Saint James, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56081

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

6,098
13/sq mi
$67,337
Median income
$163,800
Median home value
16.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

42th pct
household income, US ZIPs
32th pct
home value, US ZIPs
13
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56081 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56081 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 455.1 square miles in Saint James, Watonwan County, Minnesota. The area is home to 6,098 residents, producing a population density of 13 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 56081 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56081 sits at $67,337 (18% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $35,956. The poverty rate stands at 16.0% and the unemployment rate at 6.5%. On housing, the median home value is $163,800 (36% below the state average) with median rent at $844 per month, and 72.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56081 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 16.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Watonwan County, so you can benchmark 56081 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. 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 56081

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56081.

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 56081, Saint James, 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

6,098

Population

455.1

Area (sq mi)

13

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 56081?

41.3

Median Age

50.8%

Male

49.2%

Female

15.9%

Foreign-Born

White 71.2%
African American 0.1%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.4%
Hispanic or Latino 37.2%

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?

$67,337

Median Household Income

-18% vs state

$35,956

Per Capita Income

16.0%

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Unemployment Rate

21.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56081 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$67,337 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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 46.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.8%

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

What does housing look like?

2,790

Total Housing Units

2,373

Occupied Units

417

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 72.2%
Renter 27.8%

$163,800

Median Home Value

-36% vs state

$844

Median Rent

1967

Median Year Built

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

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-5.0%

YoY Change (2024)

202

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+102%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56081 have decreased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.1% 142
2021 +6.6% 152
2022 +15.8% 176
2023 +20.7% 212
2024 -5.0% 202

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 141 business establishments in ZIP 56081, employing approximately 1,908 people with a combined annual payroll of $93,440,000.

141

Businesses

1,908

Employees

$93.4M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 22 15.6%
Retail trade 21 14.9%
Construction 19 13.5%
Health care and social assistance 15 10.6%
Accommodation and food services 12 8.5%
Transportation and warehousing 9 6.4%
Finance and insurance 8 5.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 5.7%
Manufacturing 5 3.5%
Wholesale trade 5 3.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 3.5%
Information 4 2.8%

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 56081 vs 56056 →

ZIP 56081 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 56081 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 56081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 56081 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
56056 La Salle, MN 96 6.1 mi
56162 Ormsby, MN 285 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Watonwan County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56081 in?
ZIP code 56081 (Saint James) is located in Watonwan County, Minnesota. Watonwan County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/watonwan-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56081?
ZIP code 56081 in Saint James, MN has a population of 6,098 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56081?
The median household income in ZIP 56081 is $67,337, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56081?
The median home value in ZIP 56081 is $163,800, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56081?
The largest racial group in ZIP 56081 is White at 71.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 37.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56081?
ZIP code 56081 has 141 business establishments employing approximately 1,908 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56081?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56081 are: Other services (except public administration) (22), Retail trade (21), Construction (19). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56081?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56081 decreased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 102%. 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 56081?
In ZIP code 56081, 46.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.8% 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 56081?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56081 is 21.1 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 56081?
In ZIP code 56081, approximately 72.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56081?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56081 is 16.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Saint James, MN

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