The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 56159 sells for about $185,000, or $112 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.8% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 94 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $921 a month.
ZIP 56159 — Mountain Lake
The housing market in 56159 remains stable with low inventory and modest price appreciation. Activity is driven by local demand and limited supply, keeping the market balanced for current residents.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking an affordable, quiet, small-town lifestyle with a low cost of living.
Median prices moved up 2.8% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 94 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
17% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.1% · poverty 14.9% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 56159, Cottonwood County MN
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by Mountain Lake Public School District, which maintains a small-town educational environment.
The region is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional winter storm impacts.
The local economy is primarily driven by agriculture and small-scale manufacturing, with stable but slow economic momentum.
Property taxes are assessed at the county level in Cottonwood County, with rates determined by local school district and municipal levies.
Commutes are primarily local or involve short drives to nearby regional hubs like Windom or Worthington.
Local amenities include Mountain Lake City Park and proximity to the namesake lake, offering basic outdoor recreation and community gathering spaces.
The rental market is limited in depth, consisting primarily of single-family homes and small multi-family units with low turnover.
The economy is anchored by agricultural production, food processing, and local service-sector businesses.
Transportation is heavily reliant on personal vehicles, with Highway 60 serving as the primary regional corridor.
Development is focused on small-scale residential maintenance and minor commercial improvements.
Cottonwood County Assessor manages property valuations based on market-value assessments.
Parcels are subject to Mountain Lake ISD and local county-level utility and emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional exposure to wind and hail damage.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 56159 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Provides local green space and recreational facilities.
A central natural feature providing fishing and scenic views.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.