The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50597 sells for about $182,800, or $105 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.5% 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 $930 a month.
ZIP 50597 — West Bend
The housing market in ZIP 50597 is characterized by high owner-occupancy and stable, affordable home values. Market activity is low-volume, typical of a rural agricultural community, with limited inventory and steady demand.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, affordable rural lifestyle with a strong sense of community and lower cost of living compared to national averages.
Median prices moved up 3.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 120 days on market with 7.5 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.3% · poverty 4.2% — 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 5.3%/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 3.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 50597, Iowa
The area is served by the West Bend-Mallard Community School District, which provides local public education for the community.
The area is characterized by a low-risk climate profile with no significant wildfire or coastal wind exposure, though standard Midwestern severe weather precautions apply.
The local economy is primarily driven by agriculture and small-town commerce, with limited large-scale industrial development or major corporate infrastructure projects.
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 by private vehicle, with most residents traveling to nearby regional hubs for employment; public transit options are not available.
Local amenities include community parks and access to rural outdoor recreation, with limited large-scale shopping or entertainment venues within a 3-mile radius.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and stable demand, with HUD Fair Market Rents serving as a primary benchmark for local pricing.
The economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector, with local businesses supporting the farming community and regional service needs.
Transportation is entirely dependent on personal vehicles, with no public transit infrastructure serving the area.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in the ZIP code.
Property assessments are managed by the respective county assessor offices in Palo Alto, Kossuth, and Pocahontas counties.
Parcels are subject to local school district levies and county-level property tax assessments.
Property insurance premiums are generally stable, reflecting the low-hazard environment of rural Iowa.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates via US5.com.
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. Source: NCES EDGE public school locations 2023-24.
Local community park providing green space and recreational facilities.
A major regional religious and historical landmark located in West Bend.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.