PlainZIP

Paynesville, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56362

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

5,844
15/sq mi
$86,212
Median income
$258,900
Median home value
26.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 31%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 41%
home value, US ZIPs
15
people per sq mi
83%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56362 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56362 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 382.0 square miles in Paynesville, Stearns County, Minnesota. The area is home to 5,844 residents, producing a population density of 15 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 56362 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56362 sits at $86,212 (5% above the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $42,972. The poverty rate stands at 4.8% and the unemployment rate at 1.7%. On housing, the median home value is $258,900 (1% above the state average) with median rent at $829 per month, and 83.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56362 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 26.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.7, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Stearns County, so you can benchmark 56362 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 56362

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56362.

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 56362, Paynesville, 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

5,844

Population

382.0

Area (sq mi)

15

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 56362?

43.7

Median Age

54.3%

Male

45.7%

Female

1.0%

Foreign-Born

White 95.6%
African American 0.1%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%

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?

$86,212

Median Household Income

+5% vs state

$42,972

Per Capita Income

4.8%

Poverty Rate

1.7%

Unemployment Rate

23.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56362 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$86,212 Top 31% higher than 69% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 61.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.6%

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

What does housing look like?

2,979

Total Housing Units

2,328

Occupied Units

651

Vacant Units

2.46

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 83.3%
Renter 16.7%

$258,900

Median Home Value

+1% vs state

$829

Median Rent

1976

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

+8.8%

YoY Change (2024)

241

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+141%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56362 have increased 8.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +141% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.5% 164
2021 +8.8% 178
2022 +14.0% 203
2023 +9.2% 222
2024 +8.8% 241

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 210 business establishments in ZIP 56362, employing approximately 2,097 people with a combined annual payroll of $114,469,000.

210

Businesses

2,097

Employees

$114.5M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 44 20.9%
Retail trade 28 13.3%
Other services (except public administration) 20 9.5%
Health care and social assistance 17 8.1%
Transportation and warehousing 16 7.6%
Manufacturing 15 7.1%
Finance and insurance 14 6.7%
Accommodation and food services 14 6.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 6.2%
Wholesale trade 10 4.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 2.4%

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 56362 vs 56371 →

ZIP 56362 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 56362 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 56362 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 56362 ranks the highest of 4 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
56371 Roscoe, MN 99 4.3 mi
56376 Saint Martin, MN 358 7.3 mi
55329 Eden Valley, MN 2,118 9.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Stearns County

56301 standard
Saint Cloud, MN
Pop: 32,434
56303 standard
Saint Cloud, MN
Pop: 25,984
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

Related Areas

Stearns County Paynesville, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56362 in? ▼
ZIP code 56362 (Paynesville) 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 56362? ▼
ZIP code 56362 in Paynesville, MN has a population of 5,844 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56362? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56362 is $86,212, which is 13% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56362? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56362 is $258,900, which is 7% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56362? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56362 is White at 95.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56362? ▼
ZIP code 56362 has 210 business establishments employing approximately 2,097 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56362? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56362 are: Construction (44), Retail trade (28), Other services (except public administration) (20). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56362? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56362 increased by 8.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 141%. 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 56362? ▼
In ZIP code 56362, 61.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.6% 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 56362? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56362 is 23.3 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 56362? ▼
In ZIP code 56362, approximately 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56362? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56362 is 4.8% 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 Paynesville, 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.