The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50161 sells for about $337,972, or $165 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 82 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,063 a month.
ZIP 50161 — Maxwell
The Maxwell housing market is characterized by low inventory and stable, modest price growth. High vacancy rates and a high price-to-rent ratio suggest a market driven more by local owner-occupants than by rental investors.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle who are comfortable with a commute to larger employment centers in the Des Moines metro area.
Median prices moved up 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 82 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 1.9% · poverty 2.3% — 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 8.3%/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 7.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50161, Iowa
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by the Collins-Maxwell Community School District, which provides local public education for the rural community.
The region is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional tornado activity; flood risk is generally low but varies by specific parcel location.
Maxwell is a small rural community with limited large-scale commercial development, primarily serving as a residential base for commuters working in the broader Des Moines metropolitan area.
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 commute by car to employment hubs in Ames or Des Moines, typically involving a 25-40 minute drive via state highways.
Local recreation is centered on small community parks and rural outdoor activities, with larger shopping and entertainment amenities located in nearby cities like Ankeny or Ames.
The rental market is limited with low inventory; vacancy pressure is noted as elevated at 9.5%, and the market is not heavily driven by short-term rentals.
The local economy is primarily agricultural and residential, with most residents employed in the broader Des Moines-Ames economic corridor.
No major large-scale commercial or residential developments are currently reported for this rural ZIP code.
Parcels are subject to the Collins-Maxwell Community School District and standard county-level taxing authorities.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional exposure to severe weather events common in central Iowa.
Data retrieved from ZCTA-level census profiles.
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 park providing green space and recreational facilities.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.