PlainZIP

Benson, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56215

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

4,693
9/sq mi
$56,604
Median income
$167,500
Median home value
29.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Benson pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

23th pct
household income, US ZIPs
33th pct
home value, US ZIPs
9
people per sq mi
68%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56215 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56215 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 545.7 square miles in Benson, Swift County, Minnesota. The area is home to 4,693 residents, producing a population density of 9 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 56215 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56215 sits at $56,604 (31% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $36,574. The poverty rate stands at 9.0% and the unemployment rate at 3.6%. On housing, the median home value is $167,500 (34% below the state average) with median rent at $982 per month, and 68.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56215 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 29.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.2, and the average commute is 17 minutes. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 additional ZIPs sharing Swift County, so you can benchmark 56215 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 56215

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56215.

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 56215, Benson, 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

4,693

Population

545.7

Area (sq mi)

9

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 56215?

42.2

Median Age

50.6%

Male

49.4%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 93.2%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%

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?

$56,604

Median Household Income

-31% vs state

$36,574

Per Capita Income

9.0%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

16.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56215 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$56,604 23rd percentile higher than 23% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 57.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.3%

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

What does housing look like?

2,280

Total Housing Units

2,005

Occupied Units

275

Vacant Units

2.28

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 68.4%
Renter 31.6%

$167,500

Median Home Value

-34% vs state

$982

Median Rent

1960

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

+18.8%

YoY Change (2024)

213

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+113%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56215 have increased 18.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +113% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.3% 149
2021 +10.2% 164
2022 +19.9% 197
2023 -8.8% 179
2024 +18.8% 213

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 158 business establishments in ZIP 56215, employing approximately 2,310 people with a combined annual payroll of $118,713,000.

158

Businesses

2,310

Employees

$118.7M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 21 13.3%
Other services (except public administration) 20 12.7%
Construction 19 12.0%
Health care and social assistance 18 11.4%
Accommodation and food services 16 10.1%
Manufacturing 14 8.9%
Finance and insurance 12 7.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 9 5.7%
Wholesale trade 8 5.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 3.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 2.5%
Information 3 1.9%

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 56215 vs 56226 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
56226 Clontarf, MN 254 8.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Swift County

56208 standard
Appleton, MN
Pop: 2,066
56271 standard
Murdock, MN
Pop: 1,196
56231 standard
Danvers, MN
Pop: 390
56249 standard
Holloway, MN
Pop: 296
56226 standard
Clontarf, MN
Pop: 254

Related Areas

Swift County Benson, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56215 in? ▼
ZIP code 56215 (Benson) is located in Swift County, Minnesota. Swift County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/swift-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56215? ▼
ZIP code 56215 in Benson, MN has a population of 4,693 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56215? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56215 is $56,604, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56215? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56215 is $167,500, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56215? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56215 is White at 93.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56215? ▼
ZIP code 56215 has 158 business establishments employing approximately 2,310 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56215? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56215 are: Retail trade (21), Other services (except public administration) (20), Construction (19). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56215? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56215 increased by 18.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 113%. 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 56215? ▼
In ZIP code 56215, 57.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.3% 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 56215? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56215 is 16.8 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 56215? ▼
In ZIP code 56215, approximately 68.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56215? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56215 is 9.0% 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 Benson, 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.