Residential delivery area · Minnesota
ZIP Code 56401: Brainerd, MN
ZIP code 56401 uses the postal name Brainerd, Minnesota and lies mostly in Crow Wing County (95% of its land) with the rest in Cass County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 32,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $73,128 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Brainerd (4%) and East Gull Lake (2%), and under 1% in smaller places; 93% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Brainerd · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Crow Wing County (95%); Cass County (5%)
- Census places
- Brainerd (4%); East Gull Lake (2%)
- Micro area
- Brainerd, MN
- House district
- MN-8 119th Congress
- State
- Minnesota
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 322.6 sq mi · 99 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 56401?
56401 centers on 46.323°, -94.125° and covers 322.6 square miles of land plus 41.5 of water. It borders 12 ZIP codes: 56425, 56455, 56449, 56444, 56450, 56468, 56465, 56473, 56364, 56443 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 56401, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 56401 compare with the rest of Crow Wing County?
| Measure | 56401 | In Crow Wing County | In MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 31,841 | 1st of 17 | 44th of 881 |
| Median household income | $73k | 9th of 14 | 361st of 545 |
| Median home value | $262k | 11th of 14 | 306th of 558 |
Its median household income is higher than in 52% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 54% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 56401?
The 2020 Census counted 30,632 people in 56401; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 31,841. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 4.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 31,841
- 2020 Census count
- 30,632+4.1% since 2010 (29,439)
- Households
- 13,074
- Median age
- 40.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 56401?
Of the 31,841 people the ACS estimates in 56401, 22.4% are under 18 and 20.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (92.8%).
- Under 1822.4%
- 18 to 6457.4%
- 65 and older20.3%
- White, not Hispanic92.8%
- Other or two or more4.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Black, not Hispanic0.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 56401 earn?
Median household income is $73,128 (ACS 2020-2024), the 9th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Crow Wing County. It rose from $64,107 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $73,128
- Income per person
- $37,969
- Below the poverty line
- 10.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 25.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $68,86015,140 returns; wages 67% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 56401?
FHFA's house price index for 56401, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 52% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $261,600
- Median gross rent
- $883
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 73.6%
- Housing units
- 16,167
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 56401?
891 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 15 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade129
- Health care and social assistance115
- Construction114
- Other services (except public administration)100
- Accommodation and food services77
- Professional, scientific, and technical services50
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 56401?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56425 | Baxter | 8,932 | $71k | 7.3 mi |
| 56455 | Ironton | 1,688 | $73k | 10.1 mi |
| 56449 | Fort Ripley | 1,710 | $75k | 11.9 mi |
| 56444 | Deerwood | 3,331 | $78k | 13.7 mi |
| 56450 | Garrison | 983 | $61k | 14.7 mi |
| 56468 | Nisswa | 4,520 | $100k | 14.7 mi |
| 56465 | Merrifield | 2,476 | $74k | 14.8 mi |
| 56473 | Pillager | 3,518 | $86k | 16.6 mi |
| 56364 | Pierz | 5,708 | $77k | 21.2 mi |
| 56443 | Cushing | 1,537 | $71k | 24.0 mi |
| 56345 | Little Falls | 15,008 | $61k | 24.9 mi |
| 56431 | Aitkin | 9,312 | $68k | 26.1 mi |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.