Zip code 56481: Verndale, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56481?

56481 is assigned to Verndale, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56481 in?

56481 is mostly in Wadena County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 56481?

About 2,255 people live in 56481, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56481?

The median household income in 56481 is $73,295.

Q: What zip codes are near 56481?

The closest zip codes to 56481 are 56479, 56434, 56482, 56477, 56466.

Residential delivery areaWadena CountyCentral Time

Population

2,255

Median household income

$73K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$168K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$675/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

141 sq mi

16 people/sq mi

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

About 56481

56481 is a rural zip code in Verndale, Minnesota (Wadena County), covering 141 sq mi of land. About 2,255 people live here, or 16 per square mile. The median resident is 34 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $73,295 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $167,700, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 90% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $675 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods.

How 56481 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1831.4%
97th
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%45th of 854 in MN
Homeownership rate89.8%
96th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%212th of 851 in MN
Housing vacancy13.8%
84th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%311th of 851 in MN
Healthcare workers11.1%
72nd
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%337th of 852 in MN
Self-employed workers11.4%
72nd
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%461st of 852 in MN
Veterans6.3%
57th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%503rd of 854 in MN
Average commute27 min
56th
U.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min263rd of 849 in MN
Residents 65 and older17.1%
54th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%585th of 854 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.431
46th
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453295th of 848 in MN
Uninsured rate6.3%
45th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%204th of 853 in MN
Unemployment rate4.5%
43rd
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%272nd of 853 in MN
Median household income$73,295
41st
U.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062512th of 846 in MN
Median earnings per worker$44,299
37th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389653rd of 851 in MN
Per capita income$34,528
32nd
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237683rd of 853 in MN
Government workers10.8%
25th
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%610th of 852 in MN
Poverty rate6.7%
23rd
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%562nd of 852 in MN
Diversity index24.8
18th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1304th of 854 in MN
Median age34
16th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8791st of 854 in MN
Median home value$167,700
14th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300653rd of 842 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher17%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%694th of 854 in MN
Broadband access85.5%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MN 91.6%661st of 851 in MN
Work from home6%
12th
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%763rd of 852 in MN
Tech workers0.6%
7th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%644th of 852 in MN
Population2,255
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445393rd of 854 in MN
Foreign-born residents0.7%
4th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%662nd of 854 in MN
Population density16/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi549th of 854 in MN
Median gross rent$675
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280664th of 757 in MN
Rent-burdened renters22.2%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%685th of 828 in MN

Measure	56481	Wadena	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Residents under 18	31.4%	26.1%	22.9%	22%	97th	45th of 854
Homeownership rateStrength	89.8%	73.6%	72.2%	65.2%	96th	212th of 851
Housing vacancy	13.8%	13.4%	9.3%	10.1%	84th	311th of 851
Healthcare workers	11.1%	10.3%	10.9%	9.7%	72nd	337th of 852
Self-employed workers	11.4%	15%	9.3%	10%	72nd	461st of 852
Veterans	6.3%	8%	5.9%	6.2%	57th	503rd of 854
Average commute	27 min	21.3 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	56th	263rd of 849
Residents 65 and older	17.1%	20.2%	17.3%	17.2%	54th	585th of 854
Income inequality (Gini)	0.431	0.420	0.453	0.483	46th	295th of 848
Uninsured rate	6.3%	5.5%	4.7%	8.4%	45th	204th of 853
Unemployment rate	4.5%	5.5%	4.1%	5.2%	43rd	272nd of 853
Median household income	$73,295	$61,467	$89,062	$80,734	41st	512th of 846
Median earnings per worker	$44,299	$41,813	$54,389	$49,666	37th	653rd of 851
Per capita income	$34,528	$32,541	$48,237	$44,673	32nd	683rd of 853
Government workers	10.8%	12.1%	12.9%	14.5%	25th	610th of 852
Poverty rate	6.7%	12.5%	9.3%	12.5%	23rd	562nd of 852
Diversity index	24.8	24.9	41.1	61.4	18th	304th of 854
Median age	34	40	38.8	38.9	16th	791st of 854
Median home value	$167,700	$173,000	$329,300	$332,700	14th	653rd of 842
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17%	19.8%	39.4%	35.7%	14th	694th of 854
Broadband accessWeakness	85.5%	84.8%	91.6%	91%	14th	661st of 851
Work from home	6%	8.4%	17.6%	15.1%	12th	763rd of 852
Tech workers	0.6%	0.4%	4%	3.8%	7th	644th of 852
Population	2,255	14,256	5,739,445	334,922,499	4th	393rd of 854
Foreign-born residents	0.7%	1.1%	8.7%	14.1%	4th	662nd of 854
Population density	16/sq mi	27/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	549th of 854
Median gross rent	$675	$746	$1,280	$1,413	2nd	664th of 757
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	22.2%	36.6%	48.1%	51.1%	2nd	685th of 828

