Zip code 56215: Benson, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56215?

56215 is assigned to Benson, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56215 in?

56215 is mostly in Swift County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 56215?

About 4,677 people live in 56215, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56215?

The median household income in 56215 is $56,604.

Q: What zip codes are near 56215?

The closest zip codes to 56215 are 56226, 56271, 56231, 56244, 56249.

Residential delivery areaSwift CountyCentral Time

Population

4,677

Median household income

$57K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$168K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$982/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

211 sq mi

22 people/sq mi

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

About 56215

56215 is a rural zip code in Benson, Minnesota (Swift County), covering 211 sq mi of land. About 4,677 people live here, or 22 per square mile. The median resident is 42.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $56,604 a year, 30% below the national median of $80,734. 9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $167,500, or 3.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 68% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $982 a month.

29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 16.8 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and office and administrative support.

How 56215 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers14.4%
88th
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%302nd of 852 in MN
Residents 65 and older22.7%
86th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%310th of 854 in MN
Healthcare workers12.2%
83rd
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%253rd of 852 in MN
Government workers19.4%
82nd
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%124th of 852 in MN
Housing vacancy12.1%
79th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%363rd of 851 in MN
Median age42.2
73rd
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8430th of 854 in MN
Rent-burdened renters56.7%
73rd
U.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%146th of 828 in MN
Residents under 1823%
58th
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%400th of 854 in MN
Median earnings per worker$49,507
54th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389402nd of 851 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.439
53rd
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453235th of 848 in MN
Homeownership rate68.4%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%752nd of 851 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher29.3%
45th
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%264th of 854 in MN
Per capita income$36,574
39th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237603rd of 853 in MN
Poverty rate9%
38th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%394th of 852 in MN
Veterans5%
38th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%680th of 854 in MN
Tech workers2.1%
35th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%312th of 852 in MN
Unemployment rate3.6%
26th
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%388th of 853 in MN
Broadband access88.5%
26th
U.S. 91% · MN 91.6%466th of 851 in MN
Uninsured rate4.3%
25th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%427th of 853 in MN
Median gross rent$982
20th
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280317th of 757 in MN
Median household income$56,604
16th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062783rd of 846 in MN
Median home value$167,500
14th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300654th of 842 in MN
Work from home6.6%
14th
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%731st of 852 in MN
Diversity index21
14th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1387th of 854 in MN
Population4,677
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445266th of 854 in MN
Foreign-born residents1.4%
8th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%506th of 854 in MN
Population density22/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi464th of 854 in MN
Average commute16.8 min
3rd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min782nd of 849 in MN

Measure	56215	Swift	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Self-employed workers	14.4%	16.1%	9.3%	10%	88th	302nd of 852
Residents 65 and older	22.7%	23.5%	17.3%	17.2%	86th	310th of 854
Healthcare workers	12.2%	11.7%	10.9%	9.7%	83rd	253rd of 852
Government workers	19.4%	17.7%	12.9%	14.5%	82nd	124th of 852
Housing vacancy	12.1%	12.4%	9.3%	10.1%	79th	363rd of 851
Median age	42.2	41.8	38.8	38.9	73rd	430th of 854
Rent-burdened renters	56.7%	56%	48.1%	51.1%	73rd	146th of 828
Residents under 18	23%	22.5%	22.9%	22%	58th	400th of 854
Median earnings per worker	$49,507	$48,485	$54,389	$49,666	54th	402nd of 851
Income inequality (Gini)	0.439	0.438	0.453	0.483	53rd	235th of 848
Homeownership rate	68.4%	72.4%	72.2%	65.2%	49th	752nd of 851
Bachelor's degree or higher	29.3%	24.2%	39.4%	35.7%	45th	264th of 854
Per capita income	$36,574	$36,134	$48,237	$44,673	39th	603rd of 853
Poverty rate	9%	12%	9.3%	12.5%	38th	394th of 852
Veterans	5%	6.7%	5.9%	6.2%	38th	680th of 854
Tech workers	2.1%	1.1%	4%	3.8%	35th	312th of 852
Unemployment rate	3.6%	4.4%	4.1%	5.2%	26th	388th of 853
Broadband access	88.5%	84.3%	91.6%	91%	26th	466th of 851
Uninsured rate	4.3%	8.1%	4.7%	8.4%	25th	427th of 853
Median gross rent	$982	$920	$1,280	$1,413	20th	317th of 757
Median household incomeWeakness	$56,604	$60,412	$89,062	$80,734	16th	783rd of 846
Median home value	$167,500	$161,400	$329,300	$332,700	14th	654th of 842
Work from home	6.6%	7.5%	17.6%	15.1%	14th	731st of 852
Diversity index	21	25.4	41.1	61.4	14th	387th of 854
Population	4,677	9,748	5,739,445	334,922,499	8th	266th of 854
Foreign-born residents	1.4%	3%	8.7%	14.1%	8th	506th of 854
Population density	22/sq mi	13/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	464th of 854
Average commuteStrength	16.8 min	19.4 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	3rd	782nd 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

