What are the schools like in Hawley, MN?

Hawley is served primarily by Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Hawley?

The median household income in Hawley, MN is $86,667 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Hawley, MN?

Hawley has an average high temperature of 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 52.7 inches.

Hawley, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hawley, MN affordable or expensive?

Hawley's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hawley is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $232,000 and the median rent is $705 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hawley, MN?

Hawley has a violent crime rate of 87.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 478.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hawley, MN a Good Place to Live?

Hawley is a small town of 2,065 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $86,667 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Hawley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hawley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hawley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.4

Hawley's overall cost of living index is 89.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hawley costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hawley, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$232,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$705	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,667	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hawley's violent crime rate is 87.0 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

87.0 /100k

Property Crime

478.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hawley is served primarily by Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hawley, MN	National Avg
School District	Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hawley sees average highs of 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 26.8 inches of annual precipitation and 52.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hawley, MN
Average High — January	17.2°F
Average High — July	81.8°F
Annual Precipitation	26.8"
Annual Snowfall	52.7"

Demographics

Metric	Hawley, MN	National Avg
Population	2,065	—
Median Age	35.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	32.1%	22.2%
65 and over	12.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hitterdal, MN 8 mi Lake Park, MN 10 mi Glyndon, MN 12 mi Ulen, MN 14 mi Audubon, MN 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Hawley

Hawley, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56549

Hawley vs Other Cities

Hawley, MN vs Hitterdal, MN Hawley, MN vs Lake Park, MN Hawley, MN vs Glyndon, MN Hawley, MN vs Ulen, MN Hawley, MN vs Audubon, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hawley, MN affordable or expensive?

Hawley's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hawley roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $232,000 and median rent is $705/month.

What is the crime rate in Hawley, MN?

Hawley's violent crime rate is 87.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 478.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hawley?

Public schools in Hawley are operated by Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hawley, MN a good place to live?

Hawley, MN has a population of 2,065, a median household income of $86,667, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hawley?

Hawley averages 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.8 inches with about 52.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hawley?

Hawley, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56549.

What is the population of Hawley?

The population of Hawley, Minnesota is 2,065 with a median age of 35.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hawley?

Key numbers for living in Hawley: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $232,000, median household income $86,667, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hawley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.