Emerald is a township in Faribault County, Minnesota, home to about 174 people across 36 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56013 and 56033.
Homes sold for a median of $103 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Population1745 per sq mi
Median home value$222,800Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$103Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Emerald. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Emerald guide is on the way
We’re writing up Emerald’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
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Around Emerald
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)96 miles away
Closer regional airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)48 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN100 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL346 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Emerald; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents Emerald
U.S. Representative · Minnesota’s 1st DistrictBrad Finstad (R)
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Emerald had 210 residents in the 2020 census, down 8% since 2000.
It’s the 1967th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Faribault County grew from 22,055 residents in 1900 to 13,921 in 2020.
Faribault County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 6°F. About 34 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 47 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Winnebago, MN weather station (11 miles away).
Jobs in Faribault County
3,758 jobs at 379 businesses in Faribault County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
33 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Emerald’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
United Hospital DistrictCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · Blue Earth2.4 miles
Mayo Clinic Health System - FairmontGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · Fairmont19.8 miles
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and AustinGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · Albert Lea34.2 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
9
Specialist doctors
2
Dentists
2
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
10
Mental health providers
4
Optometrists
2
Chiropractors
4
Pharmacies
3
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.
Places in and around Emerald
Parks (2 nearby)
Faribault County Fairground · 53 acres2.9 mi
Steinberg Nature Park · 13 acres1.8 mi
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Juba's Supervalu2.5 mi
Libraries (1 nearby)
Blue Earth Community Library2.6 mi
Museums (3 nearby)
Wakefield House Museum2.3 mi
Etta C Ross Museum2.4 mi
Southern Minnesota Museum of Natural History2.6 mi
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by Blue Earth Area School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(4)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Blue Earth Area Early Childhood SpeBlue Earth
Pre-K
8
Special Education
2.4 mi
Blue Earth Area ElementaryBlue Earth
Pre-K–5
515
Public
2.5 mi
Blue Earth Area MiddleBlue Earth
6–7
163
Public
2.4 mi
Blue Earth Area SecondaryBlue Earth
8–12
378
Public
2.7 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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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.