Zip code 56401: Brainerd, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56401?

56401 is assigned to Brainerd, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56401 in?

56401 is mostly in Crow Wing County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 56401?

About 31,841 people live in 56401, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56401?

The median household income in 56401 is $73,128.

Q: What zip codes are near 56401?

The closest zip codes to 56401 are 56425, 56455, 56449, 56459, 56444.

Residential delivery areaCrow Wing CountyCentral Time

Population

31,841

Median household income

$73K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$262K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$883/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

323 sq mi

99 people/sq mi

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

About 56401

56401 is a small-town zip code in Brainerd, Minnesota (Crow Wing County), covering 323 sq mi of land. About 31,841 people live here, or 99 per square mile. The median resident is 40.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $73,128 a year, close to 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 $261,600, or 3.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $883 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.3 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; construction and repair; and office and administrative support.

How 56401 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy19.1%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%220th of 851 in MN
Healthcare workers13.6%
91st
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%154th of 852 in MN
Residents 65 and older20.3%
75th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%410th of 854 in MN
Unemployment rate6.4%
73rd
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%115th of 853 in MN
Veterans7%
66th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%391st of 854 in MN
Homeownership rate73.6%
63rd
U.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%695th of 851 in MN
Median age40.4
60th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8530th of 854 in MN
Self-employed workers9.9%
57th
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%558th of 852 in MN
Government workers14.2%
54th
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%319th of 852 in MN
Population31,841
53rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,44544th of 854 in MN
Residents under 1822.4%
53rd
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%444th of 854 in MN
Poverty rate10.1%
45th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%326th of 852 in MN
Per capita income$37,969
44th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237535th of 853 in MN
Median household income$73,128
40th
U.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062519th of 846 in MN
Median earnings per worker$44,369
38th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389651st of 851 in MN
Median home value$261,600
36th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300352nd of 842 in MN
Broadband access90.3%
36th
U.S. 91% · MN 91.6%354th of 851 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher25.4%
35th
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%373rd of 854 in MN
Work from home9.4%
31st
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%552nd of 852 in MN
Uninsured rate4.8%
31st
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%335th of 853 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.414
31st
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453403rd of 848 in MN
Tech workers1.8%
29th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%355th of 852 in MN
Average commute22.3 min
25th
U.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min533rd of 849 in MN
Rent-burdened renters39.3%
15th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%468th of 828 in MN
Population density99/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi243rd of 854 in MN
Median gross rent$883
12th
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280423rd of 757 in MN
Foreign-born residents1.3%
8th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%514th of 854 in MN
Diversity index13.7
7th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1580th of 854 in MN

Measure	56401	Crow Wing	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Housing vacancy	19.1%	31.1%	9.3%	10.1%	92nd	220th of 851
Healthcare workers	13.6%	12.8%	10.9%	9.7%	91st	154th of 852
Residents 65 and older	20.3%	24.5%	17.3%	17.2%	75th	410th of 854
Unemployment rate	6.4%	5.5%	4.1%	5.2%	73rd	115th of 853
Veterans	7%	8.3%	5.9%	6.2%	66th	391st of 854
Homeownership rate	73.6%	77%	72.2%	65.2%	63rd	695th of 851
Median age	40.4	45.7	38.8	38.9	60th	530th of 854
Self-employed workers	9.9%	12.7%	9.3%	10%	57th	558th of 852
Government workers	14.2%	13.3%	12.9%	14.5%	54th	319th of 852
Population	31,841	67,686	5,739,445	334,922,499	53rd	44th of 854
Residents under 18	22.4%	20.5%	22.9%	22%	53rd	444th of 854
Poverty rate	10.1%	9.9%	9.3%	12.5%	45th	326th of 852
Per capita income	$37,969	$41,886	$48,237	$44,673	44th	535th of 853
Median household income	$73,128	$72,589	$89,062	$80,734	40th	519th of 846
Median earnings per worker	$44,369	$46,742	$54,389	$49,666	38th	651st of 851
Median home value	$261,600	$306,800	$329,300	$332,700	36th	352nd of 842
Broadband access	90.3%	89.9%	91.6%	91%	36th	354th of 851
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.4%	29.3%	39.4%	35.7%	35th	373rd of 854
Work from home	9.4%	13.2%	17.6%	15.1%	31st	552nd of 852
Uninsured rate	4.8%	5.2%	4.7%	8.4%	31st	335th of 853
Income inequality (Gini)	0.414	0.437	0.453	0.483	31st	403rd of 848
Tech workers	1.8%	2.4%	4%	3.8%	29th	355th of 852
Average commute	22.3 min	23.1 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	25th	533rd of 849
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	39.3%	44.5%	48.1%	51.1%	15th	468th of 828
Population density	99/sq mi	68/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	243rd of 854
Median gross rent	$883	$971	$1,280	$1,413	12th	423rd of 757
Foreign-born residents	1.3%	1.3%	8.7%	14.1%	8th	514th of 854
Diversity index	13.7	12.9	41.1	61.4	7th	580th 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

