Fosston, MN · standard
ZIP Code 56542
Polk County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,829
- 6/sq mi
- $59,706
- Median income
- $186,300
- Median home value
- 25.4%
- Bachelor's or higher
The verdict
Fosston pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 29th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 40th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56542 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 56542 covers 496.3 square miles in Fosston, Polk County, Minnesota (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,829 residents on file, a density of 6 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 56542 reports a modest median household income of $59,706 (27% below the Minnesota average), while per-capita income is $32,663. Poverty here runs at 17.5%, with unemployment measured at 6.6%. On housing, the median home value is $186,300 (27% below the state average) with median rent at $788 per month, and 68.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 16 minutes. Beyond these figures, 1 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Polk County, letting you compare 56542 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 56542
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fosston, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56542.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
18 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
14 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
13 establishments
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
10 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 56542, Fosston, 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
2,829
Population
496.3
Area (sq mi)
6
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 56542?
42.9
Median Age
46.7%
Male
53.3%
Female
1.1%
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?
$59,706
Median Household Income
-27% vs state
$32,663
Per Capita Income
17.5%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
15.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 56542 ranks nationally
Fosston, MN household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$59,706 29th percentile higher than 29% 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?
1,208
Total Housing Units
1,034
Occupied Units
174
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$186,300
Median Home Value
-27% vs state
$788
Median Rent
1970
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 104 business establishments in ZIP 56542, employing approximately 1,195 people with a combined annual payroll of $58,712,000.
104
Businesses
1,195
Employees
$58.7M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 18 | 17.3% |
| Retail trade | 14 | 13.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 13 | 12.5% |
| Construction | 10 | 9.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 9.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 | 8.7% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 6.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 7 | 6.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 4.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 2.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.9% |
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 56542 vs 56651 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56651 | Lengby, MN | 538 | 9.5 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 56542 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 56542? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 56542? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 56542? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56542? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56542? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56542? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 56542? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 56542? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 56542? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56542? ▼
Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.