The Town FilesHills, Minnesota
City in Rock County · population 686 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,200
- Household income
- $78,631
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 45.5
Hills is a city of 686 people in Rock County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $197,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 90% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Hills 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 Hills is worth $197,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $78,631, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hills | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $965 | $991 |
| Median household income | $78,631 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Hills
| People | Hills | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hills
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hills since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1993 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Rock County since 1996
Rock County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Rock County
Rock County had 3,689 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,870 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Hills itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Hills
1 public school with 199 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HILLS-BEAVER CREEK SECONDARY | 6-12 | 199 | 12.4 |
Towns near Hills
- Larchwood, IA6.4 mi · 926 people · home $215,600
- Valley Springs, SD6.5 mi · 885 people · home $192,600
- Luverne, MN11.3 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
- Rock Rapids, IA11.9 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
- Brandon, SD12.1 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Shindler, SD14.4 mi · 607 people · home $617,600
- Garretson, SD14.8 mi · 1,228 people · home $203,800
- Inwood, IA15.6 mi · 928 people · home $202,900
Hills questions
Is Hills, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hills scores better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 31%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in Hills is valued at $197,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,631, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Hills?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 40.3 inches of snow.
Does Hills get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1993. 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)