The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50171 sells for about $300,000, or $158 per square foot.
Prices are up +5.3% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 84 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $828 a month.
ZIP 50171 — Montezuma
The housing market in 50171 is characterized by low inventory and steady, modest price appreciation consistent with rural Iowa trends. Demand remains stable, driven by local residents and those seeking affordable, quiet living, though the limited volume of sales makes the market less reactive to broader national shifts.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle with affordable housing options and a strong sense of community.
Median prices moved up 5.3% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 84 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.9% · poverty 7.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50171, Poweshiek County IA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by the Montezuma Community School District, which is generally characterized as a small, rural district providing foundational education for the local population.
The local economy is primarily driven by agriculture and small-town commerce, with limited large-scale industrial or corporate development momentum.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Iowa) — Iowa Property Tax Assessment Limitation: The taxable value is determined by applying an assessment limitation (rollback) to the assessed market value. The limitation is calculated annually to restrict the growth in aggregate taxable value for the residential class to 3% statewide.
Residents typically rely on personal vehicles for commuting, with travel times to regional employment hubs in Grinnell or Oskaloosa averaging 20-30 minutes.
The area features proximity to Lake Ponderosa and local community parks, offering residents access to fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and stable demand, primarily serving local workers and families with limited short-term rental activity.
The economy is anchored by agricultural operations, local retail, and small-scale manufacturing, with Grinnell serving as a nearby regional employment center.
Transportation is entirely dependent on private vehicle use via state highways; there is no public transit infrastructure.
Development is primarily limited to small-scale residential infill and local commercial maintenance.
The Poweshiek County Assessor manages property valuations based on state-mandated assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to Montezuma Community School District levies and local county service taxes.
Property insurance premiums are generally stable, though coverage for rural agricultural properties may vary based on specific hazard profiles.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA 50171 profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A private residential lake community offering boating and fishing.
Central community space for local events and recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.