The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50638 sells for about $166,151, or $117 per square foot.
Prices are down 5.1% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 103 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $850 a month.
ZIP 50638 — Grundy Center
The Grundy Center housing market is currently experiencing a period of price adjustment with a slight year-over-year decline in median sale prices. Low inventory levels and a slow pace of sales suggest a stable, low-turnover environment typical of rural Iowa communities. Market activity remains driven by local demand rather than speculative investment.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, affordable small-town lifestyle with a strong sense of community and a lower cost of living compared to nearby urban centers.
Median prices moved down 5.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 103 days on market with 1.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 1.2% · poverty 9.1% — 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 3.3%/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
ZCTA 50638, Grundy 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.
Grundy Center maintains a low crime rate consistent with rural Iowa communities, with reported incidents significantly lower than national and regional metropolitan averages.
The area is served by the Grundy Center Community School District, which is generally regarded for its small class sizes and strong community-focused educational environment.
The region faces standard Midwestern climate risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional flooding, with property insurance premiums reflecting typical agricultural-zone risk profiles.
Economic momentum is driven by the agricultural sector and local manufacturing, with steady but modest development focused on maintaining the town's historic character.
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 primarily rely on personal vehicles for commuting, with Iowa Highway 14 and 175 serving as the main arteries for travel toward regional employment hubs like Waterloo and Cedar Falls.
The area features local parks, community sports facilities, and proximity to rural outdoor recreation, with basic shopping and dining concentrated in the historic downtown district.
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 agriculture, local government, and small-scale manufacturing, with many residents commuting to the nearby Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area for broader employment opportunities.
Transportation is almost exclusively automobile-dependent, with regional connectivity provided by Iowa Highways 14, 57, and 175.
Development is primarily focused on small-scale residential infill and maintenance of existing municipal infrastructure.
The Grundy County Assessor manages property valuations using a mass appraisal system based on market sales and property characteristics.
Parcels are subject to Grundy County property taxes, Grundy Center Community School District levies, and local municipal utility assessments.
Property insurance markets are stable, though premiums are influenced by regional exposure to severe weather events common in the Iowa plains.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter and USAStateStats profiles for Grundy Center.
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.
- Matchstick Marvels4.911.3 mi
- Center Theatre4.82 mi
- Matchstick Marvels4.911.3 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Central community green space with picnic areas and playgrounds.
Local 9-hole course serving the immediate area.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.