ZIP Code 56540

ZIP code 56540 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 490.5 square miles in Fertile, Polk County, Minnesota. The area is home to 1,962 residents, producing a population density of 4 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 56540 against Minnesota and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 56540 sits at $83,646 (2% above the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $37,531. The poverty rate stands at 10.0% and the unemployment rate at 5.4%. On housing, the median home value is $194,800 (24% below the state average) with median rent at $815 per month, and 83.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 56540 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 27.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 56540 sits relative to Minnesota and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 →