PlainZIP

Saint Cloud, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56303

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

25,984
899/sq mi
$65,198
Median income
$205,200
Median home value
30.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Saint Cloud pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

39th pct
household income, US ZIPs
45th pct
home value, US ZIPs
899
people per sq mi
63%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56303 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56303 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota, with 25,984 residents across 28.9 square miles, a density of 899 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 56303 reports a modest median household income of $65,198 (21% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $35,014. 16.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.0%. Housing costs here run $205,200 for a typical home value (20% below the state average), with rent averaging $927 a month; 63.3% of homes are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.7, and the average commute is 20 minutes. Beyond these figures, 7 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Stearns County, letting you compare 56303 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 56303

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saint Cloud, MN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56303.

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 56303, Saint Cloud, 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

25,984

Population

28.9

Area (sq mi)

899

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 56303?

36.7

Median Age

49.5%

Male

50.5%

Female

6.2%

Foreign-Born

White 78.9%
African American 9.1%
Asian 2.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
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?

$65,198

Median Household Income

-21% vs state

$35,014

Per Capita Income

16.4%

Poverty Rate

3.0%

Unemployment Rate

19.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56303 ranks nationally

Saint Cloud, MN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$65,198 39th percentile higher than 39% 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 58.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 30.9%

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

What does housing look like?

12,035

Total Housing Units

11,184

Occupied Units

851

Vacant Units

2.21

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 63.3%
Renter 36.7%

$205,200

Median Home Value

-20% vs state

$927

Median Rent

1979

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

+3.2%

YoY Change (2024)

207

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+107%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56303 have increased 3.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +107% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 145
2021 +11.2% 162
2022 +14.3% 185
2023 +8.7% 201
2024 +3.2% 207

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 524 business establishments in ZIP 56303, employing approximately 20,327 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,251,310,000.

524

Businesses

20,327

Employees

$1.3B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 152 29.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 50 9.5%
Other services (except public administration) 49 9.3%
Retail trade 44 8.4%
Construction 33 6.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 33 6.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 31 5.9%
Finance and insurance 28 5.3%
Accommodation and food services 27 5.2%
Manufacturing 20 3.8%
Wholesale trade 16 3.0%
Transportation and warehousing 16 3.0%
Information 7 1.3%
Educational services 7 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 1.3%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.6%

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 56303 vs 56387 →

ZIP 56303 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 56303 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 56303 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 56303 ranks #7 of 8 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
56387 Waite Park, MN 6,734 3.2 mi
56377 Sartell, MN 17,648 4.7 mi
56301 Saint Cloud, MN 32,434 6.1 mi
56374 Saint Joseph, MN 9,868 6.4 mi
56375 Saint Stephen, MN 852 9.3 mi
56379 Sauk Rapids, MN 16,163 7.6 mi
56369 Rockville, MN 528 9.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Stearns County

56301 standard
Saint Cloud, MN
Pop: 32,434
56377 standard
Sartell, MN
Pop: 17,648
56374 standard
Saint Joseph, MN
Pop: 9,868
56320 standard
Cold Spring, MN
Pop: 8,080
56378 standard
Sauk Centre, MN
Pop: 7,778
56387 standard
Waite Park, MN
Pop: 6,734

Related Areas

Stearns County Saint Cloud, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56303 in? ▼
ZIP code 56303 (Saint Cloud) is located in Stearns County, Minnesota. Stearns County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/stearns-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56303? ▼
ZIP code 56303 in Saint Cloud, MN has a population of 25,984 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56303? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56303 is $65,198, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56303? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56303 is $205,200, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56303? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56303 is White at 78.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56303? ▼
ZIP code 56303 has 524 business establishments employing approximately 20,327 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56303? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56303 are: Health care and social assistance (152), Professional, scientific, and technical services (50), Other services (except public administration) (49). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56303? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56303 increased by 3.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 107%. 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 56303? ▼
In ZIP code 56303, 58.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.9% 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 56303? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56303 is 19.6 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 56303? ▼
In ZIP code 56303, approximately 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56303? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56303 is 16.4% 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.