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

25%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

10%

35–44

11%

45–54

11%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

31.4%

65 and over

17.1%

Race and ethnicity

White86%
Black0.8%
Hispanic0.3%
Asian0.6%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial13%

Diversity index

24.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

87.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

0.3%

Other Indo-European

0.8%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 875
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 69.5%
Married couples: 52%
Living alone: 26.5%
Veterans (of adults): 6.3%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

20%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56481

$73,295

Wadena Co.

$61,467

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,528

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

6.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.431

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56481

$167,700

Wadena Co.

$173,000

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56481

$675

Wadena Co.

$746

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

86%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

11%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,015
Owner-occupied: 89.8%
Vacant: 13.8%
Median year built: 1976
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 22.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 1.9%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

0.4%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

39%

20–29

18%

30–44

11%

45–59

11%

60+

Average commute

27 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Construction and repair

13%

Transportation and moving

13%

Healthcare

11%

Production

11%

Cleaning and personal care

Office and admin

Education

Sales

Food service

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Computer and math

0.6%

Arts, media and sports

0.6%

Police and fire

0.1%

Industries

Manufacturing

21%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Retail

10%

Agriculture and mining

Construction

Education

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

Arts and recreation

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$44,299

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56481	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$64,659	$74,888
Service	$24,375	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,250	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$48,958	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,556	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

35%

Some college

23%

Associate's

18%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
Households with broadband: 85.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 68.2%
No internet access: 11.2%
Without health insurance: 6.3%
Limited-English households: 0.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Verndale
State: Minnesota
County: Wadena County
Center point: 46.4630° N, 94.9362° W
Land area: 141 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56481 spans 3 counties

Wadena County74% of land
Todd County18% of land
Cass County8% of land

Zip codes near 56481

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56479	Staples, MN	7 mi	5,021	$59,920	$191,700
56434	Aldrich, MN	8.6 mi	182	$48,750	$187,500
56482	Wadena, MN	10 mi	7,619	$64,439	$169,800
56477	Sebeka, MN	13 mi	2,594	$57,857	$185,800
56466	Motley, MN	15 mi	3,284	$61,910	$237,100
56518	Bluffton, MN	15 mi	494	$71,250	$160,300
56453	Hewitt, MN	15 mi	841	$70,833	$135,700
56437	Bertha, MN	16 mi	1,410	$60,345	$123,300
56527	Deer Creek, MN	19 mi	881	$64,375	$217,300
56567	New York Mills, MN	22 mi	3,367	$72,500	$215,300
56440	Clarissa, MN	22 mi	1,395	$53,250	$129,800
56464	Menahga, MN	23 mi	5,053	$70,833	$207,700

Zip codes like 56481 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56481

What city is zip code 56481?

56481 is assigned to Verndale, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56481 in?

56481 is mostly in Wadena County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 56481?

About 2,255 people live in 56481, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56481 in?

56481 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56481?

The median household income in 56481 is $73,295.

What zip codes are near 56481?

The closest zip codes to 56481 are 56479, 56434, 56482, 56477, 56466.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56481, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.