The Town FilesHastings, Minnesota
City in Dakota County · population 22,154 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $322,400
- Household income
- $93,998
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.0
Hastings is a city of 22,154 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $322,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 88% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Hastings ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hastings is worth $322,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $93,998, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,183 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hastings | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,183 | $991 |
| Median household income | $93,998 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Hastings
| People | Hastings | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hastings
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hastings since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1954 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 189,387 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,792 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hastings itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Hastings
14 public schools with 4,121 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,390 | 19.9 |
| HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 1,178 | 16.8 |
| CHRISTA MCAULIFFE ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 489 | 14.8 |
| KENNEDY ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 455 | 15.2 |
| PINECREST ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 439 | 14.6 |
| HASTINGS EARLY CHILD SPECIAL ED. | PK-PK | 105 | 26.3 |
| HASTINGS ALTERNATIVE CENTER | 9-12 | 34 | 34.0 |
| 917 Riverside School | 6-12 | 22 | 11.0 |
| STAARS | 12-12 | 5 | 5.0 |
| 917 New Chance | 6-12 | 4 | 4.0 |
| SPECIAL SERVICES | K-8 | — | — |
| Allina Hastings PHP | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hastings
- Prescott, WI3.5 mi · 4,333 people · home $306,900
- Cottage Grove, MN6.4 mi · 38,839 people · home $378,800
- St. Paul Park, MN9.9 mi · 5,544 people · home $263,500
- Rosemount, MN10.6 mi · 25,650 people · home $424,100
- Afton, MN11.7 mi · 2,955 people · home $679,300
- Inver Grove Heights, MN12.1 mi · 35,801 people · home $363,400
- Newport, MN12.1 mi · 3,797 people · home $378,100
- Woodbury, MN12.5 mi · 75,102 people · home $450,200
Hastings questions
Is Hastings, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hastings scores better for retirees than 33% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 10%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Hastings?
The median owner-occupied home in Hastings is valued at $322,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,998, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,183 a month.
What is the weather like in Hastings?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 45.5 inches of snow.
Does Hastings get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hastings since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1954. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)