Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56215, Benson, MN

• Gutters in ZIP code 56215

  Swift County averages 27.8 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 56215

  4 of the 8 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 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 56215

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 84 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56215

  68% of homes in ZIP code 56215 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 56215 is filed here under Benson, in Swift County, Minnesota; its center is about 61 miles north of our Marshall office. ZIP code 56215 also extends into Pope County. Our address file holds 2,525 address points in ZIP code 56215. Of the cities and towns on our pages, ZIP code 56215 covers only Benson.

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 56215 has 2,246 housing units, and 78% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Another 4% are attached homes such as townhomes. Mobile homes make up 1% of the housing units.

The median home in ZIP code 56215 was built in 1960. 68% of homes in ZIP code 56215 were built before 1980, and 14% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 519 homes.

70% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56215 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56215 is valued at $161,400. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56215, 56% heat with utility gas, 20% with electricity, 18% with bottled or tank gas and 4% with fuel oil.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040), for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56215.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56271 in Murdock (9.1 miles southeast), 56244 in Hancock (16 miles northwest), 56252 in Kerkhoven (16 miles southeast), 56381 in Starbuck (17 miles north), 56289 in Sunburg (17 miles east) and 56262 in Milan (19 miles southwest). The table sets ZIP code 56215 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 8 hail events, 13 thunderstorm-wind events and 3 tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 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 2.75 inches on August 28, 2021, near Danvers. 4 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56215 was 1 in hail on July 4, 2016, 1.1 miles away near Benson. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 was on August 28, 2021: 2.75 in hail near Danvers. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 was on July 27, 2025, near De Graff. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56215 in that period was 84 mph. The busiest year was 2017, with 6 events in all.

Apart from those database entries, NOAA weather radar indicated hail of 1 inch or larger over Benson on 2 days from January 2025 on, most recently June 5, 2026. A radar indication is an estimate, not a report from the ground, and the counts and tables on this page do not include it.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates (for the city of Benson).

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 Benson, which is in Swift County; the ratings below are that county's. Swift County scores 66.8 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 48th of 87 Minnesota counties. Swift County scores 43.3 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 56th of 87 Minnesota counties. Swift County scores 68.5 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 44th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Swift County is for winter weather, at 68.5 of 100.

Swift County averages 27.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Swift County is 44°F.

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

Our Marshall office is at 408 E Main St Ste 3, Marshall, MN 56258, about 61 miles from the center of ZIP code 56215. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (507) 606-2707.

• Marshall office: address, hours and map