The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50438 sells for about $210,000, or $159 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 120 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $744 a month.
ZIP 50438 — Garner
The housing market in Garner (50438) remains stable with modest price appreciation driven by limited inventory and steady local demand. As the county seat, the area maintains a consistent economic base, though population growth is flat. Buyers are finding a balanced market with moderate days on market and stable pricing.
This ZIP is ideal for families and retirees seeking a quiet, affordable small-town environment with strong community ties and a lower cost of living compared to larger metro areas.
Median prices moved up 2.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 120 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.3% · poverty 10.9% — 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 5.0%/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 4.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 50438, Hancock 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.
Garner maintains a low crime rate consistent with rural Hancock County, with property crime being the primary concern and violent crime remaining significantly below national averages.
The area is served by the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District, which is generally regarded as providing stable, community-focused education with strong local support.
The region faces moderate risks from severe thunderstorms and occasional flooding, typical of North Central Iowa, with standard insurance coverage generally available.
Economic momentum is driven by local manufacturing and agricultural support services, with the city serving as the county seat and a regional hub for Hancock County.
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.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving to nearby regional employment centers like Mason City or Clear Lake via US-18.
The area features local parks, the Garner Golf and Country Club, and proximity to regional lakes and outdoor trails, providing a quiet, amenity-focused lifestyle.
The rental market is characterized by low turnover and limited inventory, with demand driven by local workforce needs and a lack of large-scale multi-family developments.
The economy is anchored by agriculture, manufacturing, and public sector employment, with Garner serving as the administrative and commercial center for Hancock County.
Transportation is dominated by private vehicle use, with US Highway 18 serving as the primary arterial corridor for regional connectivity.
Development is focused on small-scale residential expansion and infrastructure maintenance to support the existing population base.
The Hancock County Assessor manages property valuations, utilizing a mass appraisal system to ensure equitable taxation across the county.
Parcels are subject to levies from the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District and local municipal utility districts.
Property insurance remains stable, though premiums are influenced by regional exposure to severe weather events common in the Midwest.
Iowa experiences modest net domestic migration, with rural areas like Hancock County seeing stable population levels despite broader regional shifts.
Iowa is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court intervention and providing specific redemption periods for homeowners.
Iowa law requires sellers to provide a written disclosure statement regarding the condition of the property, including known material defects.
Data derived from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level profiles and World Population Review.
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 local recreational anchor providing golf and social facilities.
Central community space for local events and outdoor recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.