Zip code 56159: Mountain Lake, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56159?

56159 is assigned to Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56159 in?

56159 is mostly in Cottonwood County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 56159?

About 2,668 people live in 56159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56159?

The median household income in 56159 is $71,648.

Q: What zip codes are near 56159?

The closest zip codes to 56159 are 56118, 56120, 56022, 56160, 56101.

Residential delivery areaCottonwood CountyCentral Time

Population

2,668

Median household income

$72K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$162K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$921/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

126 sq mi

21 people/sq mi

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

About 56159

56159 is a rural zip code in Mountain Lake, Minnesota (Cottonwood County), covering 126 sq mi of land. About 2,668 people live here, or 21 per square mile. The median resident is 37.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $71,648 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 14.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $161,800, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $921 a month.

23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 13.9 minutes each way, and 12% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; management; and education.

How 56159 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1830.6%
96th
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%54th of 854 in MN
Residents 65 and older20.2%
75th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%418th of 854 in MN
Homeownership rate76.4%
70th
U.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%656th of 851 in MN
Poverty rate14.9%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%123rd of 852 in MN
Government workers15.2%
61st
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%264th of 852 in MN
Housing vacancy7.1%
54th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%536th of 851 in MN
Foreign-born residents8.8%
46th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%126th of 854 in MN
Self-employed workers9%
46th
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%613th of 852 in MN
Work from home11.8%
45th
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%421st of 852 in MN
Median age37.8
40th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8659th of 854 in MN
Diversity index42.9
40th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1116th of 854 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.423
40th
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453334th of 848 in MN
Median household income$71,648
38th
U.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062557th of 846 in MN
Veterans4.4%
31st
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%731st of 854 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher23%
29th
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%441st of 854 in MN
Per capita income$33,260
28th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237727th of 853 in MN
Uninsured rate4.6%
28th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%363rd of 853 in MN
Median earnings per worker$41,350
26th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389725th of 851 in MN
Unemployment rate3.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%442nd of 853 in MN
Median gross rent$921
15th
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280382nd of 757 in MN
Median home value$161,800
12th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300686th of 842 in MN
Broadband access84.4%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MN 91.6%705th of 851 in MN
Healthcare workers6.2%
9th
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%745th of 852 in MN
Rent-burdened renters29.5%
5th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%601st of 828 in MN
Population2,668
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445364th of 854 in MN
Tech workers0.2%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%716th of 852 in MN
Population density21/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi474th of 854 in MN
Average commute13.9 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min835th of 849 in MN

Measure	56159	Cottonwood	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Residents under 18	30.6%	25.2%	22.9%	22%	96th	54th of 854
Residents 65 and older	20.2%	22.7%	17.3%	17.2%	75th	418th of 854
Homeownership rate	76.4%	74.4%	72.2%	65.2%	70th	656th of 851
Poverty rate	14.9%	15%	9.3%	12.5%	69th	123rd of 852
Government workers	15.2%	16.4%	12.9%	14.5%	61st	264th of 852
Housing vacancy	7.1%	10.4%	9.3%	10.1%	54th	536th of 851
Foreign-born residents	8.8%	6.9%	8.7%	14.1%	46th	126th of 854
Self-employed workers	9%	12.4%	9.3%	10%	46th	613th of 852
Work from home	11.8%	10.7%	17.6%	15.1%	45th	421st of 852
Median age	37.8	40.3	38.8	38.9	40th	659th of 854
Diversity index	42.9	34.4	41.1	61.4	40th	116th of 854
Income inequality (Gini)	0.423	0.430	0.453	0.483	40th	334th of 848
Median household income	$71,648	$72,941	$89,062	$80,734	38th	557th of 846
Veterans	4.4%	5.1%	5.9%	6.2%	31st	731st of 854
Bachelor's degree or higher	23%	24.1%	39.4%	35.7%	29th	441st of 854
Per capita income	$33,260	$36,506	$48,237	$44,673	28th	727th of 853
Uninsured rate	4.6%	5.9%	4.7%	8.4%	28th	363rd of 853
Median earnings per worker	$41,350	$42,639	$54,389	$49,666	26th	725th of 851
Unemployment rateStrength	3.1%	2.8%	4.1%	5.2%	18th	442nd of 853
Median gross rent	$921	$817	$1,280	$1,413	15th	382nd of 757
Median home value	$161,800	$169,300	$329,300	$332,700	12th	686th of 842
Broadband accessWeakness	84.4%	85.3%	91.6%	91%	11th	705th of 851
Healthcare workers	6.2%	10.2%	10.9%	9.7%	9th	745th of 852
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	29.5%	30%	48.1%	51.1%	5th	601st of 828
Population	2,668	11,458	5,739,445	334,922,499	4th	364th of 854
Tech workers	0.2%	0.2%	4%	3.8%	4th	716th of 852
Population density	21/sq mi	18/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	474th of 854
Average commuteStrength	13.9 min	15.3 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	1st	835th of 849

