Hawley, MN · standard
ZIP Code 56549
Clay County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,508
- 8/sq mi Low-density area
- $105,968
- Median income Above-median income area
- $341,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 38.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hawley pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 15%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 28%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 8
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 56549 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 56549 (Hawley, MN) rose +12.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 265.6 in 2023 to 298.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 56549 covers 543.1 square miles in Hawley, Clay County, Minnesota (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,508 residents on file, a density of 8 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 56549 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $105,968 (29% above the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,131. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.2% and unemployment is 2.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $341,500 (34% above the average Minnesota ZIP), while 84.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $749.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Clay County, so 56549 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 56549
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hawley, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 56549.
- Construction
Construction
28 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
19 establishments
- Retail trade 11
Retail trade
11 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 11
Professional, scientific, and technical services
11 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 10
Accommodation and food services
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 56549, Hawley, 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
4,508
Population
543.1
Area (sq mi)
8
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 56549?
41.8
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
1.5%
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?
$105,968
Median Household Income
+29% vs state ZIP avg
$46,131
Per Capita Income
4.2%
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Unemployment Rate
25.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 56549 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Hawley, 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)
$105,968 Top 13% higher than 87% 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
1,957housing units
1,957
Total Housing Units
1,842
Occupied Units
115
Vacant Units
2.67
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$341,500
Median Home Value
+34% vs state ZIP avg
$749
Median Rent
1981
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
+12.3%
YoY Change (2024)
298
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+198%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 56549 have increased 12.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +198% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 217 |
| 2021 | +6.3% | 231 |
| 2022 | +14.0% | 263 |
| 2023 | +0.9% | 266 |
| 2024 | +12.3% | 298 |
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 138 business establishments in ZIP 56549, employing approximately 1,248 people with a combined annual payroll of $68,288,000.
138
Businesses
1,248
Employees
$68.3M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 28 | 20.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 19 | 13.8% |
| Retail trade | 11 | 8.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 8.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 10 | 7.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 5.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 5.8% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 5.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 5.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 4.3% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 3 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.2% |
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 56549 vs 56552 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56552 | Hitterdal, MN | 429 | 10.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 56549, 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 (4,508 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Clay County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 56549 in?
ZIP code 56549 (Hawley) is located in Clay County, Minnesota. Clay County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/clay-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 56549?
ZIP code 56549 in Hawley, MN has a population of 4,508 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 56549?
The median household income in ZIP 56549 is $105,968, which is 39% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 56549?
The median home value in ZIP 56549 is $341,500, which is 23% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 56549?
The largest racial group in ZIP 56549 is White at 94.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 56549?
ZIP code 56549 has 138 business establishments employing approximately 1,248 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 56549?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 56549 are: Construction (28), Other services (except public administration) (19), Retail trade (11). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 56549?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 56549 increased by 12.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 198%. 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 56549?
In ZIP code 56549, 60.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.2% 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 56549?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 56549 is 25.9 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 56549?
In ZIP code 56549, approximately 84.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 56549?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 56549 is 4.2% 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 56549's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 56549 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hawley, 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.