Residential delivery area · Minnesota
ZIP Code 56501: Detroit Lakes, MN
ZIP code 56501 uses the postal name Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and lies mostly in Becker County (94% of its land) with the rest in Otter Tail County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 18,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $70,037 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 6% of its land lies in Detroit Lakes; 94% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Detroit Lakes · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Becker County (94%); Otter Tail County (6%)
- Census places
- Detroit Lakes
- Micro area
- Detroit Lakes, MN
- House district
- MN-7 119th Congress
- State
- Minnesota
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 186.9 sq mi · 96 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 56502 also use the name Detroit Lakes
Where is ZIP code 56501?
56501 centers on 46.840°, -95.827° and covers 186.9 square miles of land plus 32.1 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 56511, 56578, 56521, 56544, 56587, 56572, 56570, 56575.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 56501, 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 56501 compare with the rest of Becker County?
| Measure | 56501 | In Becker County | In MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 18,004 | 1st of 16 | 110th of 881 |
| Median household income | $70k | 8th of 11 | 411th of 545 |
| Median home value | $315k | 4th of 11 | 208th of 558 |
Its median household income is higher than in 47% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 53% 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 56501?
The 2020 Census counted 17,784 people in 56501; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 18,004. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 9.2% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 18,004
- 2020 Census count
- 17,784+9.2% since 2010 (16,290)
- Households
- 7,701
- Median age
- 44.5
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 56501?
Of the 18,004 people the ACS estimates in 56501, 20.6% are under 18 and 24.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (88.9%).
- Under 1820.6%
- 18 to 6454.9%
- 65 and older24.5%
- White, not Hispanic88.9%
- Other or two or more9.1%
- Hispanic or Latino0.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.5%
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 56501 earn?
Median household income is $70,037 (ACS 2020-2024), the 8th highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Becker County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($74,641 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $70,037
- Income per person
- $45,609
- Below the poverty line
- 12.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 32.5%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $78,5438,450 returns; wages 61% 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 56501?
FHFA's house price index for 56501, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 76% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 48% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +6.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $314,700
- Median gross rent
- $963
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 70.5%
- Housing units
- 10,291
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 56501?
600 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 30 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction85
- Retail trade84
- Health care and social assistance77
- Other services (except public administration)70
- Accommodation and food services50
- Finance and insurance46
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 56501?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56511 | Audubon | 2,006 | $90k | 8.9 mi |
| 56578 | Rochert | 654 | $90k | 11.2 mi |
| 56521 | Callaway | 692 | $69k | 11.5 mi |
| 56544 | Frazee | 5,726 | $73k | 11.9 mi |
| 56587 | Vergas | 1,339 | $88k | 14.1 mi |
| 56572 | Pelican Rapids | 5,827 | $80k | 20.3 mi |
| 56570 | Osage | 1,173 | $61k | 22.4 mi |
| 56575 | Ponsford | 665 | $57k | 23.2 mi |
| 56554 | Lake Park | 2,752 | $95k | 14.0 mi (near) |
| 56569 | Ogema | 1,324 | $57k | 16.5 mi (near) |
| 56591 | White Earth | 429 | $17k | 18.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.
Which other ZIP codes use the name Detroit Lakes?
1 more ZIP code carries the postal name Detroit Lakes, MN without a residential delivery area: PO boxes at the post office, or a single organization with its own ZIP code. The Census Bureau publishes no figures for it.
| ZIP | County |
|---|---|
| 56502 | Becker County |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0), downloaded 2026-10-09; a ZIP code with no Census ZCTA has no residential delivery area.