Local servicesHospitalLucas County Health and Medical Centerunder a milePost officeChariton Post Office1.6 miTown hallChariton City Hall1.6 miPoliceChariton Police Department1.9 miFire stationChariton Volunteer Fire Department1.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 highElementaryVan Allen Elementary School1.1 miMiddleChariton Middle School1.1 miHighChariton High School1.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportDes Moines International Airport DSM39 miInterstateI-3525 miUS highwayUS 34 Bus1.4 miAmtrakOsceola, IA OSC25 miCoachOsceolaJefferson Lines26 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 50049 ZIP area.
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Local Information
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 50049 ZIP area.
Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 8 min5:41 am – 8:49 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 13 min7:34 am – 4:48 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People6,425 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.92,685 householdsMedian household income $66,750Median home value $123,700Median rent $731 a month77% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,932 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Work and commuting4.5% unemployment rate63% of adults are in the labour force, 3,067 employedMain industries: retail 27%, education and health care 17%, construction 8%Average commute 18 minutes81% drive alone, 9% car-pool, 3% walk or cycle, 6% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
Education and languages16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher93% finished high school, 6% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 95%, German or Dutch 2%, Spanish 2%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 62°FColdest month January: highs 31°F, lows 11°F37 in of rain a year, on about 68 dayswettest month May24 in of snow a year, on about 14 days17 days above 90°F, 154 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Chariton 1 E station, 2 mi away
Nearby landmarksWest Lakelake · 2.3 miLake Ellislake · 2.5 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsRed Haw State Parkstate park · 2.4 mi · 420 acresEast Lakesstate recreation area · 2.4 mi · 843 acresSavage Parkpark · 1.4 mi · 57 acresRed Haw Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 2.9 mi · 234 acresWilliamson Pond Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 5.5 mi · 123 acresCinder Path Bike Trailpark · 7.5 mi · 178 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
EarthquakesNone of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowLucas County, IA, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsDrought Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality61% of days had good air in 2025224 of 365 days measured139 moderate, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 44, worst day 136main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Polk County, IA, 47 mi away
Internet at home77% of households have a broadband subscription49% have cable, fibre or DSL18% rely on a mobile data plan alone19% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Drinking waterChariton Municipal Water Worksserves 4,381 people from surface water purchasedNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,004 ft306 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
