The Town FilesHawley, Minnesota
City in Clay County · population 2,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,400
- Household income
- $99,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.1
Hawley is a city of 2,219 people in Clay County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $280,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 76% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 75% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Hawley 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 Hawley is worth $280,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $99,188, which is more affordable than 77% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hawley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $733 | $991 |
| Median household income | $99,188 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hawley
| People | Hawley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hawley
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows -0.3°F. About 26.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hawley since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 20, 1957 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 29, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 12, 2004.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 19,702 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,697 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Hawley itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Hawley
6 public schools with 1,162 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAWLEY ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 592 | 16.0 |
| HAWLEY SECONDARY | 7-12 | 452 | 15.6 |
| Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative | PK-PK | 66 | 33.0 |
| INTENSIVE INTERAGENCY PROGRAM | 7-12 | 19 | 9.5 |
| SPRING PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 18 | 9.0 |
| Glacial Ridge Transitional Skills P | 7-12 | 15 | 7.5 |
Towns near Hawley
- Eglon, MN4.5 mi · 708 people · home $417,900
- Spring Prairie, MN8.7 mi · 506 people · home $305,600
- Parke, MN8.8 mi · 526 people · home $414,900
- Lake Park, MN10.0 mi · 549 people · home $455,800
- Lake Park, MN10.5 mi · 728 people · home $196,500
- Glyndon, MN12.2 mi · 1,306 people · home $264,800
- Cormorant, MN12.3 mi · 1,388 people · home $474,100
- Audubon, MN15.9 mi · 560 people · home $207,000
Hawley questions
Is Hawley, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hawley scores better for retirees than 75% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 50%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Hawley?
The median owner-occupied home in Hawley is valued at $280,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,188, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Hawley?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows -0.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does Hawley get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hawley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 20, 1957. 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)