Climax, MN · standard
ZIP Code 56523
Polk County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 539
- 3/sq mi Low-density area
- $56,685
- Median income Below-median income area
- $147,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 32.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Climax pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 24th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 24th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56523 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 56523 is a sparsely populated ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Climax, Polk County, Minnesota, home to just 539 residents across 215.6 square miles, a density of 3 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 56523 reports a modest median household income of $56,685 (31% below the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $39,482. The poverty rate is 12.3%, with unemployment at 3.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $147,000 (43% below the average Minnesota ZIP), and median rent is $950; owner occupancy is 80.8%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 32.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 56523 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 56523
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Climax, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56523.
- Construction
Construction
4 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
3 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
3 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 56523, Climax, 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
539
Population
215.6
Area (sq mi)
3
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 56523?
39.0
Median Age
55.5%
Male
44.5%
Female
2.4%
Foreign-Born
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?
$56,685
Median Household Income
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$39,482
Per Capita Income
12.3%
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 56523 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Climax, MN household income vs. every Minnesota ZIP code
Median household income among 864 reporting Minnesota ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$56,685 8th percentile higher than 8% of 864 Minnesota ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Minnesota 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
189housing units
189
Total Housing Units
167
Occupied Units
22
Vacant Units
2.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$147,000
Median Home Value
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$950
Median Rent
1957
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 14 business establishments in ZIP 56523, employing approximately 54 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,069,000.
14
Businesses
54
Employees
$2.1M
Annual Payroll
3
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 4 | 28.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 21.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 21.4% |
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 56523 vs 56568 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56568 | Nielsville, MN | 142 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 56523, both outside MN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 56523 in?
ZIP code 56523 (Climax) is located in Polk County, Minnesota. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56523?
ZIP code 56523 in Climax, MN has a population of 539 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56523?
The median household income in ZIP 56523 is $56,685, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56523?
The median home value in ZIP 56523 is $147,000, which is 47% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56523?
The largest racial group in ZIP 56523 is White at 90.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56523?
ZIP code 56523 has 14 business establishments employing approximately 54 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56523?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56523 are: Construction (4), Wholesale trade (3), Other services (except public administration) (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 56523?
In ZIP code 56523, 60.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 56523?
In ZIP code 56523, approximately 80.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 19.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56523?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56523 is 12.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 56523's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 56523 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Climax, MN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.