Carlston is a township in Freeborn County, Minnesota, home to about 277 people across 33 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56009, 56032 and 56097.
Homes sold for a median of $100 per square foot across 3 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 3 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Alden City; part is in Carlston
Mostly Freeborn City; part is in Carlston
Mostly Wells City; part is in Carlston
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Carlston. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Carlston’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Carlston well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)86 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)39 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN91 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL327 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Carlston; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Carlston had 302 residents in the 2020 census, down 9% since 2000.
It’s the 1535th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Freeborn County grew from 21,838 residents in 1900 to 30,895 in 2020.
Freeborn County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 5°F. About 34.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 40 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wells, MN weather station (7 miles away).
10,861 jobs at 755 businesses in Freeborn County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
12 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Carlston’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 4 |
| Mental health providers | 5 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Libraries
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Alden-Conger Public School District, Southern MN Education Consortium, United South Central Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden-Conger ElementaryAlden | Pre-K–6 | 229 | Public | 2.6 mi |
| First Step AldenAlden | Pre-K | 3 | Special Education | 2.6 mi |
| United South Central ElementaryWells | Pre-K–6 | 420 | Public | 6.8 mi |
| Enrich AldenAlden | K–12 | 17 | Special Education | 2.6 mi |
| Alden-Conger SecondaryAlden | 7–12 | 215 | Public | 2.6 mi |
| United South Central High SchoolWells | 7–12 | 343 | Public | 6.8 mi |
| Next Step West (Alden)Alden | 8–12 | 6 | Special Education | 2.5 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Casimir's SchoolWells | K–5 | 25 | Roman Catholic | 6.9 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Carlston? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Wells City, Alden City, Freeborn City, Alden Township (Freeborn County), Dunbar, Clark Township (Faribault County), Manchester Township, Foster Township (Faribault County), Pickerel Lake, Walnut Lake, Mansfield, Freeborn Township, Minnesota Lake Township, Walters, Conger and Manchester City.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.