Buffalo River MN, 2005
Hawley’s story
153 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1873Hawley is settled
HawleyMN
A town of 2,285, settled in 1873.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Moncrief at en.wikipedia · Public domain
Population
2,285
2025 Census estimate · +2.1% since 2020
Typical home
$393K
+4.6% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
41.1
years
Jobs based here
847
Balanced
Is Hawley a good place to live?
Hawley’s best subject grades are an A for safety and an A− for schools and incomes; its weakest is a C− for hazard risk. Only 29 of Minnesota’s 575 towns score lower on hazard risk. Hawley’s January low is -1°F, against 6°F in Minnesota’s towns and 22°F across U.S. towns. Hawley’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile, above both Minnesota’s towns (0.5) and U.S. towns (0.4). On the outdoors, just 53 of Minnesota’s 575 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Hawley WPA, at 112 acres. Hawley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Hawley stand out
Where Hawley beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hawley0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
No violent crime reported in 2025
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Hawley Elementary | PK–6 | 579 |
| Hawley Secondary | 7–12 | 453 |
| Intensive Interagency Program | 7–12 | 16 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
How Hawley grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Hawley is from typical.
SafetyAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Jobs & income$99K median household incomeA−Open →HealthSanford Medical Center Fargo 24 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.1 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 6% conserved landAOpen →History4 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life3.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.1; 36% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hawley: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hawley, and how to reach them.
PowerHawley Public Utilities CommEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterHawley water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Hawley’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereClay County CourthouseClay County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2024
ZIP code5654956549 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Hawley.
SafetyA
Less crime per resident in Hawley than in 86% of U.S. towns
Hawley’s property crime rate is 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
86%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Hawley | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.8 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hawley0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Hawley1.8
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
86th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
4
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsA−
Hawley’s public schools outperform 82% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Hawley Public School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Hawley Secondary, with 453 students.
82%of MN districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawley ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 579 | A |
| Hawley SecondaryLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 453 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
On CDC estimates, Hawley is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Hawley beats the Minnesota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 73% of adults had a checkup this year in Hawley.
79%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Hawley | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 75% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Hawley | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.6% | 8.9% |
Fargo VA Medical Center
21.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Hawley
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hawley.
77risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
paid flood claims since 1978
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Minnesota overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (22% statewide); children under 18 are 30% of residents (23% statewide). 15% of Hawley residents are 65 or older. Hawley has grown 2.1% since 2020, to 2,285 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
41.1median age · MN 38.8
| Hawley | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 33% | 29% |
| Median age | 41.1 years | 39.9 years | 40.5 years |
HawleyMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school30%
Some college17%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s26%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
58% women, 42% men
About 71 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.6 points). Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Hawley | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 15.7% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.8% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.3% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.1% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.8% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.6% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.5% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.7% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.1% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.2% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,300, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Hawley, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Hawley has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Hawley is 81°F.
53″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter3–21°
Spring31–52°
Summer56–79°
Fall34–54°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About one in eight working residents works right in Hawley
Most working residents leave Hawley for work: only 13% work in town. Jobs based in Hawley grew to 847 in 2023, 139 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Fargo (29%), Moorhead (12%) and Ulen (6%).
13%work in town
| Hawley | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $99,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 9.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Hawley13%
Fargo29%
Moorhead12%
Ulen6%
West Fargo4%
24 mi
median commute distance
847
jobs based in Hawley
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 51% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B
Homes in Hawley are worth about $393K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Hawley home is worth about $393,000, up 4.6% in a year, 13% above the Minnesota typical home.
$393KZillow home value
| Hawley | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $733 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Hawley$393K
Minnesota$349K
+4.6%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsA
Hawley has set aside 6.5% of its land for conservation
2.6 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves.
6.5%conserved
6.5%
conserved · 108 of 1,669 acres
2.6 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Westgate Park | 0.4 mi | 6 |
| 2. Hawley WPA | — | 112 |
| 3. Hawley Softball Complex | — | 23 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hawley
20pages on Hawley
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 82% of MN districts · 5 schoolsSafetyA0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than MN on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$393K typical home · up 4.6% in a yearWork & commuteA−$99K median household income · 847 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 77% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Hawley; the nearest are
Minnesota State University MoorheadUniversity or college · Public · Moorhead20.7 mi$10,428 in-state tuitionMinnesota State Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fergus Falls42 mi$5,908 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Hawley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
Famous people from Hawley
4 notable people were born in Hawley.
About Hawley
City in Minnesota, United States
Hawley is a town in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, along the Buffalo River. The population was 2,219 at the 2020 census. Part of the Fargo–Moorhead area, it is just 23 miles away.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,152 ft
- ZIP code
- 56549
- Area code
- 218
Hawley’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Hawley.
Hawley TownshipEglon TownshipHawley
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawley · Hawley Township | — | — | B | A | A− | A− |
| Eglon Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Hawley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Eglon Township isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Hawley Township and Hawley are one community, graded once. Compare Hawley with a neighbor →
Questions about Hawley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hawley, MN expensive?
That is 5.1 years of the area's median household income ($76,756 across the Fargo, ND-MN metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Hawley, MN known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Gabriel Hauge and Lucile Blanch.