50256 is a Republican stronghold. About 25% of voters here vote Democratic and 75% Republican.
About 86% of adults in 50256 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 50256, ~22% vote Democratic, ~64% Republican, and ~14% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 50256 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 50256 leans more Republican than 9 of 12 neighbors.
50256 runs about 37 points more Republican than Iowa as a whole.
Why 50256 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 50256, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Car-dependent areas vote Republican. About 88% of residents in 50256 drive to work alone, about 14 points above the U.S. average of 74%. A high white share with below-average college attainment predicts Republican voting, and 50256 fits that profile on both counts.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; 50256, IA sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 50256 looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. About 93% of households in 50256 own their home, about 12 points above the Iowa average of 81%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Iowa Secretary of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.