City

Elma, IA

1 ZIP code  ·  Howard County  ·  Iowa

👥1,309Population
💰$57,596Median HH Income▼ 25% below avg
🎂41.7Median Age
🏠$140,900Median Home Value▼ 49% below avg
🎓36.5%College Grads≈ Avg
📊1.1%Unemployment▼ 79% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 44.9% Female 55.1% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 95.9%Hispanic: 1.2%Other: 3%Race
White95.9%
Hispanic1.2%
Other3.0%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
7%
5–17
16%
18–24
14%
25–44
19%
45–64
19%
65+
10%

Key Indicators

Median Age41.7 yrs
Avg HH Size2.41
Below Poverty10.1% ≈ Avg
College Grads36.5% ≈ Avg
Unemployment1.1% ▼ 79% below avg
HS Graduate312 (41.7%)
Some College84 (11.2%)
Associates80 (10.7%)
Bachelors146 (19.5%)
Graduate Degree127 (17%)

Education

HS Grad: 41.7%Some College: 11.2%Associates: 10.7%Bachelors: 19.5%Graduate: 17%Edu
HS Grad41.7%
Some College11.2%
Associates10.7%
Bachelors19.5%
Graduate17.0%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 72.1%Renter: 27.9%Tenure
Owner72.1%
Renter27.9%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
12%
$50k–$100k
25%
$100k–$150k
15%
$150k–$200k
11%
$200k–$300k
19%
$300k–$500k
11%
Over $500k
8%

Financials

Median HH Income$57,596 ▼ 25% below avg
Median Home Value$140,900 ▼ 49% below avg
Home/Income Ratio2.4x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$652/mo
Total Housing Units628
Vacant Units101

Income Distribution

Under $25k
24%
$25k–$50k
18%
$50k–$75k
16%
$75k–$100k
22%
$100k–$150k
10%
$150k–$200k
3%
Over $200k
7%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
86%
Walked
6%
Work From Home
8%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
32%
15–30 min
21%
30–45 min
36%
Over 45 min
11%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
2%
1940s–1950s
5%
1960s–1970s
14%
1980s–1990s
9%
2000+
70%
About Elma, IA

Elma is a city in Iowa, located in Howard County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 1,309 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 41.7 years.

Economically, Elma is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $57,596 is below the national average. Approximately 10.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 1.1%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Elma is one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. Median home values stand at $140,900, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $652 per month. Homeownership is high at 72.1%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Elma is moderately educated. 36.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is primarily White (95.87%).

Elma, IA offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within Iowa.

ZIP Codes in Elma
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
50628 1,309 $57,596 $140,900 $652 1.1% 36.5% 72.1%