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 Moderate-density area
- $67,337
- Median income Near-median income area
- $163,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Saint James pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 32nd 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 56081 (Saint James, MN) fell -5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.1 in 2023 to 201.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 56081 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Saint James, Watonwan County, Minnesota, home to 6,098 residents across 455.1 square miles, a density of 13 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 56081 reports a modest median household income of $67,337 (18% below the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,956. The poverty rate is 16.0%, with unemployment at 6.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $163,800 (36% below the average Minnesota ZIP), and median rent is $844; owner occupancy is 72.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Watonwan County, so 56081 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 56081
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saint James, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56081.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
22 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
21 establishments
- Construction
Construction
19 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
15 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
12 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 56081, Saint James, 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
6,098
Population
455.1
Area (sq mi)
13
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 56081?
41.3
Median Age
50.8%
Male
49.2%
Female
15.9%
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?
$67,337
Median Household Income
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$35,956
Per Capita Income
16.0%
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 56081 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Saint James, 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)
$67,337 25th percentile higher than 25% 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
2,790housing units
2,790
Total Housing Units
2,373
Occupied Units
417
Vacant Units
2.57
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$163,800
Median Home Value
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$844
Median Rent
1967
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
-5.0%
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.
- 56081
Saint James (56081)
6,098 residents
- 56162 285
Ormsby (56162)
285 residents
- 56056 96
La Salle (56056)
96 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 56081 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 56081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 56056
La Salle (56056)
$105,000 median income
- 56162
Ormsby (56162)
$88,625 median income
- 56081
Saint James (56081)
$67,337 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 56081, 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 (6,098 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Watonwan County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 56081's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 56081 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Saint James, 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.