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Area data

Fosston, MN — ZIP 56542

Population: 2,486 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in ZIP 56542 (Fosston, MN) is $226,722 — up 6.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $422,500 after a median 96 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 cold wave, winter weather, drought 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

$226,722

Typical home value

+6.7%

1-year change

96

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$226,722
1-year appreciation
+6.7%
3-year appreciation
+17.6%
5-year appreciation
+31.8%
10-year appreciation
+61.9%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$226,722
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
$422,500
Median list price
$249,500
Median price per sqft
$128
1-year sale-price change
+16.2%
Median days on market
96 days
Homes sold (recent period)
6
For-sale inventory
9
Sale-to-list ratio
95.3%
Active listings
5
1-year forecast
+3.8%

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

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$816/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$821/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,014/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,404/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,695/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
12.9 : 1
Schools include
FOSSTON SECONDARY, MAGELSSEN ELEMENTARY

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

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
cold wave, winter weather, drought, hail, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
cold wave: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 56% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
46.8%
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)

Average annual temperature
40.0°F
Average high
51.0°F
Average low
29.0°F
Annual precipitation
25.0 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
3b (extreme annual low -35 to -30°F)

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

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
13
Nearest airport
Fertile Municipal Airport (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) (33 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.6 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)
-118 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1970
Housing built before 1970
49.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
14.9%
Median annual property tax
$1,893
Mean commute to work
15 min
Households with broadband internet
71.2%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
9,450
Average weekly wage
$1,085
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
42

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

How it compares

ZIP 56542State medianUS median
Typical home value$226,722$300,176$288,527
Median sale price$422,500$315,500$325,000
Median days on market96 days39 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,893$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 56542?
$226,722.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 56542?
$422,500.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 56542?
Median days on market: 96 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 56542?
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 56542?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: cold wave, winter weather, drought, hail, strong wind.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 56542?
Risk to homes is higher than 56% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 56542?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 56542?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 56542?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 56542?
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