PlainZIP

Aitkin, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56431

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

8,931
8/sq mi
$67,828
Median income
$295,400
Median home value
23.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

43th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 34%
home value, US ZIPs
8
people per sq mi
86%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56431 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56431 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1175.1 square miles in Aitkin, Aitkin County, Minnesota. The area is home to 8,931 residents, producing a population density of 8 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 56431 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56431 sits at $67,828 (17% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $39,048. The poverty rate stands at 12.4% and the unemployment rate at 4.3%. On housing, the median home value is $295,400 (16% above the state average) with median rent at $829 per month, and 85.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56431 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 56.6, and the average commute is 21 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 56431 sits relative to Minnesota and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 56431

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56431.

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 56431, Aitkin, 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

8,931

Population

1175.1

Area (sq mi)

8

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 56431?

56.6

Median Age

49.0%

Male

51.0%

Female

0.9%

Foreign-Born

White 94.9%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino 1.2%

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?

$67,828

Median Household Income

-17% vs state

$39,048

Per Capita Income

12.4%

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Unemployment Rate

21.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56431 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$67,828 43rd percentile higher than 43% 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 58.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.2%

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

What does housing look like?

7,068

Total Housing Units

4,099

Occupied Units

2,969

Vacant Units

2.22

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 85.5%
Renter 14.5%

$295,400

Median Home Value

+16% vs state

$829

Median Rent

1985

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

+7.2%

YoY Change (2024)

247

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+147%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56431 have increased 7.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +147% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.8% 161
2021 +10.0% 177
2022 +21.5% 215
2023 +7.3% 230
2024 +7.2% 247

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 258 business establishments in ZIP 56431, employing approximately 2,392 people with a combined annual payroll of $126,915,000.

258

Businesses

2,392

Employees

$126.9M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 50 19.4%
Retail trade 43 16.7%
Health care and social assistance 31 12.0%
Other services (except public administration) 28 10.8%
Accommodation and food services 21 8.1%
Manufacturing 15 5.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 14 5.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 5.0%
Finance and insurance 11 4.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 9 3.5%
Wholesale trade 8 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.6%
Transportation and warehousing 3 1.2%
Information 3 1.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Aitkin County

55760 standard
Mcgregor, MN
Pop: 3,108
55748 standard
Hill City, MN
Pop: 1,476
56469 standard
Palisade, MN
Pop: 998
56350 standard
Mc Grath, MN
Pop: 570
55787 standard
Tamarack, MN
Pop: 525
55752 standard
Jacobson, MN
Pop: 395

Related Areas

Aitkin County Aitkin, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56431 in? ▼
ZIP code 56431 (Aitkin) is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Aitkin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/aitkin-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56431? ▼
ZIP code 56431 in Aitkin, MN has a population of 8,931 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56431? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56431 is $67,828, which is 11% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56431? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56431 is $295,400, which is 6% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56431? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56431 is White at 94.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56431? ▼
ZIP code 56431 has 258 business establishments employing approximately 2,392 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56431? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56431 are: Construction (50), Retail trade (43), Health care and social assistance (31). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56431? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56431 increased by 7.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 147%. 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 56431? ▼
In ZIP code 56431, 58.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.2% 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 56431? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56431 is 21.0 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 56431? ▼
In ZIP code 56431, approximately 85.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56431? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56431 is 12.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

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 Aitkin, 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.