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 –
People6,414 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.22,667 householdsMedian household income $61,190Median home value $124,900Median rent $704 a month75% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,884 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting6.5% unemployment rate60% of adults are in the labour force, 2,850 employedMain industries: retail 29%, education and health care 18%, manufacturing 11%Average commute 19 minutes81% drive alone, 10% car-pool, 3% walk or cycle, 4% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher92% finished high school, 6% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 92%, Spanish 4%, German or Dutch 3%, Russian or other Slavic 1%6% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, 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 home81% of households have a broadband subscription51% have cable, fibre or DSL19% rely on a mobile data plan alone15% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
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
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.
