Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56343, Kensington, MN

• Gutters in ZIP code 56343

  Douglas County averages 27.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons of water for the gutters to carry.

• Roofing in ZIP code 56343

  7 of the 16 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 from 2016 through March 31, 2026 had hail 1.5 inches or larger. The National Weather Service counts hail of 1 inch or larger as severe.

• Siding in ZIP code 56343

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 77 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56343

  57% of homes in ZIP code 56343 were built before 1980. A home built before 1980 was built before the energy codes in force today were written.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); American Community Survey 2023, 5-year; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

ZIP code 56343 is filed here under Kensington, in Douglas County, Minnesota; its center is about 82 miles southwest of our Brainerd office. ZIP code 56343 also extends into Pope County, Stevens County and Grant County. Our address file holds 621 address points in ZIP code 56343. Of the cities and towns on our pages, ZIP code 56343 covers only Kensington.

Source: Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area, county and place boundaries (a ZIP code can also take in land outside any city or town).

ZIP code 56343 has 518 housing units, and 93% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Mobile homes make up 5% of the housing units.

The median home in ZIP code 56343 was built in 1974. 57% of homes in ZIP code 56343 were built before 1980, and 30% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 173 homes.

89% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56343 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56343 is valued at $232,300. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56343, 3% heat with utility gas, 19% with electricity, 64% with bottled or tank gas, 5% with fuel oil and 7% with wood.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040), for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56343.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56327 in Farwell (4.6 miles southeast), 56339 in Hoffman (6.4 miles west), 56349 in Lowry (9.5 miles southeast), 56323 in Cyrus (11 miles south), 56311 in Barrett (12 miles northwest) and 56315 in Brandon (14 miles north). The table sets ZIP code 56343 beside the 8 ZIP codes nearest to it, using the same Census figures for each.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year, by ZIP Code Tabulation Area; distances are straight lines between ZIP code centers.

The NOAA Storm Events Database records 16 hail events, 10 thunderstorm-wind events and 3 tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 from 2016 through March 31, 2026 for hail and through September 22, 2025 for thunderstorm wind and tornadoes. The largest hail on record there in that period was 2 inches on July 31, 2024, near Farwell. 7 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56343 was 70 mph wind on June 13, 2017, 3.3 miles away near Kensington. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 was on July 31, 2024: 1.25 in hail near Hoffman. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 was on June 18, 2024, near Hoffman. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56343 in that period was 77 mph. The busiest year was 2019, with 7 events in all.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

This page is filed under Kensington, which is in Douglas County; the ratings below are that county's. Douglas County scores 47.7 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 72nd of 87 Minnesota counties. Douglas County scores 73.1 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 33rd of 87 Minnesota counties. Douglas County scores 91.8 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 10th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Douglas County is for winter weather, at 91.8 of 100.

Douglas County averages 27.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Douglas County is 42°F.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, 2026 release; rank among the state's counties computed from the scores; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

Our Brainerd office is at 217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401, about 82 miles from the center of ZIP code 56343. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (218) 833-2997.

• Brainerd office: address, hours and map