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Chariton, IA
City in Lucas County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 50049.
Population
4,242
Land area
3.8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,126
ZIP codes
1
Chariton and its ZIP codes
Chariton at a glance
- Chariton is about 20 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 100th among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- The median household income is $46,979, 37% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $81,900 (61% below Iowa) and median rent is $689 a month.
Local data for Chariton, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Chariton, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$46,979
Poverty rate
17.1%
Median home value
$81,900
Median rent
$689/mo
Homeownership
64.5%
Bachelor's or higher
13.4%
Median age
38.6
Average commute
15.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (726), Irish Americans (720), Honduran Americans (164).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lucas County. PPP loans are for Chariton.
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Aug 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,644
3,177 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,668
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$59.2M
FY 2026, $6,853 per person
PPP loans
$8.2M
313 loans, 1,138 jobs reported
How people get to work
Chariton, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.3%
- Carpooled7.7%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home5.0%
Average one-way commute: 15.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Chariton, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
463
Countywide, mostly flood
July high / Jan low
85° / 11°F
37.3 inches of rain a year
Toxic release facilities
1
No Superfund sites
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chariton, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.4%
U.S. 33.3% +7.1 pts
Diabetes
14.0%
U.S. 12.1% +1.9 pts
Smoking
19.2%
U.S. 12.8% +6.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.9%
U.S. 11.1% -2.2 pts
ZIP codes in Chariton
1 in or overlapping Chariton. Population shown
Cities near Chariton
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WilliamsonCity | 5.4 mi | 0.4 |
| RussellCity | 6.4 mi | 1 |
| LucasCity | 7.9 mi | 1 |
| DerbyCity | 9.8 mi | 0.3 |
| MillertonCity | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| LaconaCity | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| MelroseCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| Melcher-DallasCity | 15 mi | 1 |
| HumestonCity | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| WoodburnCity | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| Le RoyCity | 18 mi | 0.4 |
| CorydonCity | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| MiloCity | 20 mi | 0.6 |
| Garden GroveCity | 20 mi | 0.7 |
| Promise CityCity | 21 mi | 0.2 |
| MarysvilleCity | 22 mi | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Chariton, IA in?
- Chariton is in Lucas County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Chariton, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Chariton include 50049.
- What is the population of Chariton, IA?
- About 4,242 people live in Chariton, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Chariton?
- Nearby places include Williamson (5.4 mi), Russell (6.4 mi), Lucas (7.9 mi), Derby (9.8 mi), Millerton (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023