55011 and 55056 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
55011
55056
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 30%
vs39 · Bottom 19%
Growth
59 · Top 35%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
54 · Bottom 3%
vs50 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
56 · Bottom 48%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 20%
vs95 · Top 21%
Schools
41 · Bottom 37%
vs53 · Top 49%
Access
81 · Bottom 22%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
86 · Top 4%
vs78 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 55011 | 55056 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,482 | 14,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $121,434 | $95,679 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $47,106 | $46,415 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 250/sq mi | 148/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $405,300 | $331,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,869 | $1,314 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 95.6% | 85.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 20.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 6.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 69 | 88 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -39.5% | -6.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 1°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 30.7" | 33.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 32 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.7 min | 32.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.4 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.24 | 17.58 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 37.8% | 52.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.8% | 51.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 42.7% | 30.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
55011
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, inland flooding.
55056
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind.
Full profiles: 55011 — East Bethel, MN · 55056 — North Branch, MN · How this is calculated: methodology