Fergus Falls, MN · standard
ZIP Code 56537
Otter Tail County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,548
- 25/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $65,473
- Median income Near-median income area
- $246,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 31.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fergus Falls pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 39th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 25
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56537 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 56537 (Fergus Falls, MN) rose +12.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 213.0 in 2023 to 240.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 56537 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, home to 18,548 residents across 739.0 square miles, a density of 25 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 56537 reports a modest median household income of $65,473 (20% below the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,805. The poverty rate is 7.7%, with unemployment at 5.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $246,500 (4% below the average Minnesota ZIP) and median rent is $910; 71.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.7, and the average commute is 15 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Otter Tail County, so 56537 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 56537
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fergus Falls, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56537.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
108 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
78 establishments
- Construction
Construction
70 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
70 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
52 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 56537, Fergus Falls, 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
18,548
Population
739.0
Area (sq mi)
25
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 56537?
43.7
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
1.9%
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?
$65,473
Median Household Income
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$37,805
Per Capita Income
7.7%
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Unemployment Rate
15.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 56537 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Fergus Falls, 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)
$65,473 22nd percentile higher than 22% 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
9,591housing units
9,591
Total Housing Units
8,515
Occupied Units
1,076
Vacant Units
2.24
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$246,500
Median Home Value
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$910
Median Rent
1976
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
+12.7%
YoY Change (2024)
240
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+140%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 56537 have increased 12.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +140% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.2% | 164 |
| 2021 | +9.6% | 180 |
| 2022 | +10.7% | 199 |
| 2023 | +6.9% | 213 |
| 2024 | +12.7% | 240 |
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 635 business establishments in ZIP 56537, employing approximately 7,693 people with a combined annual payroll of $372,108,000.
635
Businesses
7,693
Employees
$372.1M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 108 | 17.0% |
| Retail trade | 78 | 12.3% |
| Construction | 70 | 11.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 70 | 11.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 52 | 8.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 49 | 7.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 49 | 7.7% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 28 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 26 | 4.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 1.9% |
| Information | 12 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 6 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.6% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.5% |
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 56537 vs 56533 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56533 | Elizabeth, MN | 291 | 9.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 56537, both outside MN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,548 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Otter Tail County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 56537 in?
ZIP code 56537 (Fergus Falls) is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Otter Tail County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/otter-tail-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56537?
ZIP code 56537 in Fergus Falls, MN has a population of 18,548 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56537?
The median household income in ZIP 56537 is $65,473, which is 14% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56537?
The median home value in ZIP 56537 is $246,500, which is 11% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56537?
The largest racial group in ZIP 56537 is White at 91.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56537?
ZIP code 56537 has 635 business establishments employing approximately 7,693 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56537?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56537 are: Health care and social assistance (108), Retail trade (78), Construction (70). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56537?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56537 increased by 12.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 140%. 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 56537?
In ZIP code 56537, 57.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.3% 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 56537?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56537 is 15.1 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 56537?
In ZIP code 56537, approximately 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56537?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56537 is 7.7% 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 56537's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 56537 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Fergus Falls, 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.