Zip code 56540: Fertile, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56540?

56540 is assigned to Fertile, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56540 in?

56540 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 56540?

About 1,891 people live in 56540, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56540?

The median household income in 56540 is $83,646.

Q: What zip codes are near 56540?

The closest zip codes to 56540 are 56545, 56736, 56592, 56517, 56535.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyCentral Time

Population

1,891

Median household income

$84K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$195K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$815/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

174 sq mi

11 people/sq mi

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

About 56540

56540 is a rural zip code in Fertile, Minnesota (Polk County), covering 174 sq mi of land. About 1,891 people live here, or 11 per square mile. The median resident is 44.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $83,646 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 10% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $194,800, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $815 a month.

28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.9 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; management; and construction and repair. 16% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 56540 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers16.3%
93rd
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%205th of 852 in MN
Residents 65 and older23.3%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%276th of 854 in MN
Homeownership rate83.4%
86th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%444th of 851 in MN
Median age44.1
82nd
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8323rd of 854 in MN
Veterans7.8%
75th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%310th of 854 in MN
Housing vacancy10.7%
74th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%400th of 851 in MN
Uninsured rate9.4%
68th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%78th of 853 in MN
Residents under 1823.2%
60th
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%382nd of 854 in MN
Unemployment rate5.4%
59th
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%188th of 853 in MN
Median household income$83,646
55th
U.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062336th of 846 in MN
Median earnings per worker$48,833
52nd
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389434th of 851 in MN
Government workers13.9%
52nd
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%341st of 852 in MN
Poverty rate10%
45th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%335th of 852 in MN
Per capita income$37,531
42nd
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237556th of 853 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher27.8%
41st
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%309th of 854 in MN
Work from home11.1%
41st
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%460th of 852 in MN
Healthcare workers8.3%
32nd
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%604th of 852 in MN
Average commute22.9 min
29th
U.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min501st of 849 in MN
Median home value$194,800
20th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300559th of 842 in MN
Broadband access87.3%
20th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MN 91.6%555th of 851 in MN
Tech workers0.9%
11th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%558th of 852 in MN
Median gross rent$815
8th
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280517th of 757 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.374
8th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453663rd of 848 in MN
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%634th of 854 in MN
Population1,891
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445427th of 854 in MN
Rent-burdened renters25%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%656th of 828 in MN
Diversity index7.2
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1765th of 854 in MN
Population density11/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi643rd of 854 in MN

Measure	56540	Polk	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Self-employed workers	16.3%	11.5%	9.3%	10%	93rd	205th of 852
Residents 65 and older	23.3%	19.1%	17.3%	17.2%	88th	276th of 854
Homeownership rateStrength	83.4%	71.3%	72.2%	65.2%	86th	444th of 851
Median age	44.1	39.8	38.8	38.9	82nd	323rd of 854
Veterans	7.8%	6.2%	5.9%	6.2%	75th	310th of 854
Housing vacancy	10.7%	15.9%	9.3%	10.1%	74th	400th of 851
Uninsured rate	9.4%	5.8%	4.7%	8.4%	68th	78th of 853
Residents under 18	23.2%	24.5%	22.9%	22%	60th	382nd of 854
Unemployment rate	5.4%	3.6%	4.1%	5.2%	59th	188th of 853
Median household income	$83,646	$73,107	$89,062	$80,734	55th	336th of 846
Median earnings per worker	$48,833	$48,279	$54,389	$49,666	52nd	434th of 851
Government workers	13.9%	17.6%	12.9%	14.5%	52nd	341st of 852
Poverty rate	10%	11.9%	9.3%	12.5%	45th	335th of 852
Per capita income	$37,531	$37,371	$48,237	$44,673	42nd	556th of 853
Bachelor's degree or higher	27.8%	28%	39.4%	35.7%	41st	309th of 854
Work from home	11.1%	5.8%	17.6%	15.1%	41st	460th of 852
Healthcare workers	8.3%	10.9%	10.9%	9.7%	32nd	604th of 852
Average commute	22.9 min	18.6 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	29th	501st of 849
Median home value	$194,800	$222,800	$329,300	$332,700	20th	559th of 842
Broadband accessWeakness	87.3%	90.4%	91.6%	91%	20th	555th of 851
Tech workers	0.9%	1.5%	4%	3.8%	11th	558th of 852
Median gross rent	$815	$855	$1,280	$1,413	8th	517th of 757
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.374	0.434	0.453	0.483	8th	663rd of 848
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	2.1%	8.7%	14.1%	5th	634th of 854
Population	1,891	30,705	5,739,445	334,922,499	3rd	427th of 854
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	25%	55.1%	48.1%	51.1%	3rd	656th of 828
Diversity index	7.2	28.6	41.1	61.4	2nd	765th of 854
Population density	11/sq mi	16/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	643rd 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

18%

5–17

10%

18–24

25–34

10%

35–44

13%

45–54

12%

55–64

11%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

44.1

Under 18

23.2%

65 and over

23.3%

Race and ethnicity

White96%
Black0%
Hispanic0.3%
Asian0.1%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

7.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

0.4%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 735
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 66%
Married couples: 56.6%
Living alone: 28.2%
Veterans (of adults): 7.8%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

11%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

28%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

56540

$83,646

Polk Co.

$73,107

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,531

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.374

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56540

$194,800

Polk Co.

$222,800

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56540

$815

Polk Co.

$855

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

87%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 823
Owner-occupied: 83.4%
Vacant: 10.7%
Median year built: 1964
Median rooms: 6.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 25%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 15.2%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

Transit

0.3%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

36%

10–19

17%

20–29

13%

30–44

19%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

12%

Management

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Sales

Education

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

0.9%

Police and fire

0.7%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

14%

Agriculture and mining

13%

Retail

13%

Education

12%

Manufacturing

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Other services

Arts and recreation

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Information

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Median earnings per worker

$48,833

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

16.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56540	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,614	$74,888
Service	$25,500	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,021	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$60,583	$49,199
Production and transportation	$46,736	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

20%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

23%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.5%
Households with broadband: 87.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 78.1%
No internet access: 9.4%
Without health insurance: 9.4%
Limited-English households: 1.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Fertile
State: Minnesota
County: Polk County
Center point: 47.5403° N, 96.2742° W
Land area: 174 sq mi
Water area: 3.3 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56540 spans 2 counties

Polk County74% of land
Norman County27% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Fertile1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 56540

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56545	Gary, MN	10 mi	676	$85,417	$171,400
56736	Mentor, MN	12 mi	687	$95,000	$417,100
56592	Winger, MN	12 mi	550	$59,167	$140,900
56517	Beltrami, MN	13 mi	255	$92,500	$167,700
56535	Erskine, MN	14 mi	1,307	$65,536	$233,600
56516	Bejou, MN	16 mi	352	$69,250	$183,300
56510	Ada, MN	17 mi	2,292	$70,000	$145,700
56716	Crookston, MN	19 mi	8,903	$59,744	$196,100
56556	McIntosh, MN	20 mi	1,312	$61,786	$150,600
56584	Twin Valley, MN	22 mi	1,297	$69,625	$131,600
56581	Shelly, MN	23 mi	276	$53,750	$105,900
56568	Nielsville, MN	24 mi	140	$40,000	$94,000

Zip codes like 56540 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56540

What city is zip code 56540?

56540 is assigned to Fertile, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56540 in?

56540 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 56540?

About 1,891 people live in 56540, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56540 in?

56540 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56540?

The median household income in 56540 is $83,646.

What zip codes are near 56540?

The closest zip codes to 56540 are 56545, 56736, 56592, 56517, 56535.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56540, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.