Residential delivery area · Minnesota
ZIP Code 55731: Ely, MN
ZIP code 55731 uses the postal name Ely, Minnesota and lies mostly in Lake County (50% of its land) with the rest in St. Louis County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 5,400 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $62,008 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, under 1% of its land lies in Ely; more than 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ely · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Lake County (50%); St. Louis County (50%)
- Census places
- Ely
- House district
- MN-8 119th Congress
- State
- Minnesota
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 1,606.7 sq mi · 3 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 55731?
55731 centers on 47.997°, -91.754° and covers 1,606.7 square miles of land plus 272.4 of water. It borders 11 ZIP codes: 55796, 55782, 55706, 55607, 55790, 55732, 55603, 55725, 55615, 55604 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 55731, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 55731 compare with the rest of Lake County?
| Measure | 55731 | In Lake County | In MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 5,361 | 2nd of 9 | 246th of 881 |
| Median household income | $62k | 3rd of 3 | 489th of 545 |
| Median home value | $206k | 2nd of 3 | 424th of 558 |
Its median household income is higher than in 33% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 8% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 55731?
The 2020 Census counted 5,494 people in 55731; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 5,361. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 5,361
- 2020 Census count
- 5,494
- Households
- 2,881
- Median age
- 60.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 55731?
Of the 5,361 people the ACS estimates in 55731, 8.2% are under 18 and 36.0% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (94.3%).
- Under 188.2%
- 18 to 6455.8%
- 65 and older36.0%
- White, not Hispanic94.3%
- Other or two or more3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.3%
- Black, not Hispanic1.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 55731 earn?
Median household income is $62,008 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 3 ranked ZIP codes in Lake County.
- Median household income
- $62,008±$6,917
- Income per person
- $42,041
- Below the poverty line
- 10.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.2%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 40.5%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $68,8712,910 returns; wages 52% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 55731?
FHFA's house price index for 55731, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 98% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 63% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $206,000
- Median gross rent
- $644
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 75.0%
- Housing units
- 4,915
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 55731?
252 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 fewer than in 2018; the most are in accommodation and food services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Accommodation and food services45
- Construction37
- Retail trade36
- Other services (except public administration)26
- Health care and social assistance19
- Professional, scientific, and technical services16
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 55731?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55796 | Winton | 135 | $52k | 5.0 mi |
| 55782 | Soudan | 420 | $56k | 23.8 mi |
| 55706 | Babbitt | 1,703 | $57k | 25.2 mi |
| 55607 | Isabella | 192 | $88k | 28.4 mi |
| 55790 | Tower | 1,847 | $77k | 31.2 mi |
| 55732 | Embarrass | 1,453 | $65k | 31.4 mi |
| 55603 | Finland | 490 | $62k | 40.0 mi |
| 55725 | Crane Lake | 89 | $73k | 43.3 mi |
| 55615 | Tofte | 379 | $61k | 45.3 mi |
| 55604 | Grand Marais | 3,719 | $73k | 53.4 mi |
| 55771 | Orr | 1,484 | $68k | 53.8 mi |
| 55750 | Hoyt Lakes | 2,068 | $66k | 33.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.