Zip code 56296: Wheaton, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56296?

56296 is assigned to Wheaton, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56296 in?

56296 is in Traverse County, Minnesota.

Q: What is the population of 56296?

About 1,956 people live in 56296, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56296?

The median household income in 56296 is $53,527.

Q: What zip codes are near 56296?

The closest zip codes to 56296 are 57260, 56236, 56274, 56583, 56248.

Residential delivery areaTraverse CountyCentral Time

Population

1,956

Median household income

$54K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$104K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$612/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

237 sq mi

8 people/sq mi

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

About 56296

56296 is a rural zip code in Wheaton, Minnesota (Traverse County), covering 237 sq mi of land. About 1,956 people live here, or 8 per square mile. The median resident is 45 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $53,527 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 14% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $103,800, or 1.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 81% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $612 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.3 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and office and administrative support. 19% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 56296 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters70.8%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%49th of 828 in MN
Self-employed workers18.9%
97th
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%123rd of 852 in MN
Residents 65 and older28.1%
96th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%122nd of 854 in MN
Housing vacancy20.7%
94th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%203rd of 851 in MN
Healthcare workers14.6%
94th
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%108th of 852 in MN
Median age45
86th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8277th of 854 in MN
Government workers20%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%108th of 852 in MN
Homeownership rate80.5%
80th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%546th of 851 in MN
Veterans8.1%
78th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%277th of 854 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.474
78th
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.45381st of 848 in MN
Poverty rate14%
65th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%159th of 852 in MN
Work from home13.2%
52nd
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%348th of 852 in MN
Unemployment rate5%
52nd
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%221st of 853 in MN
Residents under 1821.8%
47th
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%494th of 854 in MN
Median earnings per worker$46,103
44th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389572nd of 851 in MN
Per capita income$35,888
37th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237634th of 853 in MN
Diversity index28.2
21st
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1253rd of 854 in MN
Foreign-born residents3.3%
20th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%289th of 854 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher16.6%
13th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%708th of 854 in MN
Median household income$53,527
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062808th of 846 in MN
Broadband access82.6%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MN 91.6%753rd of 851 in MN
Uninsured rate1.7%
4th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%766th of 853 in MN
Population1,956
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445420th of 854 in MN
Median home value$103,800
3rd
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300818th of 842 in MN
Average commute15.3 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min813th of 849 in MN
Population density8/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi711th of 854 in MN
Median gross rent$612
1st
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280711th of 757 in MN
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%841st of 852 in MN

Measure	56296	Traverse	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	70.8%	65.5%	48.1%	51.1%	98th	49th of 828
Self-employed workers	18.9%	25.6%	9.3%	10%	97th	123rd of 852
Residents 65 and older	28.1%	25.4%	17.3%	17.2%	96th	122nd of 854
Housing vacancy	20.7%	30.9%	9.3%	10.1%	94th	203rd of 851
Healthcare workers	14.6%	11.8%	10.9%	9.7%	94th	108th of 852
Median age	45	46.1	38.8	38.9	86th	277th of 854
Government workers	20%	17.4%	12.9%	14.5%	84th	108th of 852
Homeownership rateStrength	80.5%	81.8%	72.2%	65.2%	80th	546th of 851
Veterans	8.1%	8%	5.9%	6.2%	78th	277th of 854
Income inequality (Gini)	0.474	0.462	0.453	0.483	78th	81st of 848
Poverty rate	14%	11.3%	9.3%	12.5%	65th	159th of 852
Work from home	13.2%	16.8%	17.6%	15.1%	52nd	348th of 852
Unemployment rate	5%	4.5%	4.1%	5.2%	52nd	221st of 853
Residents under 18	21.8%	21.6%	22.9%	22%	47th	494th of 854
Median earnings per worker	$46,103	$44,839	$54,389	$49,666	44th	572nd of 851
Per capita income	$35,888	$37,082	$48,237	$44,673	37th	634th of 853
Diversity index	28.2	28.4	41.1	61.4	21st	253rd of 854
Foreign-born residents	3.3%	2.4%	8.7%	14.1%	20th	289th of 854
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16.6%	16.6%	39.4%	35.7%	13th	708th of 854
Median household incomeWeakness	$53,527	$62,989	$89,062	$80,734	12th	808th of 846
Broadband accessWeakness	82.6%	83.5%	91.6%	91%	8th	753rd of 851
Uninsured rateStrength	1.7%	1.9%	4.7%	8.4%	4th	766th of 853
Population	1,956	3,243	5,739,445	334,922,499	3rd	420th of 854
Median home value	$103,800	$114,100	$329,300	$332,700	3rd	818th of 842
Average commuteStrength	15.3 min	17.1 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	2nd	813th of 849
Population density	8/sq mi	6/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	711th of 854
Median gross rent	$612	$615	$1,280	$1,413	1st	711th of 757
Tech workers	0%	0.1%	4%	3.8%	1st	841st of 852

