Zip code 55731: Ely, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 55731?

55731 is assigned to Ely, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 55731 in?

55731 is mostly in Lake County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 55731?

About 5,361 people live in 55731, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 55731?

The median household income in 55731 is $62,008.

Q: What zip codes are near 55731?

The closest zip codes to 55731 are 55796, 55782, 55706, 55607, 55790.

Residential delivery areaLake CountyCentral Time

Population

5,361

Median household income

$62K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$206K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$644/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

60.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

1,607 sq mi

3 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 55731

55731 is a rural zip code in Ely, Minnesota (Lake County), covering 1,607 sq mi of land. About 5,361 people live here, or 3 per square mile. The median resident is 60.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $62,008 a year, 23% below the national median of $80,734. 10.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $206,000, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 75% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $644 a month.

41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.3 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and healthcare.

How 55731 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age60.3
99th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.819th of 854 in MN
Housing vacancy41.4%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%83rd of 851 in MN
Residents 65 and older36%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%28th of 854 in MN
Government workers20.2%
85th
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%100th of 852 in MN
Veterans8.3%
80th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%255th of 854 in MN
Self-employed workers11.5%
73rd
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%455th of 852 in MN
Rent-burdened renters55.5%
68th
U.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%163rd of 828 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher40.5%
66th
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%126th of 854 in MN
Homeownership rate75%
66th
U.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%677th of 851 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.447
60th
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453180th of 848 in MN
Per capita income$42,041
55th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237343rd of 853 in MN
Healthcare workers9.8%
55th
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%454th of 852 in MN
Poverty rate10.1%
45th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%329th of 852 in MN
Uninsured rate5.7%
40th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%257th of 853 in MN
Work from home10.7%
39th
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%478th of 852 in MN
Median earnings per worker$42,539
31st
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389700th of 851 in MN
Broadband access88.9%
28th
U.S. 91% · MN 91.6%442nd of 851 in MN
Median household income$62,008
23rd
U.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062717th of 846 in MN
Median home value$206,000
22nd
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300523rd of 842 in MN
Foreign-born residents1.8%
11th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%439th of 854 in MN
Population5,361
9th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445246th of 854 in MN
Unemployment rate2.2%
7th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%612th of 853 in MN
Tech workers0.6%
7th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%641st of 852 in MN
Diversity index11
5th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1670th of 854 in MN
Median gross rent$644
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280685th of 757 in MN
Average commute15.3 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min812th of 849 in MN
Residents under 188.2%
2nd
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%828th of 854 in MN
Population density3/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi816th of 854 in MN

Measure	55731	Lake	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Median age	60.3	49.4	38.8	38.9	99th	19th of 854
Housing vacancy	41.4%	33.7%	9.3%	10.1%	99th	83rd of 851
Residents 65 and older	36%	27.9%	17.3%	17.2%	98th	28th of 854
Government workers	20.2%	16.6%	12.9%	14.5%	85th	100th of 852
Veterans	8.3%	7.8%	5.9%	6.2%	80th	255th of 854
Self-employed workers	11.5%	12.7%	9.3%	10%	73rd	455th of 852
Rent-burdened renters	55.5%	45%	48.1%	51.1%	68th	163rd of 828
Bachelor's degree or higher	40.5%	26.8%	39.4%	35.7%	66th	126th of 854
Homeownership rate	75%	83.5%	72.2%	65.2%	66th	677th of 851
Income inequality (Gini)	0.447	0.402	0.453	0.483	60th	180th of 848
Per capita income	$42,041	$41,362	$48,237	$44,673	55th	343rd of 853
Healthcare workers	9.8%	8.7%	10.9%	9.7%	55th	454th of 852
Poverty rate	10.1%	8.6%	9.3%	12.5%	45th	329th of 852
Uninsured rate	5.7%	4.9%	4.7%	8.4%	40th	257th of 853
Work from home	10.7%	13.2%	17.6%	15.1%	39th	478th of 852
Median earnings per worker	$42,539	$51,619	$54,389	$49,666	31st	700th of 851
Broadband access	88.9%	87.6%	91.6%	91%	28th	442nd of 851
Median household income	$62,008	$75,541	$89,062	$80,734	23rd	717th of 846
Median home value	$206,000	$241,300	$329,300	$332,700	22nd	523rd of 842
Foreign-born residents	1.8%	1.3%	8.7%	14.1%	11th	439th of 854
Population	5,361	10,879	5,739,445	334,922,499	9th	246th of 854
Unemployment rateStrength	2.2%	2.6%	4.1%	5.2%	7th	612th of 853
Tech workers	0.6%	0.9%	4%	3.8%	7th	641st of 852
Diversity index	11	10.9	41.1	61.4	5th	670th of 854
Median gross rent	$644	$1,093	$1,280	$1,413	2nd	685th of 757
Average commuteStrength	15.3 min	24.8 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	2nd	812th of 849
Residents under 18	8.2%	19.1%	22.9%	22%	2nd	828th of 854
Population density	3/sq mi	5/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	816th of 854

