PlainZIP

Detroit Lakes, MN · standard

ZIP Code 56501

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

16,290
34/sq mi
$70,037
Median income
$314,700
Median home value
32.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

47th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 31%
home value, US ZIPs
34
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56501 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 56501 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Detroit Lakes, Becker County, Minnesota, home to 16,290 residents across 484.8 square miles, a density of 34 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 56501 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,037 (15% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $45,609. Local economic indicators show a 12.7% poverty rate alongside 4.7% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $314,700 (23% above the state average) with median rent at $963 per month, and 70.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 32.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.5, and the average commute is 17 minutes. Beyond these figures, 1 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Becker County, letting you compare 56501 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 56501

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Detroit Lakes, MN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56501.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 56501, Detroit Lakes, MN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

16,290

Population

484.8

Area (sq mi)

34

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 56501?

44.5

Median Age

49.8%

Male

50.2%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 89.2%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.9%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino 0.9%

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?

$70,037

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$45,609

Per Capita Income

12.7%

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

17.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 56501 ranks nationally

Detroit Lakes, MN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$70,037 47th percentile higher than 47% 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 56.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.5%

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

What does housing look like?

10,291

Total Housing Units

7,701

Occupied Units

2,590

Vacant Units

2.28

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.5%
Renter 29.5%

$314,700

Median Home Value

+23% vs state

$963

Median Rent

1981

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

+11.7%

YoY Change (2024)

292

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+192%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 56501 have increased 11.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +192% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.2% 207
2021 +9.1% 226
2022 +14.9% 259
2023 +0.9% 261
2024 +11.7% 292

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 600 business establishments in ZIP 56501, employing approximately 8,828 people with a combined annual payroll of $481,668,000.

600

Businesses

8,828

Employees

$481.7M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 85 14.2%
Retail trade 84 14.0%
Health care and social assistance 77 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 70 11.7%
Accommodation and food services 50 8.3%
Finance and insurance 46 7.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 36 6.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 26 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 25 4.2%
Manufacturing 23 3.8%
Wholesale trade 23 3.8%
Transportation and warehousing 23 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 12 2.0%
Information 10 1.7%
Educational services 4 0.7%

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 56501 vs 56577 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
56577 Richwood, MN 21 9.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Becker County

56544 standard
Frazee, MN
Pop: 5,294
56554 standard
Lake Park, MN
Pop: 2,709
56511 standard
Audubon, MN
Pop: 1,878
56569 standard
Ogema, MN
Pop: 1,357
56570 standard
Osage, MN
Pop: 1,238
56575 standard
Ponsford, MN
Pop: 763

Related Areas

Becker County Detroit Lakes, MN Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 56501 in? ▼
ZIP code 56501 (Detroit Lakes) is located in Becker County, Minnesota. Becker County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/becker-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56501? ▼
ZIP code 56501 in Detroit Lakes, MN has a population of 16,290 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56501? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 56501 is $70,037, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56501? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 56501 is $314,700, which is 13% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56501? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 56501 is White at 89.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56501? ▼
ZIP code 56501 has 600 business establishments employing approximately 8,828 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56501? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56501 are: Construction (85), Retail trade (84), Health care and social assistance (77). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56501? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56501 increased by 11.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 192%. 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 56501? ▼
In ZIP code 56501, 56.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.5% 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 56501? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56501 is 17.3 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 56501? ▼
In ZIP code 56501, approximately 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56501? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56501 is 12.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.