Heron Lake, MN, 2021
Heron Lake Township’s story
Heron Lake Township in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
Explore the history →
Heron Lake TownshipMN
A town of 306.
6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
306
2025 Census estimate · −1.9% since 2020
Median home value
$210K
Census ACS
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
50.2
years
Jobs based here
38
A commuter town
Is Heron Lake Township a good place to live?
The biggest park or preserve is Toe Wildlife Management Area, at 317 acres. Heron Lake Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
306 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
West Heron Lake TownshipLakefieldBelmont TownshipWeimer TownshipDelafield TownshipHunter TownshipHeron Lake Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Heron Lake Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Heron Lake Township, and how to reach them.
PowerFederated Rural Electric Assn12.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRed Rock Rural Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Heron Lake Township’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 hereJackson County CourthouseJackson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP codes56150, 5610156150 91% · 56101 9%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 Heron Lake Township.
Work & commute
Heron Lake Township has 0.3 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
Heron Lake Township’s middle household income is $94,000, near the Minnesota town median ($90,000) and above the median of U.S. towns ($80,000). Its average trip to work is 18 minutes. Employers in Heron Lake Township added 24 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 38. Also worth knowing: 12% of Heron Lake Township residents live below the poverty line.
0%work in town
| Heron Lake Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $94,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Heron Lake Township0%
Jackson16%
Windom9%
Lakefield6%
Worthington6%
19 mi
median commute distance
38
jobs based in Heron Lake Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Heron Lake Township brings snowy winters and pleasant summers
July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 6° and about 49 inches of snow falls in a winter.
49″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring34–55°
Summer59–80°
Fall37–58°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Heron Lake Township is
Just over a quarter of adults get no exercise outside work in Heron Lake Township, against 23% in Minnesota’s towns and 25% across U.S. towns. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Heron Lake Township is ahead of Minnesota on 1 and behind on 6. The share of adults in Heron Lake Township who feel lonely: 28%.
| Heron Lake Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 31% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 75% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better25 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Heron Lake Township | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.1% | 5.4% |
Sanford Jackson Medical Center
10.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Conserved land covers 3.8% of Heron Lake Township
Walkers can cover 0.2 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
3.8%conserved
3.8%
conserved · 1,044 of 27,665 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Toe Wildlife Management Area | — | 317 |
| 2. Heron Lake Wildlife Management Area: West Heron Unit | — | 59 |
| 3. Community Point Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Heron Lake Township faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
In Heron Lake Township, the risk rating from FEMA is 53 of 100. 45% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 16%.
53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHail
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Heron Lake Township
17pages on Heron Lake Township
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Heron Lake Township; the nearest are
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Estherville, IA27.8 mi$7,392 in-state tuitionSouthwest Minnesota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marshall58.4 mi$10,361 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Heron Lake Township residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Heron Lake Township for work
Where Heron Lake Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
38jobs based in Heron Lake Township
0%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Heron Lake Township
City in Minnesota, United States
Heron Lake is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Heron Lake had a population of 602.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,421 ft
- ZIP code
- 56137
- Area code
- 507
Questions about Heron Lake Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Heron Lake Township, MN a good place to live?
Heron Lake Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.