ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50138

Part of Knoxville, IA

Pop. 11,117·Marion County·49th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$906/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$1,026

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50138 · $906

More affordable than 99% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$660

1 BR

$760

2 BR

$960

3 BR

$1,150

4 BR+

$1,280

Research median

$960/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

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50138 changed +0.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,693) is $1,867 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,280).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50138. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$10,872/yr

At $906/mo median

Location

CityKnoxville

StateIA

CountyMarion County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.1% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50138 (Knoxville, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 28% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

11,117

Median income

$74,693

Median age

42.9

Renters

19.1%

Age distribution

19.7%

20.8%

22.7%

14.7%

22.1%

Under 1819.7%

18–3420.8%

35–5422.7%

55–6414.7%

65+22.1%

Gender

47.4%

52.6%

Male47.4%

Female52.6%

Race & ethnicity

94.5%

White94.5%

Hispanic1.8%

Asian1.3%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

36%

29.3%

28%

No HS diploma6.7%

HS diploma36%

Some college29.3%

Bachelor's+28%

Housing tenure

80.9%

19.1%

Owner80.9%

Renter19.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 50138 in Knoxville, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$58,852 → $74,693

up 26.9%

Population

11,994 → 11,117

down 7.3%

Renter share

27.2% → 19.1%

-8.1 pts

Bachelor's+

23.7% → 28%

+4.3 pts

Census figures show median household income at $74,693 today, compared with $58,852 five years earlier. The population has contracted by 7.3% since 2021, moving from about 11,994 residents to roughly 11,117. Renters now make up 19.1% of households, compared with 27.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 28% of adults here, versus 23.7% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 50138

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50138 covers Knoxville, IA. The median rent here is $906/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $760/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $960/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($74,693/yr), ZIP 50138 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50138?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $36,000/year (about $17/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $906/mo in ZIP 50138. The local median household income is $74,693/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50138?

Rent in ZIP 50138 has been roughly flat over the past year, a +0.1% change.

How does ZIP 50138 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50138 is one of the more affordable among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #49 of 54 at $906/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50138 changed +0.1%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.