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

24%

5–17

18–24

25–34

12%

35–44

10%

45–54

12%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.8

Under 18

30.6%

65 and over

20.2%

Race and ethnicity

White74%
Black0%
Hispanic16%
Asian7%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.6%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

42.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

69%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

83%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 987
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 70.6%
Married couples: 50.8%
Living alone: 24.5%
Veterans (of adults): 4.4%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56159

$71,648

Cottonwood Co.

$72,941

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$33,260

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.423

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56159

$161,800

Cottonwood Co.

$169,300

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56159

$921

Cottonwood Co.

$817

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

86%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

0.1%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,062
Owner-occupied: 76.4%
Vacant: 7.1%
Median year built: 1962
Median rooms: 6.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 29.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

73%

Carpooled

Transit

0.4%

Walked

Bicycle

0.8%

Worked from home

12%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

48%

10–19

31%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

13.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

13%

Management

11%

Education

10%

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

Sales

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Computer and math

0.2%

Industries

Agriculture and mining

17%

Manufacturing

14%

Retail

10%

Health care and social assistance

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Information

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Arts and recreation

0.7%

Professional and technical services

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$41,350

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

14%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56159	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,679	$74,888
Service	$17,159	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,176	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$46,250	$49,199
Production and transportation	$48,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

27%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.7%
Households with broadband: 84.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 62%
No internet access: 11.9%
Without health insurance: 4.6%
Limited-English households: 6.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Mountain Lake
State: Minnesota
County: Cottonwood County
Center point: 43.9432° N, 94.9374° W
Land area: 126 sq mi
Water area: 0.6 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56159 spans 2 counties

Cottonwood County86% of land
Jackson County14% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Mountain Lake1% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 56159

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56118	Bingham Lake, MN	4.6 mi	457	$91,250	$259,600
56120	Butterfield, MN	7.3 mi	983	$77,188	$147,800
56022	Darfur, MN	9 mi	63	$65,750	$70,600
56160	Odin, MN	10 mi	224	$66,667	$94,200
56101	Windom, MN	11 mi	6,157	$77,083	$183,700
56019	Comfrey, MN	12 mi	795	$65,833	$161,100
56145	Jeffers, MN	14 mi	510	$58,750	$104,200
56162	Ormsby, MN	15 mi	313	$88,625	$97,200
56081	Saint James, MN	15 mi	6,172	$67,337	$163,800
56176	Trimont, MN	16 mi	888	$59,125	$126,500
56174	Storden, MN	19 mi	352	$74,688	$104,200
56056	La Salle, MN	20 mi	55	$105,000	$111,400

Zip codes like 56159 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56159

What city is zip code 56159?

56159 is assigned to Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56159 in?

56159 is mostly in Cottonwood County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 56159?

About 2,668 people live in 56159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56159 in?

56159 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56159?

The median household income in 56159 is $71,648.

What zip codes are near 56159?

The closest zip codes to 56159 are 56118, 56120, 56022, 56160, 56101.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56159, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.