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Living in
Hastings.
About
Life in Hastings
Hastings is a community of 22,050 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $93,998, median rent runs about $1,184 per month, and median home values are around $322,400. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Hastings at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
2.5%
Broadband Internet
90.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Hastings: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hastings, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (18.1%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
49.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Hastings
In Hastings, rent runs 8% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,160
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $381,268 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Hastings and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dakota County, which includes Hastings, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Hastings: Dakota County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dakota County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hastings Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute25.3 min avg
How Hastings residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hastings, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hastings runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
88.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
823.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hastings Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dakota County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dakota County, which includes Hastings, the most common type is hail, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 18 | Hail | $2.1M |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $153,700 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dakota County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dakota County, which includes Hastings, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Dakota County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hastings has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 9°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/9°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.3"
Annual Snowfall
41.0"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
150
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 6°F | 0.90" |
| Feb | 29°F | 9°F | 0.91" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.78" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.10" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 4.33" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.94" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.37" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.23" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 59°F | 40°F | 2.61" |
| Nov | 43°F | 27°F | 1.72" |
| Dec | 30°F | 14°F | 1.23" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hastings
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hastings's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Woodbury
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hastings
Hastings's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 30.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hastings (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
14.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,205 students · in-state tuition $9,436 · 63% graduate · median earnings $56,914 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,193 students · in-state tuition $6,583 · 28% graduate · median earnings $56,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Dakota County Technical College
11 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,168 students · in-state tuition $6,909 · 52% graduate · median earnings $56,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hastings
Hastings has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
19 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hastings
Hastings: Pleasant Hill Library
1490 Frontage Road, Hastings
Cities Near Hastings
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hastings?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hastings FAQ
Is Hastings, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Hastings's median rent is $1,183/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $93,998/year. Median home value is $322,400.
Is Hastings, Minnesota safe?⌄
Hastings's violent crime rate was 89 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 823 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hastings, Minnesota?⌄
Dakota County, which includes Hastings, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hastings, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Hastings is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,183/month and median household income is $93,998/year. The median home value is $322,400. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hastings, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Hastings is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from