PlainZIP

Wells, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56097

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

3,715
8/sq mi
$62,264
Median income
$133,800
Median home value
21.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wells pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

33th pct
household income, US ZIPs
21th pct
home value, US ZIPs
8
people per sq mi
80%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56097 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56097 covers 476.3 square miles in Wells, Faribault County, Minnesota (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,715 residents on file, a density of 8 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 56097 reports a modest median household income of $62,264 (24% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $37,498. Poverty here runs at 8.5%, with unemployment measured at 3.2%. Median home value sits at $133,800 (48% below the state average), median rent at $713 a month, and owner-occupancy at 80.0%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.6, and the average commute is 19 minutes. To put 56097 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Faribault County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 56097

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wells, MN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56097.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 56097, Wells, 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

3,715

Population

476.3

Area (sq mi)

8

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 56097?

46.6

Median Age

50.3%

Male

49.7%

Female

0.8%

Foreign-Born

White 91.5%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.1%

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?

$62,264

Median Household Income

-24% vs state

$37,498

Per Capita Income

8.5%

Poverty Rate

3.2%

Unemployment Rate

19.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56097 ranks nationally

Wells, MN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$62,264 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 52.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.2%

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

What does housing look like?

1,780

Total Housing Units

1,617

Occupied Units

163

Vacant Units

2.13

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 80.0%
Renter 20.0%

$133,800

Median Home Value

-48% vs state

$713

Median Rent

1953

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

+13.3%

YoY Change (2024)

202

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+102%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56097 have increased 13.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -9.2% 141
2021 +20.7% 170
2022 +8.4% 185
2023 -3.5% 178
2024 +13.3% 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 81 business establishments in ZIP 56097, employing approximately 967 people with a combined annual payroll of $50,657,000.

81

Businesses

967

Employees

$50.7M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 14 17.3%
Retail trade 13 16.1%
Construction 9 11.1%
Health care and social assistance 9 11.1%
Manufacturing 7 8.6%
Transportation and warehousing 7 8.6%
Accommodation and food services 5 6.2%
Wholesale trade 4 4.9%
Finance and insurance 4 4.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 4.9%

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 56097 vs 56068 →

ZIP 56097 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 56097 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 56097 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 56097 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
56068 Minnesota Lake, MN 1,087 10.7 mi
56014 Bricelyn, MN 797 11.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Faribault County

56013 standard
Blue Earth, MN
Pop: 4,531
56098 standard
Winnebago, MN
Pop: 2,124
56068 standard
Minnesota Lake, MN
Pop: 1,087
56027 standard
Elmore, MN
Pop: 969
56014 standard
Bricelyn, MN
Pop: 797
56051 standard
Kiester, MN
Pop: 703

Related Areas

Faribault County Wells, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56097 in? ▼
ZIP code 56097 (Wells) is located in Faribault County, Minnesota. Faribault County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/faribault-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56097? ▼
ZIP code 56097 in Wells, MN has a population of 3,715 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56097? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56097 is $62,264, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56097? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56097 is $133,800, which is 52% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56097? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56097 is White at 91.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56097? ▼
ZIP code 56097 has 81 business establishments employing approximately 967 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56097? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56097 are: Other services (except public administration) (14), Retail trade (13), Construction (9). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56097? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56097 increased by 13.3% 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 56097? ▼
In ZIP code 56097, 52.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.2% 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 56097? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56097 is 19.2 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 56097? ▼
In ZIP code 56097, approximately 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56097? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56097 is 8.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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