17%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

13%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.4

Under 18

22.4%

65 and over

20.3%

Race and ethnicity

White93%
Black0.7%
Hispanic2%
Asian0.3%
Native American0.9%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.7%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

13.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

82.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

0.2%

Households

Households: 13,074
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 65.9%
Married couples: 50.8%
Living alone: 27.2%
Veterans (of adults): 7%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56401

$73,128

Crow Wing Co.

$72,589

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,969

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.414

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56401

$261,600

Crow Wing Co.

$306,800

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56401

$883

Crow Wing Co.

$971

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.0%

Housing units: 16,167
Owner-occupied: 73.6%
Vacant: 19.1%
Median year built: 1984
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 39.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.4%
Home value to income: 3.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.6%

Walked

Bicycle

0.5%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

20%

10–19

40%

20–29

17%

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

14%

Construction and repair

12%

Office and admin

10%

Management

10%

Sales

Transportation and moving

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Education

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Retail

12%

Construction

11%

Manufacturing

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Education

Other services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Information

Median earnings per worker

$44,369

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56401	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$55,293	$74,888
Service	$25,334	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,071	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$53,116	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,685	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

23%

Associate's

14%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.6%
Households with broadband: 90.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.8%
No internet access: 5.4%
Without health insurance: 4.8%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Brainerd
State: Minnesota
County: Crow Wing County
Center point: 46.3229° N, 94.1252° W
Land area: 323 sq mi
Water area: 41 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56401 spans 2 counties

Crow Wing County95% of land
Cass County6% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Brainerd4% of zip
East Gull Lake2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 56401

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56425	Baxter, MN	7.3 mi	8,932	$70,740	$324,600
56455	Ironton, MN	10 mi	1,688	$73,214	$222,600
56449	Fort Ripley, MN	12 mi	1,710	$74,861	$309,100
56459	Lake Hubert, MN · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
56444	Deerwood, MN	14 mi	3,331	$77,500	$365,200
56468	Nisswa, MN	15 mi	4,520	$100,300	$465,800
56450	Garrison, MN	15 mi	983	$61,394	$197,200
56465	Merrifield, MN	15 mi	2,476	$74,400	$372,100
56473	Pillager, MN	17 mi	3,518	$85,950	$295,300
56441	Crosby, MN	19 mi	3,348	$50,298	$208,700
56344	Lastrup, MN · PO box	20 mi	—	—	—
56472	Pequot Lakes, MN	21 mi	8,830	$81,328	$342,500

Zip codes like 56401 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56401

What city is zip code 56401?

56401 is assigned to Brainerd, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56401 in?

56401 is mostly in Crow Wing County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 56401?

About 31,841 people live in 56401, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56401 in?

56401 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56401?

The median household income in 56401 is $73,128.

What zip codes are near 56401?

The closest zip codes to 56401 are 56425, 56455, 56449, 56459, 56444.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56401, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.