What are the schools like in Hector, MN?

Hector is served primarily by Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Hector?

The median household income in Hector, MN is $57,788 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Hector, MN?

Hector has an average high temperature of 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Hector, MN affordable or expensive?

Hector's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hector is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $112,500 and the median rent is $1,131 per month.

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

Hector has a violent crime rate of 101.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 101.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hector, MN a Good Place to Live?

Hector is a small town of 1,127 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $57,788 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Hector 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 Hector is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hector 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: 95.0

Hector's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hector costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hector, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$112,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,131	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,788	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hector's violent crime rate is 101.9 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

101.9 /100k

Property Crime

101.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hector is served primarily by Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hector, MN	National Avg
School District	Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hector sees average highs of 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 31.3 inches of annual precipitation and 37.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hector, MN
Average High — January	21.3°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	31.3"
Annual Snowfall	37.7"

Demographics

Metric	Hector, MN	National Avg
Population	1,127	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Buffalo Lake, MN 5 mi Bird Island, MN 9 mi Stewart, MN 11 mi Cosmos, MN 13 mi Olivia, MN 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Hector

Hector, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55342

Hector vs Other Cities

Hector, MN vs Buffalo Lake, MN Hector, MN vs Bird Island, MN Hector, MN vs Stewart, MN Hector, MN vs Cosmos, MN Hector, MN vs Olivia, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hector, MN affordable or expensive?

Hector's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hector roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $112,500 and median rent is $1,131/month.

What is the crime rate in Hector, MN?

Hector's violent crime rate is 101.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 101.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hector?

Public schools in Hector are operated by Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 13.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hector, MN a good place to live?

Hector, MN has a population of 1,127, a median household income of $57,788, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 Hector?

Hector averages 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.3 inches with about 37.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hector?

Hector, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55342.

What is the population of Hector?

The population of Hector, Minnesota is 1,127 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hector?

Key numbers for living in Hector: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $112,500, median household income $57,788, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hector side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.