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

25–34

12%

35–44

10%

45–54

12%

55–64

12%

65–74

16%

75+

Median age

Under 18

21.8%

65 and over

28.1%

Race and ethnicity

White84%
Black1%
Hispanic9%
Asian0.2%
Native American1.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

28.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

71.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 839
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 46.8%
Married couples: 38%
Living alone: 50.2%
Veterans (of adults): 8.1%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

29%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56296

$53,527

Traverse Co.

$62,989

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,888

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.474

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56296

$103,800

Traverse Co.

$114,100

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56296

$612

Traverse Co.

$615

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,058
Owner-occupied: 80.5%
Vacant: 20.7%
Median year built: 1963
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 70.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 29.9%
Home value to income: 1.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

71%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.7%

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

56%

10–19

23%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

50.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Healthcare

15%

Office and admin

12%

Sales

11%

Engineering and science

Production

Food service

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Education

Legal and social services

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Police and fire

0.8%

Computer and math

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Manufacturing

11%

Retail

11%

Agriculture and mining

11%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Education

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Other services

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Information

0.8%

Arts and recreation

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$46,103

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

18.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56296	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$67,083	$74,888
Service	$20,536	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,167	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$60,417	$49,199
Production and transportation	$48,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

37%

Some college

24%

Associate's

17%

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Households with broadband: 82.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 66.6%
No internet access: 12.8%
Without health insurance: 1.7%
Limited-English households: 0.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Wheaton
State: Minnesota
County: Traverse County
Center point: 45.8256° N, 96.4772° W
Land area: 237 sq mi
Water area: 4.3 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 56296

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
57260	Rosholt, SD	12 mi	1,119	$82,656	$170,000
56236	Dumont, MN	12 mi	493	$79,750	$168,100
56274	Norcross, MN	12 mi	170	$118,889	$193,800
56583	Tintah, MN	13 mi	150	$71,250	$214,600
56248	Herman, MN	17 mi	761	$83,000	$181,100
58030	Fairmount, ND	17 mi	593	$75,909	$130,400
56565	Nashua, MN	17 mi	83	$53,846	—
56240	Graceville, MN	18 mi	796	$76,500	$153,400
56210	Barry, MN	19 mi	16	$83,750	—
56211	Beardsley, MN	19 mi	484	$83,250	$118,100
56590	Wendell, MN	21 mi	367	$70,500	$133,300
56522	Campbell, MN	22 mi	604	$82,361	$163,100

Zip codes like 56296 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56296

What city is zip code 56296?

56296 is assigned to Wheaton, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56296 in?

56296 is in Traverse County, Minnesota.

What is the population of 56296?

About 1,956 people live in 56296, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56296 in?

56296 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56296?

The median household income in 56296 is $53,527.

What zip codes are near 56296?

The closest zip codes to 56296 are 57260, 56236, 56274, 56583, 56248.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56296, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.