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Cherokee, IA
City in Cherokee County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 51012.
Population
5,154
Land area
6.8sq mi
People per sq mi
754
ZIP codes
1
Cherokee and its ZIP codes
Cherokee at a glance
- Cherokee is about 13 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 83rd among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- The median household income is $61,750, 18% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $136,700 (34% below Iowa) and median rent is $728 a month.
Local data for Cherokee, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Cherokee, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$61,750
Poverty rate
18.5%
Median home value
$136,700
Median rent
$728/mo
Homeownership
67.8%
Bachelor's or higher
24.6%
Median age
43.2
Average commute
12.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,240), Irish Americans (609), Swedish Americans (196).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cherokee County. PPP loans are for Cherokee.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,356
4,908 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$86,904
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$103M
FY 2026, $8,871 per person
PPP loans
$22.5M
625 loans, 2,304 jobs reported
How people get to work
Cherokee, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.2%
- Carpooled7.6%
- Public transit1.7%
- Walked2.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home8.5%
Average one-way commute: 12.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cherokee, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
644
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
43
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 7°F
31.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cherokee, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
42.8%
U.S. 33.3% +9.5 pts
Diabetes
15.6%
U.S. 12.1% +3.5 pts
Smoking
18.9%
U.S. 12.8% +6.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.2%
U.S. 11.1% -1.9 pts
ZIP codes in Cherokee
1 in or overlapping Cherokee. Population shown
Cities near Cherokee
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MeridenCity | 5.6 mi | 0.1 |
| AureliaCity | 6.1 mi | 1 |
| LarrabeeCity | 8.2 mi | 0.1 |
| QuimbyCity | 9.1 mi | 0.4 |
| CleghornCity | 9.6 mi | 0.2 |
| AltaCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| CalumetCity | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| WashtaCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| MarcusCity | 14 mi | 1.5 |
| PetersonCity | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| SutherlandCity | 16 mi | 0.8 |
| HolsteinCity | 17 mi | 1.6 |
| GalvaCity | 18 mi | 0.8 |
| PaullinaCity | 18 mi | 0.9 |
| TruesdaleCity | 19 mi | 0.1 |
| Linn GroveCity | 19 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Cherokee, IA in?
- Cherokee is in Cherokee County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Cherokee, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Cherokee include 51012.
- What is the population of Cherokee, IA?
- About 5,154 people live in Cherokee, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Cherokee?
- Nearby places include Meriden (5.6 mi), Aurelia (6.1 mi), Larrabee (8.2 mi), Quimby (9.1 mi), Cleghorn (9.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023