Skip to content
Skip to content
TopHapOpen in map

Lester 51242

ZIP codeThe kind of area this report covers. Neighborhood areas nest inside each other, from broad districts down to small pockets.Iowa
$170K
Median sale priceThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.
-11.7%
1-yr changeHow much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.
6
Sales (12 mo)How many homes sold here in the last 12 months. More sales make the other numbers more reliable.
$272K
Median valueThe middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.

Deed records through Apr 2026 · Quarterly intervals (lower sales volume)Counties take time to publish deeds, so the newest months can be incomplete and may shift as more records arrive.

Market Trends

Sale pricesThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.MedianSales
20172018201920202021202320242026
Growth (year over year)How much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.PriceSales
20172018201920202021202320242026
Price per square footThe middle price per square foot, for sales where the size is known. It adjusts for homes being different sizes.$/ft²
20172018201920202021202320242026
Sale premium vs estimated valueHow sale prices compare with our estimated values at the time of sale. Above the dashed line, homes sold for more than the models expected — a sign of competitive bidding. Below it, buyers paid under model value.Premium
20172018201920202021202320242026
Annual turnover (share of homes sold)The share of all homes here that sold in the trailing 12 months. Higher turnover means a more liquid market where homes trade hands more often.Turnover
20172018201920202021202320242026
Buyer mixWho is buying. Cash means no mortgage was recorded, investor means the buyer looked like an investor, and flip means the home resold within a year.CashInvestorFlip resale
20172018201920202021202320242026
Financing (share of purchase price)For buyers who borrowed: the middle share of the price they financed, and the middle share they paid up front.Loan (LTV)Down payment
20172018201920202021202320242026
Sellers who sold at a gainThe share of sellers each month who sold for more than they originally paid.Sold at gain
20172018201920202021202320242026
Typical hold before sellingThe middle number of years sellers owned their home before selling.Median hold
20172018201920202021202320242026
Median annualized return at resaleThe middle yearly gain sellers earned, spread across the years they owned the home. Only counts homes held at least a year.Annualized gain
20172018201920202021202320242026

Housing Stock

HomesHow many homes we have records for in this area.149
Median value (AVM)The middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.$272K
Median sizeThe middle home size here, measured in square feet.1,536 ft²
Median bedroomsThe middle bedroom count for homes here.3
Median year builtThe middle build year for homes here. A recent year means most housing is newer.1974
Single familyThe share of homes here that are single-family houses.82%
CondosThe share of homes here that are condos.13%

Equity & Ownership

Equity rich (LTV ≤ 50%)The share of owners who owe half or less of what their home is worth, meaning they hold a lot of equity.61%
Underwater (LTV ≥ 125%)The share of owners who owe at least 25% more than their home is worth.8.1%
Owner occupiedThe share of homes lived in by their owner rather than rented out or left empty.84%
Company ownedThe share of homes owned by a company or trust instead of a person.12%
Median loan-to-valueThe middle share of home value still owed on loans across all owners here.38%
Typical ownership tenureHow long the typical owner here has held their home.9.2 yrs

CommunityThese are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.52
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.91
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.22

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.97%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.7.5%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.3.1%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.0.7%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.30
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.17 / mi²
Median household incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$72K
Average household incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$91K
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.46°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.27 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.61%

Market metrics are derived from recorded arms-length deeds and refreshed nightly. Temperature blends price momentum, sales velocity, turnover and resale outcomes, ranked against all ZIP codes nationally.

How Lester 51242 compares

By median home value, Lester 51242 is the 3rd most expensive of 8 ZIP codes in Lyon County, and its typical home is worth more than 55% of all homes in Lyon County.

Home values in Lester 51242

Share of homes at each estimated value.

Median
$82K$661K
ZIP codes in Lyon County ranked by median home value
#Lyon CountyMedian valueHomes
1Larchwood 51241$365K756
2Inwood 51240$293K689
3Lester 51242$272K149
4Rock Rapids 51246$242K1,469
5Doon 51235$234K416
6Alvord 51230$188K185
7George 51237$177K743
8Little Rock 51243$137K357

About the Lester 51242 market

What is the median home price in Lester 51242, IA?

The median sale price in Lester 51242, IA is $170,000 (data through April 2026), based on deeds recorded with the county. That is down 11.7% from a year earlier.

How many homes sell in Lester 51242, IA each year?

6 homes sold in Lester 51242, IA over the last 12 months (data through April 2026). TopHap counts recorded arm's-length deeds, not listings, so the figure is not affected by which brokerage handled the sale.

How many homes are there in Lester 51242, IA?

Lester 51242, IA contains 149 residential properties, with a median of 1,536 square feet, 3 bedrooms, built around 1974. The median TopHap Estimate is $272K.

How does Lester 51242, IA compare to the rest of Lyon County?

By median home value, Lester 51242, IA is the 3rd most expensive of 8 ZIP codes in Lyon County. Its typical home is worth more than 55% of all homes in Lyon County. Inwood 51240 ranks just above it and Rock Rapids 51246 just below. The ranking is rebuilt nightly from the county assessor record of every home in each area.

Do people own or rent in Lester 51242, IA?

84% of homes in Lester 51242, IA are owner-occupied. 12% are held by a company rather than an individual.

How much equity do owners in Lester 51242, IA hold?

61% of mortgaged homes in Lester 51242, IA are equity-rich, meaning the loan balance is under half the home's value. 8.1% owe more than the home is worth.

Nearby markets

Browse addresses

Every street and address TopHap holds is browsable by state, county and city. Browse IA property records.

Explore Lester 51242 on the map

See every recorded sale, price heat map, school zone and flood overlay across Lester 51242in TopHap’s interactive 3D map.

Open in map