Zip code 56542: Fosston, Minnesota

Q: What city is zip code 56542?

56542 is assigned to Fosston, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 56542 in?

56542 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 56542?

About 2,486 people live in 56542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 56542?

The median household income in 56542 is $59,706.

Q: What zip codes are near 56542?

The closest zip codes to 56542 are 56651, 56556, 56592, 56516, 56646.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyCentral Time

Population

2,486

Median household income

$60K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$186K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$788/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

180 sq mi

14 people/sq mi

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

About 56542

56542 is a rural zip code in Fosston, Minnesota (Polk County), covering 180 sq mi of land. About 2,486 people live here, or 14 per square mile. The median resident is 42.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,706 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 17.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $186,300, or 3.1 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 $788 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.9 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare, management and education.

How 56542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers14.9%
95th
U.S. 9.7% · MN 10.9%99th of 852 in MN
Residents 65 and older24.6%
91st
U.S. 17.2% · MN 17.3%230th of 854 in MN
Government workers20.6%
86th
U.S. 14.5% · MN 12.9%89th of 852 in MN
Housing vacancy14.4%
85th
U.S. 10.1% · MN 9.3%299th of 851 in MN
Veterans8.2%
79th
U.S. 6.2% · MN 5.9%266th of 854 in MN
Poverty rate17.5%
78th
U.S. 12.5% · MN 9.3%74th of 852 in MN
Median age42.9
76th
U.S. 38.9 · MN 38.8388th of 854 in MN
Unemployment rate6.6%
75th
U.S. 5.2% · MN 4.1%102nd of 853 in MN
Self-employed workers11.7%
75th
U.S. 10% · MN 9.3%435th of 852 in MN
Residents under 1824.5%
71st
U.S. 22% · MN 22.9%286th of 854 in MN
Income inequality (Gini)0.442
56th
U.S. 0.483 · MN 0.453214th of 848 in MN
Homeownership rate68.2%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · MN 72.2%755th of 851 in MN
Median earnings per worker$46,406
45th
U.S. $49,666 · MN $54,389559th of 851 in MN
Uninsured rate6.1%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · MN 4.7%215th of 853 in MN
Bachelor's degree or higher25.4%
35th
U.S. 35.7% · MN 39.4%375th of 854 in MN
Per capita income$32,663
26th
U.S. $44,673 · MN $48,237746th of 853 in MN
Median household income$59,706
20th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MN $89,062748th of 846 in MN
Median home value$186,300
18th
U.S. $332,700 · MN $329,300587th of 842 in MN
Broadband access86.6%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MN 91.6%595th of 851 in MN
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · MN 4%508th of 852 in MN
Work from home6.6%
14th
U.S. 15.1% · MN 17.6%728th of 852 in MN
Rent-burdened renters39.2%
14th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MN 48.1%471st of 828 in MN
Diversity index14
7th
U.S. 61.4 · MN 41.1573rd of 854 in MN
Median gross rent$788
6th
U.S. $1,413 · MN $1,280549th of 757 in MN
Foreign-born residents1.1%
6th
U.S. 14.1% · MN 8.7%563rd of 854 in MN
Population2,486
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MN 5,739,445373rd of 854 in MN
Population density14/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MN 72/sq mi588th of 854 in MN
Average commute15.9 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MN 22.7 min803rd of 849 in MN

