52601 is a true toss-up. About 49% of voters here vote Democratic and 51% Republican.
About 78% of adults in 52601 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 52601, ~38% vote Democratic, ~40% Republican, and ~22% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 52601 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 52601 sits roughly in the middle of the political spectrum, with 0 neighbors leaning further in the place's direction and 14 leaning the other way.
52601 runs about 12 points more Democratic than Iowa as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 52601. The east side runs the most Democratic (D+10) and the northeast side runs the most Republican (R+16), a spread of about 27 points.
Why 52601 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 52601. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Democratic lean
Places with a highly walkable street grid tend to lean Democratic; 52601, IA sits in the top tenth 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 52601 looks the way it does
Turnout in 52601 sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. 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.