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Essex city, IA

ZIP 51638 — Housing & Real Estate

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

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 51638

Median Home Value
$115,700
Median Rent
$458
Affordability Snapshot
$32,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$743/mo PITI).

9%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

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

1.9x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Below 3x — relatively affordable housing market.

21.1 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 51638 in Essex city, IA, a household would need roughly $32,000 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 $743. That sits below the local median household income ($61,154), 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

Owner-occupied majority; balanced tenure mix.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
79.7%+22% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
9.2%-11% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
82.5%-5% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
4.7%-68% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
6.2%-52% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
0.8%-89% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
8.6%-83% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
50.8%+33% vs US avg
x
$115,700
Home Value
$458
Rent
1944
Year Built
2004
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2004 on average

Housing Structure

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

  • 1-unit detached87.2%
  • 1-unit attached2.8%
  • 2-9 units8.5%
  • 10+ units0.3%
  • Mobile home & other1.1%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$115,700
Median rent$458
Owner-occupied79.7%
Vacant9.2%
Price-to-income1.9x
Est. income to buy$32,000