Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56097, Wells, MN

• Gutters in ZIP code 56097

  Faribault County averages 34.2 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 56097

  2 of the 5 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 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 56097

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 83 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56097

  85% of homes in ZIP code 56097 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 56097 is filed here under Wells, in Faribault County, Minnesota; its center is about 65 miles west of our Rochester office. ZIP code 56097 also extends into Freeborn County. Our address file holds 1,888 address points in ZIP code 56097. ZIP code 56097 reaches into 2 cities and towns on our pages: Wells (1,169 address points) and Walters (49). Wells holds the most of its address points, so this page sits under Wells.

Source: Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas and address points (a ZIP code can also take in land outside any city or town).

ZIP code 56097 has 1,801 housing units, and 89% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Another 1% are attached homes such as townhomes.

The median home in ZIP code 56097 was built in 1952. 85% of homes in ZIP code 56097 were built before 1980, and 7% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 677 homes.

80% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56097 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56097 is valued at $118,000. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56097, 60% heat with utility gas, 8% with electricity, 28% with bottled or tank gas and 2% with wood.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040), for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56097.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56009 in Alden (8.9 miles southeast), 56068 in Minnesota Lake (11 miles northwest), 56014 in Bricelyn (11 miles southwest), 56051 in Kiester (13 miles south), 56042 in Hartland (13 miles northeast) and 56072 in New Richland (16 miles northeast). The table sets ZIP code 56097 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 5 hail events, 9 thunderstorm-wind events and 11 tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 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 1.75 inches on May 25, 2018, near Alden. 2 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56097 was EF0 tornado on August 5, 2024, 1.5 miles away near Wells. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 was on April 28, 2025: 1.25 in hail near Conger. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 was on August 9, 2025, near Alden. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56097 in that period was 83 mph. The busiest year was 2025, with 12 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 Wells, which is in Faribault County; the ratings below are that county's. Faribault County scores 76.1 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 35th of 87 Minnesota counties. Faribault County scores 73.3 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 32nd of 87 Minnesota counties. Faribault County scores 80.8 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 21st of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Faribault County is for tornado, at 80.8 of 100.

Faribault County averages 34.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Faribault County is 45.7°F.

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

Our Rochester office is at 3470 55th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901, about 65 miles from the center of ZIP code 56097. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (507) 606-2707.

• Rochester office: address, hours and map