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
- $56,685
- Median income
- $147,000
- Median home value
- 32.1%
- Bachelor's or higher
The verdict
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 classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 215.6 square miles in Climax, Polk County, Minnesota. The area is home to 539 residents, producing a population density of 3 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 56523 against Minnesota and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56523 sits at $56,685 (31% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $39,482. The poverty rate stands at 12.3% and the unemployment rate at 3.5%. On housing, the median home value is $147,000 (43% below the state average) with median rent at $950 per month, and 80.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56523 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 32.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39, and the average commute is —. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Polk County, so you can benchmark 56523 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. 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 56523
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$39,482
Per Capita Income
12.3%
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 56523 ranks nationally
Household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$56,685 24th percentile higher than 24% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
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
$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 |
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 56523 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 56523? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 56523? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56523? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56523? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56523? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 56523? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Climax, MN
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.