Pickerel Lake is a township in Freeborn County, Minnesota, home to about 742 people across 35 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56007 and 56009.
Homes sold for a median of $119 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Albert Lea; part is in Pickerel Lake
Mostly Alden City; part is in Pickerel Lake
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Pickerel Lake. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Pickerel Lake’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Pickerel Lake 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)85 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)34 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN91 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL317 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Pickerel Lake; 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.
Pickerel Lake had 643 residents in the 2020 census, down 14% since 2000.
It’s the 780th 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 6°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 40 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Albert Lea 3se, 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).
212 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Pickerel Lake’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 21 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 37 |
| Dentists | 13 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 51 |
| Mental health providers | 51 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 24 |
| Optometrists | 7 |
| Chiropractors | 8 |
| Pharmacies | 7 |
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 (28 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
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, Albert Lea Public School District, Southern MN Education Consortium. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden-Conger ElementaryAlden | Pre-K–6 | 229 | Public | 7.5 mi |
| Brookside Early Childhood Sp EdAlbert Lea | Pre-K | 68 | Special Education | 2.9 mi |
| First Step AldenAlden | Pre-K | 3 | Special Education | 7.5 mi |
| Halverson ElementaryAlbert Lea | Pre-K–5 | 360 | Public | 3.8 mi |
| Hawthorne ElementaryAlbert Lea | Pre-K–5 | 400 | Public | 3.6 mi |
| Lakeview ElementaryAlbert Lea | Pre-K–5 | 400 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| Sibley ElementaryAlbert Lea | Pre-K–5 | 275 | Public | 2.0 mi |
| Enrich AldenAlden | K–12 | 17 | Special Education | 7.5 mi |
| Albert Lea Area Learning CenterAlbert Lea | 6–12 | 113 | Alternative Education | 2.9 mi |
| Albert Lea Secondary Online AcademyAlbert Lea | 6–12 | 37 | Public | 2.9 mi |
| Southwest MiddleAlbert Lea | 6–7 | 486 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Alden-Conger SecondaryAlden | 7–12 | 215 | Public | 7.5 mi |
| Albert Lea Senior HighAlbert Lea | 8–12 | 1,196 | Public | 4.1 mi |
| Next Step West (Alden)Alden | 8–12 | 6 | Special Education | 7.6 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Theodore's ElAlbert Lea | Pre-K–5 | 78 | Roman Catholic | 3.1 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.
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Shares ZIP codes with Albert Lea, Alden City, Bancroft, Albert Lea Township, Alden Township (Freeborn County), Riceland, Manchester Township, Oakland Township (Freeborn County), Carlston, Moscow, Hayward Township, Mansfield, 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.