PlainZIP

Sleepy Eye, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56085

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

5,451
10/sq mi
$73,000
Median income
$167,100
Median home value
18.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Sleepy Eye pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 49%
household income, US ZIPs
33th pct
home value, US ZIPs
10
people per sq mi
83%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56085 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56085 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 545.1 square miles in Sleepy Eye, Brown County, Minnesota. The area is home to 5,451 residents, producing a population density of 10 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 56085 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56085 sits at $73,000 (11% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $40,676. The poverty rate stands at 6.0% and the unemployment rate at 2.2%. On housing, the median home value is $167,100 (35% below the state average) with median rent at $784 per month, and 82.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56085 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.4, and the average commute is 15 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 56085 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 56085

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56085.

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 56085, Sleepy Eye, 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

5,451

Population

545.1

Area (sq mi)

10

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 56085?

42.4

Median Age

51.5%

Male

48.5%

Female

4.7%

Foreign-Born

White 88.7%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.4%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%

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?

$73,000

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$40,676

Per Capita Income

6.0%

Poverty Rate

2.2%

Unemployment Rate

15.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56085 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$73,000 Top 49% higher than 51% 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 56.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.6%

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

What does housing look like?

2,385

Total Housing Units

2,120

Occupied Units

265

Vacant Units

2.33

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 82.7%
Renter 17.3%

$167,100

Median Home Value

-35% vs state

$784

Median Rent

1959

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

+1.3%

YoY Change (2024)

176

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+76%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56085 have increased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +76% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 139
2021 +4.3% 145
2022 +16.7% 170
2023 +2.6% 174
2024 +1.3% 176

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 166 business establishments in ZIP 56085, employing approximately 1,947 people with a combined annual payroll of $119,329,000.

166

Businesses

1,947

Employees

$119.3M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 25 15.1%
Retail trade 19 11.4%
Health care and social assistance 19 11.4%
Other services (except public administration) 19 11.4%
Transportation and warehousing 13 7.8%
Finance and insurance 13 7.8%
Wholesale trade 11 6.6%
Accommodation and food services 9 5.4%
Manufacturing 8 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 4.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 3.6%
Information 5 3.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 3.0%
Educational services 3 1.8%

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

More ZIP Codes in Brown County

56073 standard
New Ulm, MN
Pop: 16,759
56087 standard
Springfield, MN
Pop: 3,179
56041 standard
Hanska, MN
Pop: 1,066
56019 standard
Comfrey, MN
Pop: 914
56083 standard
Sanborn, MN
Pop: 874

Related Areas

Brown County Sleepy Eye, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56085 in? ▼
ZIP code 56085 (Sleepy Eye) is located in Brown County, Minnesota. Brown County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/brown-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56085? ▼
ZIP code 56085 in Sleepy Eye, MN has a population of 5,451 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56085? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56085 is $73,000, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56085? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56085 is $167,100, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56085? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56085 is White at 88.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56085? ▼
ZIP code 56085 has 166 business establishments employing approximately 1,947 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56085? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56085 are: Construction (25), Retail trade (19), Health care and social assistance (19). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56085? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56085 increased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 76%. 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 56085? ▼
In ZIP code 56085, 56.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.6% 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 56085? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56085 is 15.4 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 56085? ▼
In ZIP code 56085, approximately 82.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 17.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56085? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56085 is 6.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

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 Sleepy Eye, 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.