What are the schools like in Hills, MN?

Hills is served primarily by HILLS-BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Hills?

The median household income in Hills, MN is $77,917 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Hills, MN?

Hills has an average high temperature of 25.2°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Hills, MN affordable or expensive?

Hills's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hills is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $162,500 and the median rent is $983 per month.

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

Hills has a violent crime rate of 42.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 450.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hills, MN a Good Place to Live?

Hills is a small town of 817 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $77,917 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

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

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

All Hills 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: 95.7

Hills's overall cost of living index is 95.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hills costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hills, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$162,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$983	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,917	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hills's violent crime rate is 42.9 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

42.9 /100k

Property Crime

450.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hills is served primarily by HILLS-BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hills, MN	National Avg
School District	HILLS-BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hills sees average highs of 25.2°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 28.2 inches of annual precipitation and 34.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hills, MN
Average High — January	25.2°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	28.2"
Annual Snowfall	34.9"

Demographics

Metric	Hills, MN	National Avg
Population	817	—
Median Age	42.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.3%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Steen, MN 5 mi Beaver Creek, MN 6 mi Lester, IA 6 mi Larchwood, IA 6 mi Valley Springs, SD 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Hills

Hills, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56138

Hills vs Other Cities

Hills, MN vs Steen, MN Hills, MN vs Beaver Creek, MN Hills, MN vs Lester, IA Hills, MN vs Larchwood, IA Hills, MN vs Valley Springs, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hills, MN affordable or expensive?

Hills's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hills roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $162,500 and median rent is $983/month.

What is the crime rate in Hills, MN?

Hills's violent crime rate is 42.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 450.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hills?

Public schools in Hills are operated by HILLS-BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hills, MN a good place to live?

Hills, MN has a population of 817, a median household income of $77,917, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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 Hills?

Hills averages 25.2°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.2 inches with about 34.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hills?

Hills, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56138.

What is the population of Hills?

The population of Hills, Minnesota is 817 with a median age of 42.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hills?

Key numbers for living in Hills: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $162,500, median household income $77,917, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.