The Town FilesHettinger, North Dakota
City in Adams County · population 1,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,200
- Household income
- $62,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.0
Hettinger is a city of 1,074 people in Adams County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $112,200, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 71% of North Dakota towns.
How Hettinger ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hettinger is worth $112,200, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $62,750, which is more affordable than 88% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $568 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hettinger | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,200 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $568 | $775 |
| Median household income | $62,750 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Hettinger
| People | Hettinger | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 87.3% |
Weather in Hettinger
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 4.9°F. About 17.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 202 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hettinger since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 17, 2010 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 4, 1964.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4444: Flooding |
| October 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4154: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 844 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,272 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Hettinger itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Hettinger
2 public schools with 290 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HETTINGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 174 | 11.6 |
| HETTINGER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 116 | 8.9 |
Towns near Hettinger
- Lemmon, SD23.2 mi · 1,160 people · home $86,200
- Mott, ND29.7 mi · 653 people · home $75,300
Hettinger questions
Is Hettinger, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hettinger scores better for retirees than 92% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 71%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Hettinger?
The median owner-occupied home in Hettinger is valued at $112,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,750, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $568 a month.
What is the weather like in Hettinger?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 4.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Hettinger get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hettinger since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 17, 2010. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- 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)