The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50448 sells for about $199,848, or $126 per square foot.
Prices are up +5.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 71 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $650 a month.
ZIP 50448 — Kensett
The Kensett housing market remains stable with low inventory and modest price appreciation consistent with rural Iowa trends. Sales activity is limited, reflecting the small population size and low turnover in the area. Market conditions are driven by local demand for affordable single-family housing.
This ZIP is best suited for budget-conscious buyers and those seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle with proximity to the amenities of Mason City.
Median prices moved up 5.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 71 days on market with 0.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
0% 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 1.8% · poverty 13.9% — 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 8.6%/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 5.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50448, Worth 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.
Schools serving Kensett are part of the Northwood-Kensett Community School District, which generally serves the rural northern Iowa region.
The area is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks including severe thunderstorms and winter weather; flood risk is localized to specific low-lying areas near regional waterways.
Economic momentum is tied to the agricultural sector and proximity to the Mason City micropolitan area, with limited large-scale industrial development within the ZIP itself.
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 Highway 65 serving as the main corridor for access to nearby employment hubs like Mason City.
Local recreation is centered on small-town community parks and access to rural outdoor activities, with broader shopping and dining options available in nearby Northwood or Mason City.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and primarily consists of single-family home rentals, with limited multi-family supply.
The local economy is heavily influenced by agriculture and small-scale local services, with many residents commuting to Mason City for larger employment opportunities.
Transportation is entirely reliant on private vehicles; there is no public transit infrastructure serving this rural community.
Development is currently limited to small-scale residential improvements rather than large-scale commercial or infrastructure projects.
Worth County Assessor manages property valuations based on state-mandated assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to Northwood-Kensett Community School District levies and county-wide emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional exposure to severe weather events common in Northern Iowa.
Iowa is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court action to complete the foreclosure process.
Iowa law requires sellers to provide a written disclosure statement regarding the condition of the property.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ACS profiles for ZCTA 50448.
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.
Local community green space for recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.