The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50523 sells for about $165,000, or $112 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 88 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $406 a month.
ZIP 50523 — Callender
The housing market in 50523 is characterized by low inventory and stable, modest price appreciation consistent with rural Iowa trends. Demand remains steady among local buyers, though the limited number of listings keeps sales volume low. The market is driven by affordability and the stability of the regional agricultural economy.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, affordable rural lifestyle with proximity to the amenities of Fort Dodge.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 88 days on market with 4.2 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 0.9% · poverty 4.6% — 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 4.1%/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 2.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50523, Webster 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 Callender are significantly lower than the national average, with the area experiencing very low levels of violent and property crime consistent with rural Webster County.
Students are primarily served by the Southeast Valley Community School District, which maintains a stable academic reputation within the regional rural context.
The area is primarily at risk for severe thunderstorms and occasional wind events; flood risk is generally low, though localized drainage issues can occur near agricultural runoff zones.
Economic momentum is tied to the regional agricultural sector and proximity to Fort Dodge, which serves as the primary employment hub for the 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.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving 15-20 minutes to reach employment centers in Fort Dodge via local highways.
Local recreation is centered on small community parks and proximity to regional outdoor spaces in Webster County, with limited commercial shopping options within the immediate 3-mile radius.
The rental market is limited in depth, consisting mostly of single-family homes with low turnover and stable, modest rent growth.
The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and agribusiness, with significant employment support from the nearby industrial and retail base in Fort Dodge.
Transportation is entirely road-based, relying on county roads and state highways for access to regional transit corridors.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction within the ZIP code.
The Webster County Assessor manages property valuations, utilizing a biennial assessment cycle based on market value and agricultural productivity formulas.
Parcels are subject to Southeast Valley Community School District taxes and standard county-level service districts.
Property insurance premiums are stable, reflecting the low-hazard, rural nature of the geography.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 50523 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.
- Fort Frenzy4.111.9 mi
- Dolliver Memorial State Park4.711 mi
- Gypsum City OHV Park4.510.7 mi
- Fort 8 Theatre4.411 mi
- Snell-Crawford Park4.511.4 mi
- The Fort Museum and Frontier Village4.59.3 mi
- The Fort Museum and Frontier Village4.59.3 mi
- Dolliver Memorial State Park4.711 mi
- Gypsum City OHV Park4.510.7 mi
- Snell-Crawford Park4.511.4 mi
- Loomis Park4.611.3 mi
- Oleson Park Splashpad4.310.2 mi
- Hy-Vee Grocery Store4.411.6 mi
- Marshalls4.311.5 mi
- Kohl's4.211.3 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Local community green space with playground facilities.
Regional hub for agricultural events and community gatherings.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.