The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50257 sells for about $249,999, or $165 per square foot.
Prices are roughly flat from a year ago (+0.9%), a market in balance. Homes take about 57 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,063 a month.
ZIP 50257 — Truro
The housing market in 50257 remains stable, characterized by low inventory and steady demand from buyers seeking rural living within commuting distance of Des Moines. Prices have seen modest growth, reflecting the broader regional trend of affordability compared to the urban core. The market is currently balanced, with homes selling at a moderate pace.
This ZIP is ideal for families and commuters seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle within a manageable driving distance of the Des Moines metro area.
Median prices moved up 0.9% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 57 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
19% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 0.8% · poverty 7.0% — 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 4.7%/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 4.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50257, Madison 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.
Crime rates in the St. Charles area are generally low, consistent with rural Madison County trends and significantly lower than the Des Moines metropolitan average.
Schools serving the area are part of the Interstate 35 Community School District, which maintains a stable reputation for rural education in Iowa.
The area is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional wind events; flood risk is localized to specific low-lying areas near the Middle River.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to the Des Moines metro area, with residents commuting for employment while the local economy remains largely agricultural and small-business focused.
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.
Commuters typically drive north via I-35 to reach the Des Moines employment core, a trip that generally takes 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
The area features access to Pammel State Park and the Middle River, offering hiking, fishing, and scenic trails, with basic shopping and dining available in nearby Winterset.
The rental market is limited in depth, primarily consisting of single-family homes with low vacancy pressure and minimal short-term rental activity.
The local economy is anchored by agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and service industries, with many residents employed in the broader Des Moines metropolitan labor market.
Transportation is heavily reliant on private vehicles, with I-35 serving as the primary arterial corridor for regional connectivity.
Development is primarily focused on low-density residential expansion and infrastructure maintenance rather than large-scale commercial projects.
The Madison County Assessor manages property valuations, utilizing a biennial assessment cycle to determine taxable values based on market sales data.
Parcels are subject to the Interstate 35 Community School District and various county-level service districts for emergency and utility management.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect the regional risk profile for severe weather, including wind and hail damage common in central Iowa.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
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.
- Historic Holliwell Covered Bridge4.810.9 mi
- Winterset City Park4.712.6 mi
- Historic Imes Covered Bridge4.77.6 mi
- Historic Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge4.712.7 mi
- Madison County Winery4.86.8 mi
- John Wayne Birthplace Museum4.713 mi
- Historic Roseman Covered Bridge4.817 mi
- Historic Clark Tower4.812 mi
- Historic Holliwell Covered Bridge4.810.9 mi
- Historic Cedar Covered Bridge4.714.3 mi
- Winterset City Park4.712.6 mi
- Hickory Hills County Park4.612.9 mi
- Hy-Vee Grocery Store4.311.7 mi
- Des Moines International Airport4.326.1 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Features the famous 'Kissing Bridge' and scenic hiking trails along the Middle River.
A major local hub featuring the Clark Tower and extensive picnic facilities.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.