The Town FilesHayfield, Minnesota
City in Dodge County · population 1,364 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,600
- Household income
- $69,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.8
Hayfield is a city of 1,364 people in Dodge County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $186,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 80% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Hayfield 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 Hayfield is worth $186,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $69,313, which is more affordable than 79% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $935 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hayfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $935 | $991 |
| Median household income | $69,313 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Hayfield
| People | Hayfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hayfield
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayfield since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 17, 2010 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 5,967 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,269 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Hayfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Hayfield
2 public schools with 627 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAYFIELD SECONDARY | 6-12 | 353 | 16.0 |
| HAYFIELD ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 274 | 10.1 |
Towns near Hayfield
- Vernon, MN5.4 mi · 665 people · home $370,800
- Canisteo, MN7.6 mi · 602 people · home $424,300
- Dodge Center, MN9.6 mi · 2,844 people · home $197,600
- Brownsdale, MN10.4 mi · 633 people · home $148,600
- Blooming Prairie, MN10.5 mi · 1,974 people · home $161,300
- Kasson, MN11.0 mi · 6,851 people · home $285,200
- Rock Dell, MN11.4 mi · 681 people · home $501,300
- Red Rock, MN11.9 mi · 723 people · home $319,400
Hayfield questions
Is Hayfield, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hayfield scores better for retirees than 69% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 35%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Hayfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Hayfield is valued at $186,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,313, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $935 a month.
What is the weather like in Hayfield?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 48.1 inches of snow.
Does Hayfield get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 17, 2010. 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)