Measure	56542	Polk	MN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MN
Healthcare workers	14.9%	10.9%	10.9%	9.7%	95th	99th of 852
Residents 65 and older	24.6%	19.1%	17.3%	17.2%	91st	230th of 854
Government workers	20.6%	17.6%	12.9%	14.5%	86th	89th of 852
Housing vacancy	14.4%	15.9%	9.3%	10.1%	85th	299th of 851
Veterans	8.2%	6.2%	5.9%	6.2%	79th	266th of 854
Poverty rate	17.5%	11.9%	9.3%	12.5%	78th	74th of 852
Median age	42.9	39.8	38.8	38.9	76th	388th of 854
Unemployment rate	6.6%	3.6%	4.1%	5.2%	75th	102nd of 853
Self-employed workers	11.7%	11.5%	9.3%	10%	75th	435th of 852
Residents under 18	24.5%	24.5%	22.9%	22%	71st	286th of 854
Income inequality (Gini)	0.442	0.434	0.453	0.483	56th	214th of 848
Homeownership rate	68.2%	71.3%	72.2%	65.2%	49th	755th of 851
Median earnings per worker	$46,406	$48,279	$54,389	$49,666	45th	559th of 851
Uninsured rate	6.1%	5.8%	4.7%	8.4%	44th	215th of 853
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.4%	28%	39.4%	35.7%	35th	375th of 854
Per capita income	$32,663	$37,371	$48,237	$44,673	26th	746th of 853
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,706	$73,107	$89,062	$80,734	20th	748th of 846
Median home value	$186,300	$222,800	$329,300	$332,700	18th	587th of 842
Broadband accessWeakness	86.6%	90.4%	91.6%	91%	17th	595th of 851
Tech workers	1.1%	1.5%	4%	3.8%	15th	508th of 852
Work from home	6.6%	5.8%	17.6%	15.1%	14th	728th of 852
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	39.2%	55.1%	48.1%	51.1%	14th	471st of 828
Diversity index	14	28.6	41.1	61.4	7th	573rd of 854
Median gross rent	$788	$855	$1,280	$1,413	6th	549th of 757
Foreign-born residents	1.1%	2.1%	8.7%	14.1%	6th	563rd of 854
Population	2,486	30,705	5,739,445	334,922,499	4th	373rd of 854
Population density	14/sq mi	16/sq mi	72/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	588th of 854
Average commuteStrength	15.9 min	18.6 min	22.7 min	26.4 min	2nd	803rd 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

20%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

10%

35–44

45–54

16%

55–64

12%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

42.9

Under 18

24.5%

65 and over

24.6%

Race and ethnicity

White93%
Black0%
Hispanic2%
Asian0.2%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.1%

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 1,034
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 59.4%
Married couples: 48.2%
Living alone: 34.2%
Veterans (of adults): 8.2%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

56542

$59,706

Polk Co.

$73,107

Minnesota

$89,062

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,663

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

17.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.442

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

56542

$186,300

Polk Co.

$222,800

Minnesota

$329,300

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

56542

$788

Polk Co.

$855

Minnesota

$1,280

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

81%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,208
Owner-occupied: 68.2%
Vacant: 14.4%
Median year built: 1970
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 39.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.4%
Home value to income: 3.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

Transit

0.2%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

46%

10–19

22%

20–29

12%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

57.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

15%

Management

14%

Education

Office and admin

Production

Sales

Transportation and moving

Food service

Construction and repair

Police and fire

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

24%

Manufacturing

13%

Education

13%

Retail

Agriculture and mining

Construction

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Information

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$46,406

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

13.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	56542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,438	$74,888
Service	$34,565	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,639	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$45,000	$49,199
Production and transportation	$48,482	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

31%

Some college

21%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 88.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.7%
Households with broadband: 86.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 71.2%
No internet access: 9%
Without health insurance: 6.1%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Fosston
State: Minnesota
County: Polk County
Center point: 47.5681° N, 95.7278° W
Land area: 180 sq mi
Water area: 10 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

56542 spans 2 counties

Polk County81% of land
Mahnomen County20% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Fosston1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 56542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
56651	Lengby, MN	9.4 mi	667	$80,750	$190,800
56556	McIntosh, MN	9.7 mi	1,312	$61,786	$150,600
56592	Winger, MN	13 mi	550	$59,167	$140,900
56516	Bejou, MN	14 mi	352	$69,250	$183,300
56646	Gully, MN	16 mi	266	$48,750	$205,300
56535	Erskine, MN	17 mi	1,307	$65,536	$233,600
56634	Clearbrook, MN	17 mi	1,801	$64,886	$216,400
56644	Gonvick, MN	18 mi	830	$56,364	$218,300
56621	Bagley, MN	19 mi	4,336	$63,721	$185,000
56557	Mahnomen, MN	19 mi	2,758	$57,731	$143,800
56715	Brooks, MN	19 mi	329	$77,875	$163,200
56684	Trail, MN	21 mi	280	$73,750	$138,800

Zip codes like 56542 elsewhere

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

Questions about 56542

What city is zip code 56542?

56542 is assigned to Fosston, Minnesota. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 56542 in?

56542 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 56542?

About 2,486 people live in 56542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 56542 in?

56542 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 56542?

The median household income in 56542 is $59,706.

What zip codes are near 56542?

The closest zip codes to 56542 are 56651, 56556, 56592, 56516, 56646.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.