Checked
Red Oak, IA
City in Montgomery County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 51566.
Population
5,510
Land area
3.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,404
ZIP codes
1
Red Oak and its ZIP codes
Red Oak at a glance
- Red Oak is about 24 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 75th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $50,109 a year, 33% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $99,700 (52% below Iowa) and median rent is $812 a month.
Local data for Red Oak, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Red Oak, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,109
Poverty rate
21.9%
Median home value
$99,700
Median rent
$812/mo
Homeownership
59.9%
Bachelor's or higher
17.7%
Median age
40.2
Average commute
20.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,103), Irish Americans (472), Swedish Americans (204).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Montgomery County. PPP loans are for Red Oak.
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Aug 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$52,533
4,004 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,103
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$77.8M
FY 2026, $7,530 per person
PPP loans
$21.9M
437 loans, 2,448 jobs reported
How people get to work
Red Oak, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.1%
- Carpooled13.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home11.0%
Average one-way commute: 20.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Red Oak, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
402
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
78
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 13°F
37.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone8 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Red Oak, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.3%
U.S. 33.3% +8.0 pts
Diabetes
14.1%
U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts
Smoking
19.1%
U.S. 12.8% +6.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.7%
U.S. 11.1% -2.4 pts
ZIP codes in Red Oak
1 in or overlapping Red Oak. Population shown
Cities near Red Oak
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| StantonCity | 6.8 mi | 0.9 |
| CoburgCity | 7.1 mi | 0.3 |
| EmersonCity | 9.4 mi | 0.3 |
| ElliottCity | 9.8 mi | 0.4 |
| EssexCity | 13 mi | 1.6 |
| HendersonCity | 14 mi | 0.1 |
| VilliscaCity | 14 mi | 1.8 |
| HastingsCity | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| ImogeneCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| GrantCity | 15 mi | 0.7 |
| GriswoldCity | 16 mi | 0.6 |
| MacedoniaCity | 16 mi | 0.2 |
| NodawayCity | 18 mi | 0.7 |
| CarsonCity | 18 mi | 0.7 |
| MalvernCity | 19 mi | 1.6 |
| ShenandoahCity | 19 mi | 3.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Red Oak, IA in?
- Red Oak is in Montgomery County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Red Oak, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Red Oak include 51566.
- What is the population of Red Oak, IA?
- About 5,510 people live in Red Oak, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Red Oak?
- Nearby places include Stanton (6.8 mi), Coburg (7.1 mi), Emerson (9.4 mi), Elliott (9.8 mi), Essex (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023