ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50021

Part of Ankeny, IA

Pop. 30,283·Polk County·9th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,469/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$463

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50021 · $1,469

More affordable than 75% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,360

1 BR

$1,410

2 BR

$1,680

3 BR

$2,290

4 BR+

$2,350

Research median

$1,680/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 50021 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50021 changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($99,572) is $2,489 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,350).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 50313, 6 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,158/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50021. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,628/yr

At $1,469/mo median

Location

CityAnkeny

StateIA

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.4% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50021 (Ankeny, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 49.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,283

Median income

$99,572

Median age

35.9

Renters

25.5%

Age distribution

25.8%

23.5%

27.1%

14.5%

Under 1825.8%

18–3423.5%

35–5427.1%

55–649.1%

65+14.5%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

86.3%

White86.3%

Black3.1%

Hispanic6.2%

Asian4.2%

Education (25+)

21.1%

26.9%

49.1%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma21.1%

Some college26.9%

Bachelor's+49.1%

Housing tenure

74.5%

25.5%

Owner74.5%

Renter25.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 50021 in Ankeny, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,265 → $1,469

up 16.1%

Income

$88,964 → $99,572

up 11.9%

Population

27,550 → 30,283

up 9.9%

Renter share

25.6% → 25.5%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

48.4% → 49.1%

+0.7 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 50021 in Ankeny, IA paid around $1,265 a month. That figure now sits near $1,469, up 16.1% from the 2022 baseline. Median household income climbed from $88,964 to $99,572 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.9% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 50021 in Ankeny, IA adding about 2,733 residents over the five-year window, up 9.9% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 50021 in Ankeny, IA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 50021

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50021 covers Ankeny, IA. The median rent here is $1,469/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,680/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($99,572/yr), ZIP 50021 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50021?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,469/mo in ZIP 50021. The local median household income is $99,572/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50021?

Rent in ZIP 50021 has risen 2.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.

How does ZIP 50021 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50021 is one of the pricier among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #9 of 54 at $1,469/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50021 changed +2.4%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.