16%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

11%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

42.2

Under 18

23%

65 and over

22.7%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black0.9%
Hispanic8%
Asian0%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

84.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 2,005
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 65.7%
Married couples: 44.5%
Living alone: 32.4%
Veterans (of adults): 5%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

27%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56215

$56,604

Swift Co.

$60,412

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,574

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.439

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56215

$167,500

Swift Co.

$161,400

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56215

$982

Swift Co.

$920

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

82%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,280
Owner-occupied: 68.4%
Vacant: 12.1%
Median year built: 1960
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 56.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.6%
Home value to income: 3.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

Transit

0.5%

Walked

Bicycle

0.7%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

43%

10–19

23%

20–29

30–44

20%

45–59

60+

Average commute

16.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

61.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Healthcare

12%

Office and admin

11%

Production

10%

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Sales

Business and finance

Food service

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Police and fire

0.9%

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Manufacturing

17%

Education

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Retail

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Construction

Other services

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

0.5%

Information

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$49,507

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56215	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,071	$74,888
Service	$18,462	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,438	$49,199
Production and transportation	$60,096	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

28%

Some college

24%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

24%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.7%
Households with broadband: 88.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.8%
No internet access: 6.2%
Without health insurance: 4.3%
Limited-English households: 0.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Benson
State: Minnesota
County: Swift County
Center point: 45.3177° N, 95.5720° W
Land area: 211 sq mi
Water area: 2.8 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56215 spans 2 counties

Swift County93% of land
Pope County8% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Benson2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 56215

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56226	Clontarf, MN	8.1 mi	215	$111,750	$248,100
56271	Murdock, MN	9.3 mi	1,334	$64,861	$222,700
56231	Danvers, MN	9.7 mi	405	$110,000	$216,700
56244	Hancock, MN	15 mi	1,832	$85,417	$162,100
56249	Holloway, MN	16 mi	301	$72,250	$156,300
56252	Kerkhoven, MN	16 mi	1,310	$82,571	$207,100
56381	Starbuck, MN	17 mi	2,344	$77,146	$232,500
56289	Sunburg, MN	17 mi	599	$78,958	$301,700
56262	Milan, MN	20 mi	871	$70,625	$110,300
56279	Pennock, MN	21 mi	1,126	$84,000	$231,700
56334	Glenwood, MN	21 mi	5,776	$69,525	$279,900
56208	Appleton, MN	22 mi	2,113	$59,766	$102,800

Zip codes like 56215 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56215

What city is zip code 56215?

56215 is assigned to Benson, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56215 in?

56215 is mostly in Swift County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 56215?

About 4,677 people live in 56215, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56215 in?

56215 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56215?

The median household income in 56215 is $56,604.

What zip codes are near 56215?

The closest zip codes to 56215 are 56226, 56271, 56231, 56244, 56249.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56215, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.