Households with children under 18	3,099	23.2%
Households with seniors (65+)	4,400	32.9%
Average household size	2.10

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	35.1%	25.5%
Married	49.5%	50.4%
Separated	0.9%	0.6%
Widowed	3.1%	12.1%
Divorced	11.5%	11.3%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.1%

Some HS, no diploma 4.8%

HS graduate 36.6%

Some college, no degree 19.8%

Associate's degree 15.6%

Bachelor's degree 13.9%

Graduate / professional 7.2%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	93.1%
Bachelor's or higher	21.1%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	282	5.0%
Kindergarten	359	6.4%
Elementary school	2,838	50.2%
High school	1,194	21.1%
College / grad school	975	17.3%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 22.7%

Retail trade 16.6%

Manufacturing 16.1%

Arts, food & hospitality 10.5%

Professional & management 6.5%

Construction 5.5%

Transportation & utilities 4.6%

Wholesale trade 4.1%

Finance & real estate 3.6%

Other services 3.5%

Public administration 3.4%

Agriculture & mining 1.5%

Information 1.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	27.4%
Service	20.3%
Sales & office	21.1%
Natural resources & construction	7.8%
Production & transportation	23.4%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	83.0%
Government	11.9%
Self-employed	5.1%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	79.8%
Carpool	10.8%
Public transit	0.7%
Walk	2.0%
Other means	1.4%
Avg commute (minutes)	14.6

Poverty

All people 10.0%

Under 18 years 12.9%

18 and over 9.3%

Married-couple families 2.0%

Female-led households 27.7%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	35.1%
Retirement income	25.0%
Supplemental Security	5.1%
Cash public assistance	1.3%
Food stamps / SNAP	10.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
High blood pressure	33.4%
High cholesterol	33.2%
Heart disease	6.9%
Stroke	3.2%
Asthma	9.6%
Arthritis	25.7%
Kidney disease	3.0%
Pulmonary disease	7.0%
Cancer	7.3%

Behavior / access	%
Binge drinking	20.9%
No physical activity	25.2%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	31.8%
Fair or poor health	13.2%
Poor mental health	13.8%
Poor physical health	9.9%
No health insurance	9.9%
Visited doctor (checkup)	75.8%
Visited dentist	67.5%
Cholesterol screening	88.0%
Teeth loss	13.2%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	1,803	7.8%

Disability	%
Any disability	13.7%
Under 18	1.7%
18–64 years	11.4%
65 and over	31.9%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	70.2%
Public insurance	43.8%
Uninsured under 19	0.5%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	27,506	95.1%
Spanish	328	1.2%
Other Indo-European	162	0.6%
Asian & Pacific Islander	47	0.2%
Other languages	81	0.3%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	28,238	97.7%
Born in same state	27,999	96.9%
Born in different state	21,345	73.8%
Foreign born	239	0.8%
Naturalized citizen	671	2.3%
Not a US citizen	336	50.1%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	3,900	13.5%
Italian	3,102	10.7%
French	1,618	5.6%
Arab	909	3.1%
English	632	2.2%

Ancestry	Count	%
Dutch	563	1.9%
German	73	0.3%
Irish	31	0.1%
Norwegian	17	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	46.2%
Internet access	91.8%

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

Frequently asked questions

What ZIP codes does Mason City, IA have?

Mason City, IA has one ZIP code: 50401. Each ZIP code serves a distinct delivery area within the city and surrounding region.