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

10%

18–24

10%

25–34

35–44

45–54

21%

55–64

23%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

60.3

Under 18

8.2%

65 and over

36%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black1%
Hispanic1%
Asian0.1%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.9%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

63.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

0.6%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.1%

Other

Households

Households: 2,881
Average household size: 1.8
Family households: 45.7%
Married couples: 39.4%
Living alone: 45.6%
Veterans (of adults): 8.3%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

23%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

55731

$62,008

Lake Co.

$75,541

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$42,041

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

13.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.447

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

55731

$206,000

Lake Co.

$241,300

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

55731

$644

Lake Co.

$1,093

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

85%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,915
Owner-occupied: 75%
Vacant: 41.4%
Median year built: 1972
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 55.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 34%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

61%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.0%

Walked

14%

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

44%

10–19

28%

20–29

13%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

14%

Construction and repair

12%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

10%

Education

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Production

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Transportation and moving

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Computer and math

0.6%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.2%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

12%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Other services

Education

Retail

Manufacturing

Construction

Agriculture and mining

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Information

Wholesale

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$42,539

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

18.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	55731	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,973	$74,888
Service	$26,439	$26,804
Sales and office	$33,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$52,500	$49,199
Production and transportation	$29,490	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

19%

Some college

22%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

26%

Graduate

14%

High school graduate or higher: 94.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 40.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 14.3%
Households with broadband: 88.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 62.8%
No internet access: 8.9%
Without health insurance: 5.7%
Limited-English households: 1.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Ely
State: Minnesota
County: Lake County
Center point: 47.9969° N, 91.7540° W
Land area: 1,607 sq mi
Water area: 272 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

55731 spans 2 counties

Lake County50% of land
St. Louis County50% of land

Zip codes near 55731

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
55796	Winton, MN	5 mi	135	$52,344	$95,700
55782	Soudan, MN	24 mi	420	$56,420	$110,100
55706	Babbitt, MN	25 mi	1,703	$56,750	$112,500
55607	Isabella, MN	28 mi	192	$87,857	$213,200
55790	Tower, MN	31 mi	1,847	$77,232	$328,900
55732	Embarrass, MN	31 mi	1,453	$64,750	$178,700
55750	Hoyt Lakes, MN	34 mi	2,068	$65,833	$93,300
55603	Finland, MN	40 mi	490	$61,875	$216,700
55708	Biwabik, MN	42 mi	929	$66,389	$110,300
55705	Aurora, MN	44 mi	3,211	$56,208	$124,100
55792	Virginia, MN	44 mi	9,663	$53,750	$129,500
55741	Gilbert, MN	47 mi	2,947	$69,545	$164,500

Zip codes like 55731 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 55731

What city is zip code 55731?

55731 is assigned to Ely, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 55731 in?

55731 is mostly in Lake County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 55731?

About 5,361 people live in 55731, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 55731 in?

55731 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 55731?

The median household income in 55731 is $62,008.

What zip codes are near 55731?

The closest zip codes to 55731 are 55796, 55782, 55706, 55607, 55790.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 55731, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.