Median Income
$43,125
household / year
Median Home Value
$95,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$744
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Hill City, MN a Good Place to Live?

Hill City is a small town of 518 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $43,125 and a 12.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hill City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hill City 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: 90.9

Hill City's overall cost of living index is 90.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hill City costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Hill City, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $95,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $744 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 60.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $43,125 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hill City's violent crime rate is 164.5 per 100,000 residents — 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
164.5 /100k
Property Crime
328.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hill City is served primarily by Hill City Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Hill City, MN National Avg
School District Hill City Public School District —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 10.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 89.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hill City sees average highs of 17.8°F in January and 78.3°F in July, with 28.7 inches of annual precipitation and 59.6 inches of snow per year.

MetricHill City, MN
Average High — January17.8°F
Average High — July78.3°F
Annual Precipitation28.7"
Annual Snowfall59.6"

Demographics

MetricHill City, MNNational Avg
Population518—
Median Age40.338.9
Unemployment Rate12.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time30.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.4%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1822.8%22.2%
65 and over27.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Hill City

Hill City, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Hill City vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Hill City's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hill City roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $95,800 and median rent is $744/month.
Hill City's violent crime rate is 164.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 328.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hill City are operated by Hill City Public School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hill City, MN has a population of 518, a median household income of $43,125, and an unemployment rate of 12.3%. 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.
Hill City averages 17.8°F in January and 78.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.7 inches with about 59.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hill City, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55748.
The population of Hill City, Minnesota is 518 with a median age of 40.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hill City: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $95,800, median household income $43,125, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hill City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.