56401 ZIP Code — Brainerd, MN
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
ZIP code 56401 is located in Brainerd, Minnesota, within Crow Wing County. It covers approximately 322.57 square miles and serves a population of 31,347 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 218.
About ZIP code 56401
The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 2000s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $219,400. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 73%.
Median household income is $62,275. 33% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 21 minutes is near the national average.
Educational attainment is near the national average, with 23% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (20%) compared to national benchmarks.
31,347
population
322.57
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Central (CT)
timezone
56401 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 56401
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 56401. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Brainerd | Acceptable |
| Brainerd | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
56425 Baxter (7.5 mi)
56455 Ironton (10.6 mi)
56449 Fort Ripley (10.6 mi)
56444 Deerwood (13.2 mi)
56468 Nisswa (13.6 mi)
56465 Merrifield (13.8 mi)
56465 Merrifield (13.8 mi)
56450 Garrison (14.5 mi)
56473 Pillager (17.5 mi)
56441 Crosby (19.3 mi)
Demographics
updated 06/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 31,347 |
| Population density | 97 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 27 |
| County FIPS | 035 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 322.57 sq mi |
| Water area | 41.47 sq mi |
| Latitude | 46.3217 |
| Longitude | -94.1168 |
| Timezone | Central (CT) |
| Area code | 218 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 06/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 45.3% | 42.2% | 33.6% |
| $50k – $100k | 32.7% | 33.1% | 31.5% |
| $100k – $200k | 18.5% | 20.8% | 26.5% |
| Over $200k | 3.4% | 3.9% | 8.5% |
Demographics & statistics
31,347
Population
97
People per sq mi
39.9
Median age
$62,275
Median household income
$33,237
Per capita income
$219,400
Median home value
$838
Median monthly rent
73.3%
Home ownership
12.2%
Poverty rate
5.2%
Unemployment
12,359
Housing units
22.6%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
954
Under 5
976
1,165
5–9
1,192
891
10–14
911
817
15–19
835
824
20–24
843
2,012
25–34
2,058
1,977
35–44
2,021
1,600
45–54
1,635
1,073
55–59
1,098
1,231
60–64
1,258
1,775
65–74
1,814
855
75–84
874
325
85+
333
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 7,129 | 22.7% |
| 18 and over | 24,218 | 77.3% |
| 65 and over | 5,976 | 19.1% |
| Median age | 39.9 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
92.6%
Hispanic or Latino
2.2%
Two or more races
2.1%
Other race
1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.9%
Black or African American
0.6%
Asian
0.4%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 29,696 | 92.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 709 | 2.2% |
| Two or more races | 663 | 2.1% |
| Other race | 399 | 1.2% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 274 | 0.9% |
| Black or African American | 180 | 0.6% |
| Asian | 135 | 0.4% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 45.3% | 42.2% | 33.6% |
| $50k – $100k | 32.7% | 33.1% | 31.5% |
| $100k – $200k | 18.5% | 20.8% | 26.5% |
| Over $200k | 3.4% | 3.9% | 8.5% |
Under $10k
3.9%
$10k–$15k
4.5%
$15k–$25k
8.3%
$25k–$35k
9.1%
$35k–$50k
14.0%
$50k–$75k
19.6%
$75k–$100k
14.2%
$100k–$150k
15.7%
$150k–$200k
4.7%
$200k+
5.9%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 3.9% |
| $10k–$15k | 4.5% |
| $15k–$25k | 8.3% |
| $25k–$35k | 9.1% |
| $35k–$50k | 14.0% |
| $50k–$75k | 19.6% |
| $75k–$100k | 14.2% |
| $100k–$150k | 15.7% |
| $150k–$200k | 4.7% |
| $200k+ | 5.9% |
| Median income | $62,275 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
6.0%
$50k–$100k
6.4%
$100k–$150k
13.9%
$150k–$200k
16.9%
$200k–$300k
27.9%
$300k–$500k
19.9%
$500k–$1M
7.5%
$1M+
1.5%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,400 |
| Median rent / month | $838 |
| Owner occupied | 73.3% |
| Renter occupied | 26.7% |
| Vacant | 18.9% |
| Single-family detached | 76.3% |
| Large apartment buildings | 4.6% |
| Mobile homes | 7.1% |
| Median rooms | 5.5 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.49 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.3% |
| 2010–2019 | 6.5% |
| 2000–2009 | 17.7% |
| 1990–1999 | 16.6% |
| 1980–1989 | 13.9% |
| 1970–1979 | 14.8% |
| 1960–1969 | 7.2% |
| 1950–1959 | 8.0% |
| 1940–1949 | 4.6% |
| 1939 or earlier | 10.4% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 2.9% |
| 1 bedroom | 9.9% |
| 2 bedrooms | 25.8% |
| 3 bedrooms | 36.2% |
| 4 bedrooms | 19.1% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 6.0% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 5.9% |
| 1 vehicle | 30.6% |
| 2 vehicles | 40.7% |
| 3 or more | 22.9% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 55.6% |
| Electricity | 19.1% |
| Propane / LP gas | 17.7% |
| Fuel oil | 1.4% |
| Wood | 4.8% |
