Waite Park, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56387

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

6,734
307/sq mi
$59,009
Median income
$232,200
Median home value
21.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Waite Park pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

27th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 47%
home value, US ZIPs
307
people per sq mi
49%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56387 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56387 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 22.0 square miles in Waite Park, Stearns County, Minnesota. The area is home to 6,734 residents, producing a population density of 307 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 56387 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56387 sits at $59,009 (28% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $29,733. The poverty rate stands at 22.4% and the unemployment rate at 7.4%. On housing, the median home value is $232,200 (9% below the state average) with median rent at $1,129 per month, and 48.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56387 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Stearns County, so you can benchmark 56387 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 56387

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56387.

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 56387, Waite Park, 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

6,734

Population

22.0

Area (sq mi)

307

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 56387?

37.5

Median Age

44.5%

Male

55.5%

Female

25.1%

Foreign-Born

White 54.0%
African American 38.7%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.9%

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?

$59,009

Median Household Income

-28% vs state

$29,733

Per Capita Income

22.4%

Poverty Rate

7.4%

Unemployment Rate

18.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56387 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$59,009 27th percentile higher than 27% 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 51.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.8%

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

What does housing look like?

3,436

Total Housing Units

3,307

Occupied Units

129

Vacant Units

2.33

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 48.7%
Renter 51.3%

$232,200

Median Home Value

-9% vs state

$1,129

Median Rent

1993

Median Year Built

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

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.2%

YoY Change (2024)

213

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+113%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56387 have increased 7.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +113% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 145
2021 +12.3% 163
2022 +14.6% 187
2023 +6.4% 199
2024 +7.2% 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 414 business establishments in ZIP 56387, employing approximately 8,483 people with a combined annual payroll of $380,913,000.

414

Businesses

8,483

Employees

$380.9M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 84 20.3%
Accommodation and food services 48 11.6%
Other services (except public administration) 46 11.1%
Health care and social assistance 40 9.7%
Construction 38 9.2%
Wholesale trade 31 7.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 23 5.6%
Finance and insurance 22 5.3%
Manufacturing 20 4.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 3.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 15 3.6%
Transportation and warehousing 10 2.4%
Educational services 7 1.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 1.2%
Information 4 1.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.0%

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 56387 vs 56301 →

ZIP 56387 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 56387 ranks #5 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 56387 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 56387 ranks #6 of 6 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
56301 Saint Cloud, MN 32,434 3.1 mi
56303 Saint Cloud, MN 25,984 3.2 mi
56377 Sartell, MN 17,648 7.5 mi
56374 Saint Joseph, MN 9,868 6.9 mi
56369 Rockville, MN 528 6.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Stearns County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56387 in?
ZIP code 56387 (Waite Park) 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 56387?
ZIP code 56387 in Waite Park, MN has a population of 6,734 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56387?
The median household income in ZIP 56387 is $59,009, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56387?
The median home value in ZIP 56387 is $232,200, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56387?
The largest racial group in ZIP 56387 is White at 54.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56387?
ZIP code 56387 has 414 business establishments employing approximately 8,483 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56387?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56387 are: Retail trade (84), Accommodation and food services (48), Other services (except public administration) (46). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56387?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56387 increased by 7.2% 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 56387?
In ZIP code 56387, 51.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.8% 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 56387?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56387 is 18.4 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 56387?
In ZIP code 56387, approximately 48.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56387?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56387 is 22.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Waite Park, MN

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.