The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 51044 sells for about $185,000, or $112 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.8% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 84 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $850 a month.
ZIP 51044
The housing market in 51044 is characterized by low inventory and slow, steady price appreciation. Demand is driven by local residents and those seeking rural affordability, though the limited supply keeps sales volume low.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle who are comfortable with a longer commute to larger employment centers.
Median prices moved up 2.8% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 84 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
8% 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 24.3% · poverty 7.3% — a mixed stability 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 5.4%/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 4.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 51044, Woodbury 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.
Crime rates in Oto are significantly lower than the national average, with very few reported incidents annually. The area is considered rural and generally safe compared to regional urban centers.
Students in this area are primarily served by the Woodbury Central Community School District, which maintains a solid reputation for small class sizes and community-focused education.
The area faces moderate risk from severe weather, including thunderstorms and occasional high winds. Flood risk is localized primarily to areas near the Little Sioux River.
Economic momentum is stable but slow, driven largely by regional agriculture and small-scale local businesses. Infrastructure is primarily focused on maintaining rural transit corridors.
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.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving 30-45 minutes to reach employment hubs in Sioux City.
Local recreation is centered on outdoor activities, including access to nearby rural parks and the Little Sioux River for fishing and boating.
The rental market is limited in depth, consisting mostly of single-family homes with low turnover and minimal short-term rental activity.
The economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector, with most employment opportunities located in nearby Sioux City.
Parcels are subject to Woodbury County property taxes and the Woodbury Central Community School District levies.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional exposure to severe convective storms and wind events.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 51044 profile.
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.
Provides local opportunities for fishing and outdoor recreation.
Small community park serving local residents.
Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the published ten-year series (2024) (within 12.5%).