Lake Valley is a township in Traverse County, Minnesota, home to about 332 people across 59 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56296.
Homes sold for a median of $73 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Wheaton; part is in Lake Valley
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Lake Valley. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Lake Valley’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Lake Valley 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)171 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY)70 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN167 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL517 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Lake Valley; 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.
Lake Valley had 198 residents in the 2020 census, down 28% since 2000.
It’s the 1388th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Traverse County grew from 7,573 residents in 1900 to 3,360 in 2020.
Traverse 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 3°F. About 25.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 43 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wheaton, MN weather station (about a mile away).
732 jobs at 121 businesses in Traverse County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
18 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Lake Valley.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 2 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 2 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 4 |
| Mental health providers | 1 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 7 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| 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.
Parks (2 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 5 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 Wheaton Area Public School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson ElementaryWheaton | Pre-K–5 | 177 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| Wheaton SecondaryWheaton | 6–12 | 175 | Public | 1.2 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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Shares ZIP codes with Wheaton, Monson, Walls, Clifton Township (Traverse County), Taylor Township (Traverse County), Croke and Dollymount.
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.