Chariton is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, home to about 4,242 people across 3.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 50049.
Homes sold for a median of $107 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Chariton. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Chariton’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Des Moines International Airport (DSM)40 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Omaha, NE144 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL296 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Chariton; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Chariton had 4,193 residents in the 2020 census, down 8% since 2000.
It’s the 100th largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.
Lucas County grew from 16,126 residents in 1900 to 8,634 in 2020.
Lucas County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 11°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 24 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Chariton 1 E, IA weather station (about a mile away).
4,663 jobs at 187 businesses in Lucas County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
37 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Chariton.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 5 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 4 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 12 |
| Mental health providers | 9 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 3 |
| Optometrists | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (12 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Chariton Comm School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Elementary SchoolChariton | K–2 | 301 | Public | 0.7 mi |
| Van Allen Elementary SchoolChariton | 3–5 | 292 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| Chariton Middle SchoolChariton | 6–8 | 284 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Chariton High SchoolChariton | 9–12 | 372 | Public | 0.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.