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Area data

Wells, MN — ZIP 56097

Population: 3,487 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in ZIP 56097 (Wells, MN) is $186,251 — up 3.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $174,000 after a median 41 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, cold wave, hail the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 11.4% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$186,251

Typical home value

+3.7%

1-year change

41

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$186,251
1-year appreciation
+3.7%
3-year appreciation
+16.5%
5-year appreciation
+45.1%
10-year appreciation
+102.9%
Peak value since 2000 (May 2026)
$188,436
House Price Index (state)
442.4 (+2.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$174,000
Median list price
$199,950
Median price per sqft
$91
1-year sale-price change
-21.8%
Median days on market
41 days
Homes sold (recent period)
11
For-sale inventory
16
Sale-to-list ratio
96.6%
Active listings
12
1-year forecast
+1.8%
New listings (monthly)
3

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$706/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$859/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,014/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,386/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,391/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
88.6 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$11.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
1
Avg student-teacher ratio
13.4 : 1
Schools include
UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL ELEMENTARY, UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, cold wave, hail, strong wind, winter weather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · cold wave: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · winter weather: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 3% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
35.2%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
33.3 in
Annual snowfall
48.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
4b (extreme annual low -25 to -20°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
13
Nearest airport
Wells Municipal Airport (7 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
10
Hospitals include
KOSSUTH REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER, MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM - ALBERT LEA AND AUSTIN, OWATONNA HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.1 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+56 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1953
Housing built before 1970
71.6%
Housing built 2000 or later
6.7%
Median annual property tax
$1,480
Mean commute to work
18 min
Households with broadband internet
73.7%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
3,598
Average weekly wage
$1,063
Top industries (by employment)
Other Services, Construction, Finance & Insurance
Annual residential building permits (county)
6

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 56097State medianUS median
Typical home value$186,251$300,176$288,527
Median sale price$174,000$315,500$325,000
Median days on market41 days39 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,480$2,128$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in ZIP 56097?
$186,251.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 56097?
$174,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 56097?
Median days on market: 41 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 56097?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,014/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 56097?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, cold wave, hail, strong wind, winter weather.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 56097?
Risk to homes is higher than 3% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 56097?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 56097?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 56097?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 56097?
Regional Price Parity: 88.6 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents