ZIP Code Tabulation Area · Minnesota

ZIP Code 56542: Polk County, MN

ZIP Code 56542 (Polk County, Minnesota) has an estimated 2,486 residents in 1,034 households. The median household income is $59,706, the median home value is $186,300 and the median gross rent is $788/mo. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the matching ZIP Code Tabulation Area.

American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · Updated Oct 26, 2026

Total population

2,486

Margin of error ±164

Median household income

$59,706

Margin of error ±$5,596

Median home value

$186,300

Margin of error ±$14,270

Median gross rent

$788/mo

Margin of error ±$118

Median age

42.9 yrs

Margin of error ±3.2 yrs

Mean travel time to work

15.9 min

Margin of error ±3.5 min

How ZIP 56542 compares with Minnesota and the U.S.

State and national figures are the Census Bureau's own estimates for those areas from the same ACS release, not averages of ZIP codes.

Median age

ZIP 5654242.9 yrsMinnesota38.8 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 56542$59,706Minnesota$89,062United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 56542$32,663Minnesota$48,237United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 5654217.5%Minnesota9.3%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 565426.6%Minnesota4.1%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 5654225.4%Minnesota39.4%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 56542$186,300Minnesota$329,300United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 56542$788/moMinnesota$1,280/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 5654268.2%Minnesota72.2%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 5654215.9 minMinnesota22.7 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 565426.6%Minnesota17.6%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 56542

Each estimate has a 90% margin of error: the true value is likely within that range. * marks estimates with a large margin of error (a coefficient of variation above 30%, or ±10 percentage points or more for rates).

ZIP 56542 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 56542	Margin of error	Minnesota	United States
Total population	2,486	±164	5,739,445	334,922,499
Median age	42.9 yrs	±3.2 yrs	38.8 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	1,034	±94	2,307,955	129,227,496
Median household income	$59,706	±$5,596	$89,062	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,663	±$2,501	$48,237	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.5%	±4.7 pts	9.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.6%	±3.1 pts	4.1%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.4%	±3.0 pts	39.4%	35.7%
Median home value	$186,300	±$14,270	$329,300	$332,700
Median gross rent	$788/mo	±$118	$1,280/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	68.2%	±1.0 pts	72.2%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	15.9 min	±3.5 min	22.7 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	6.6%	±2.1 pts	17.6%	15.1%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Shares of the total population by the Census Bureau's race and Hispanic or Latino origin categories (table B03002), listed in the Census Bureau's order. People self-identify on the survey.

Population by race and Hispanic or Latino origin, ZIP 56542
Group	ZIP 56542	Minnesota	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	92.6%	75.9%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	6.9%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	0.7%	0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	5.1%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.5%	0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	3.7%	4.5%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	2.0%	6.4%	19.3%

Where ZIP 56542 is

State: Minnesota
Main county: Polk County— also overlaps Mahnomen County
Largest overlapping place: Fosston (1% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 180.16 sq mi· about 14 people per sq mi

County and place names come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files. A ZIP code's mailing city, set by the U.S. Postal Service, can differ from these names.

Other ZIP codes in Polk County

56517 Polk County, MN 56523 Polk County, MN 56535 Polk County, MN 56540 Polk County, MN 56556 Polk County, MN 56568 Polk County, MN 56592 Polk County, MN 56646 Polk County, MN 56684 Polk County, MN 56716 Polk County, MN 56721 Polk County, MN 56722 Polk County, MN 56723 Polk County, MN 56736 Polk County, MN 56762 Polk County, MN

See every ZIP code in Minnesota, or compare ZIP 56542 with another ZIP code.

Census figures describe residents as a group and cannot tell you about any one home or street. For a specific address, check local government and housing records.

About ZIP codes and ZCTAs: the Census Bureau publishes statistics for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP code delivery areas. Learn how they differ.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, detailed tables B01003, B01002, B11001, B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003, B25077, B25064, B25003, B08013, B08303, B08301, B03002 — snapshot Oct 26, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA5 relationship files (county and place).
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (detailed tables) and 2020 Census ZCTA relationship files. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. These agencies do not endorse OpenZIP.