| No fuel used | 0.7% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 6,325 | 49.4% |
| Cohabiting couple | 1,183 | 9.2% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 2,334 | 18.2% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 2,955 | 23.1% |
| Households with children under 18 | 3,567 | 27.9% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 3,940 | 30.8% |
| Average household size | 2.39 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 34.9% | 27.7% |
| Married | 52.1% | 51.6% |
| Separated | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Widowed | 2.5% | 9.5% |
| Divorced | 10.1% | 10.5% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
1.2%
Some HS, no diploma
5.4%
HS graduate
31.8%
Some college, no degree
26.0%
Associate's degree
13.0%
Bachelor's degree
15.1%
Graduate / professional
7.4%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 93.4% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 489 | 7.7% |
| Kindergarten | 452 | 7.1% |
| Elementary school | 3,183 | 49.9% |
| High school | 1,308 | 20.5% |
| College / grad school | 953 | 14.9% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
24.3%
Retail trade
12.3%
Arts, food & hospitality
11.1%
Manufacturing
10.8%
Construction
10.4%
Finance & real estate
6.8%
Professional & management
6.4%
Transportation & utilities
5.2%
Public administration
4.1%
Other services
3.4%
Information
1.9%
Wholesale trade
1.8%
Agriculture & mining
1.4%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 34.4% |
| Service | 18.9% |
| Sales & office | 19.1% |
| Natural resources & construction | 11.3% |
| Production & transportation | 16.4% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 81.1% |
| Government | 11.6% |
| Self-employed | 6.9% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.3% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 79.2% |
| Carpool | 9.8% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Walk | 2.1% |
| Work from home | 6.7% |
| Other means | 1.4% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 21.1 |
Poverty
All people
12.2%
Under 18 years
17.7%
18 and over
10.5%
Married-couple families
3.8%
Female-led households
36.7%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 32.5% |
| Retirement income | 23.0% |
| Supplemental Security | 6.6% |
| Cash public assistance | 3.8% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 11.0% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 37.3% |
| High blood pressure | 29.8% |
| High cholesterol | 28.2% |
| Diabetes | 9.4% |
| Heart disease | 6.3% |
| Stroke | 3.1% |
| Asthma | 9.1% |
| Arthritis | 24.6% |
| Kidney disease | 2.9% |
| Pulmonary disease | 6.1% |
| Cancer | 6.9% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 20.3% |
| Binge drinking | 20.9% |
| No physical activity | 21.7% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 28.5% |
| Depression | 22.8% |
| Fair or poor health | 12.8% |
| Poor mental health | 14.0% |
| Poor physical health | 10.1% |
| No health insurance | 11.3% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 71.6% |
| Visited dentist | 62.1% |
| Cholesterol screening | 87.5% |
| Teeth loss | 12.6% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 2,000 | 8.3% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 15.1% |
| Under 18 | 5.1% |
| 18–64 years | 14.1% |
| 65 and over | 30.6% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 61.8% |
| Public insurance | 48.7% |
| No insurance | 6.9% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 4.0% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 29,417 | 93.8% |
| Spanish | 228 | 0.8% |
| Other Indo-European | 69 | 0.2% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 61 | 0.2% |
| Other languages | 46 | 0.2% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 30,955 | 98.7% |
| Born in same state | 30,806 | 98.3% |
| Born in different state | 25,415 | 81.1% |
| Foreign born | 149 | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizen | 392 | 1.3% |
| Not a US citizen | 262 | 66.8% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Polish | 3,886 | 12.4% |
| Italian | 3,320 | 10.6% |
| French | 2,339 | 7.5% |
| Arab | 1,271 | 4.1% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| German | 432 | 1.4% |
| English | 417 | 1.3% |
| Dutch | 327 | 1% |
| Irish | 82 | 0.3% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 40.8% |
| Internet access | 94.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 56401
What city is ZIP code 56401 in?
ZIP code 56401 is primarily assigned to Brainerd, Minnesota.
What county is ZIP code 56401 in?
ZIP code 56401 falls within Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
What is the population of ZIP code 56401?
ZIP code 56401 has an estimated population of 31,347 residents, with a density of 97 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in ZIP code 56401?
The median household income in ZIP code 56401 is $62,275, below the national median of ~$75,000.
What is the typical home value in ZIP code 56401?
The median home value in ZIP code 56401 is $219,400.
What timezone is ZIP code 56401 in?
ZIP code 56401 observes the CST timezone.