Sylvan is a township in Cass County, Minnesota, home to about 2,982 people across 31 square miles. Its ZIP code is 56473, and parts of 56401 are in Sylvan too.
Homes sold for a median of $203 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Sylvan; also Pillager and May Township (Cass County)
Mostly Brainerd; part is in Sylvan
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Sylvan. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Sylvan’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)117 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)14 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN111 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL457 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Sylvan; 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.
Sylvan had 2,889 residents in the 2020 census, up 47% since 2000.
It’s the 245th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Cass County grew from 7,777 residents in 1900 to 30,066 in 2020.
Cass County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average -1°F. About 27 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Gull Lake Dam, MN weather station (4 miles away).
7,493 jobs at 891 businesses in Cass County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
11 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Sylvan.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 1 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 4 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 3 |
| Optometrists | 2 |
| 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
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 3.5 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 Pillager Public School District, Central Lakes Adventure School. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pillager ElementaryPillager | Pre-K–4 | 521 | Public | 3.7 mi |
| Pillager Middle SchoolPillager | 5–8 | 433 | Public | 3.7 mi |
| Central Lakes Adventure SchoolPillager | 7–12 | 36 | Charter | 3.9 mi |
| Pillager Senior High SchoolPillager | 9–12 | 370 | Public | 3.7 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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Shares ZIP codes with Brainerd, First Assessment UT, Crow Wing, Oak Lawn, Long Lake Township (Crow Wing County), East Gull Lake, Nokay Lake, Maple Grove Township (Crow Wing County), Garrison Township, Pillager, May Township (Cass County), Daggett Brook, Fairview Township (Cass County), Fort Ripley, Platte Lake, Roosevelt Township (Crow Wing County) and Rosing.
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.