PlainZIP

Ely, MN · standard

ZIP Code 55731

St. Louis County, Minnesota — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

5,820
3/sq mi
$62,008
Median income
$206,000
Median home value
40.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ely pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

33th pct
household income, US ZIPs
45th pct
home value, US ZIPs
3
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 55731 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 55731 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 2155.6 square miles in Ely, St. Louis County, Minnesota. The area is home to 5,820 residents, producing a population density of 3 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 55731 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 55731 sits at $62,008 (24% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $42,041. The poverty rate stands at 10.1% and the unemployment rate at 2.2%. On housing, the median home value is $206,000 (19% below the state average) with median rent at $644 per month, and 75.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 55731 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 40.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 60.3, and the average commute is 15 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 55731 sits relative to Minnesota and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 55731

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 55731.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 55731, Ely, MN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

5,820

Population

2155.6

Area (sq mi)

3

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 55731?

60.3

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

1.8%

Foreign-Born

White 94.3%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%

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?

$62,008

Median Household Income

-24% vs state

$42,041

Per Capita Income

10.1%

Poverty Rate

2.2%

Unemployment Rate

15.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 55731 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$62,008 33rd percentile higher than 33% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 59.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,915

Total Housing Units

2,881

Occupied Units

2,034

Vacant Units

1.76

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.0%
Renter 25.0%

$206,000

Median Home Value

-19% vs state

$644

Median Rent

1972

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

+13.5%

YoY Change (2024)

261

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+161%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 55731 have increased 13.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +161% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.2% 162
2021 +9.6% 178
2022 +27.1% 226
2023 +1.9% 230
2024 +13.5% 261

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 252 business establishments in ZIP 55731, employing approximately 1,449 people with a combined annual payroll of $64,158,000.

252

Businesses

1,449

Employees

$64.2M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 45 17.9%
Construction 37 14.7%
Retail trade 36 14.3%
Other services (except public administration) 26 10.3%
Health care and social assistance 19 7.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 16 6.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 16 6.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 5.6%
Manufacturing 8 3.2%
Finance and insurance 8 3.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 7 2.8%
Information 6 2.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 2.4%
Transportation and warehousing 3 1.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in St. Louis County

55811 standard
Duluth, MN
Pop: 26,246
55803 standard
Duluth, MN
Pop: 17,431
55746 standard
Hibbing, MN
Pop: 17,228
55804 standard
Duluth, MN
Pop: 14,592
55812 standard
Duluth, MN
Pop: 10,924
55805 standard
Duluth, MN
Pop: 10,194

Related Areas

St. Louis County Ely, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 55731 in? ▼
ZIP code 55731 (Ely) is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota. St. Louis County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/st-louis-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 55731? ▼
ZIP code 55731 in Ely, MN has a population of 5,820 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 55731? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 55731 is $62,008, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 55731? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 55731 is $206,000, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 55731? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 55731 is White at 94.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 55731? ▼
ZIP code 55731 has 252 business establishments employing approximately 1,449 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 55731? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 55731 are: Accommodation and food services (45), Construction (37), Retail trade (36). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 55731? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 55731 increased by 13.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 161%. 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 55731? ▼
In ZIP code 55731, 59.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.5% 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 55731? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 55731 is 15.3 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 55731? ▼
In ZIP code 55731, approximately 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 55731? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 55731 is 10.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Ely, MN

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.