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Lewis city, IA

ZIP 51544 — Housing & Real Estate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLow Snow Area

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 51544

Median Home Value
$84,500
Median Rent
$528
Affordability Snapshot
$23,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$543/mo PITI).

13%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

Below the 30% threshold — generally affordable for median earners.

1.7x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Below 3x — relatively affordable housing market.

13.3 yrs
Price-to-Rent Ratio

Years to break even buying vs renting at median home value and rent.

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 51544 in Lewis city, IA, a household would need roughly $23,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $543. That sits below the local median household income ($48,750), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Housing Tenure

Vacancy rate 16% — check local market conditions.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
90.2%+38% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
16.0%+55% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
90.5%+4% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
2.7%-82% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
1.3%-90% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
0.0%
x
Rent Burden >30%
19.4%-61% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
53.7%+41% vs US avg
x
$84,500
Home Value
$528
Rent
1938
Year Built
2005
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2005 on average

Housing Structure

Census ACS structure types (single-family, multi-unit, etc.).

  • 1-unit detached89.4%
  • 1-unit attached0.0%
  • 2-9 units5.3%
  • 10+ units0.0%
  • Mobile home & other5.3%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$84,500
Median rent$528
Owner-occupied90.2%
Vacant16.0%
Price-to-income1.7x
Est. income to buy$23,000