Medford, MN · standard
ZIP Code 55049
Steele County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,476
- 20/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $90,625
- Median income Above-median income area
- $247,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Medford pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 20
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 55049 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 55049 (Medford, MN) rose +5.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 220.1 in 2023 to 231.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 55049 covers 124.4 square miles in Medford, Steele County, Minnesota (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,476 residents on file, a density of 20 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 55049 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,625 (10% above the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,500. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.9% and unemployment is 2.9%. Median home value is $247,800 (3% below the average Minnesota ZIP) and median rent is $1,302; 86.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.7, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Steele County, so 55049 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 55049
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Medford, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 55049.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
17 establishments
- Construction
Construction
12 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
7 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
7 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 6
Other services (except public administration)
6 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 55049, Medford, MN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
2,476
Population
124.4
Area (sq mi)
20
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 55049?
38.7
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
10.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$90,625
Median Household Income
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$40,500
Per Capita Income
6.9%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment Rate
19.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 55049 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Medford, MN household income vs. every Minnesota ZIP code
Median household income among 864 reporting Minnesota ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$90,625 Top 28% higher than 72% of 864 Minnesota ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Minnesota ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
1,002housing units
1,002
Total Housing Units
945
Occupied Units
57
Vacant Units
2.76
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$247,800
Median Home Value
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$1,302
Median Rent
1991
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.3%
YoY Change (2024)
232
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+132%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 55049 have increased 5.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +132% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 158 |
| 2021 | +7.0% | 169 |
| 2022 | +18.8% | 201 |
| 2023 | +9.5% | 220 |
| 2024 | +5.3% | 232 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 67 business establishments in ZIP 55049, employing approximately 550 people with a combined annual payroll of $16,387,000.
67
Businesses
550
Employees
$16.4M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 17 | 25.4% |
| Construction | 12 | 17.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 10.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 7 | 10.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 9.0% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 7.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 4.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 55049 vs 55060 →
ZIP 55049 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 55021
Faribault (55021)
29,732 residents
- 55060
Owatonna (55060)
28,911 residents
- 55049 2,476
Medford (55049)
2,476 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 55049 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 55049 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 55049
Medford (55049)
$90,625 median income
- 55060
Owatonna (55060)
$84,906 median income
- 55021
Faribault (55021)
$68,820 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 55049 ranks the highest of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 55049, both outside MN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (2,476 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Steele County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 55049 in?
ZIP code 55049 (Medford) is located in Steele County, Minnesota. Steele County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/steele-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 55049?
ZIP code 55049 in Medford, MN has a population of 2,476 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 55049?
The median household income in ZIP 55049 is $90,625, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 55049?
The median home value in ZIP 55049 is $247,800, which is 11% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 55049?
The largest racial group in ZIP 55049 is White at 85.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 17.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 55049?
ZIP code 55049 has 67 business establishments employing approximately 550 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 55049?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 55049 are: Retail trade (17), Construction (12), Transportation and warehousing (7). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 55049?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 55049 increased by 5.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 132%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 55049?
In ZIP code 55049, 56.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 55049?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 55049 is 19.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 55049?
In ZIP code 55049, approximately 86.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 55049?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 55049 is 6.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 55049's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 55049 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Medford, MN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.