Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Hettinger’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A for civic life; the weakest is a C− for incomes. Only 6 of North Dakota’s 68 towns score higher on cost of living. Hettinger has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Adams County Courthouse and US Post Office-Hettinger. Hettinger has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Hettinger beats most towns.
Adams County CourthouseIn a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Dakota), ordered by how far Hettinger is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 766 in 1910, a peak of 1,769 in 1960, 1,074 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1909.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hettinger, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Hettinger.
Hettinger’s median rent is $568 a month, where North Dakota’s towns sit at $977 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. The typical Hettinger home is worth about $141,000, up 4.4% in a year, 51% below the North Dakota typical home. 63% of Hettinger households own their home.
| Hettinger | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $568 a month | $977 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 63% | 57% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Hettinger 13 school district. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hettinger Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 172 | C+ |
| Hettinger High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 122 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state tests and graduation
Hettinger has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Among 24 North Dakota towns, just 2 have a higher July high than Hettinger.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About one in 3 of Hettinger’s working residents works in town. Hettinger’s average trip to work is 14 minutes, below both North Dakota’s towns (16 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Since 2013, Hettinger has lost 245 jobs, to 497 in 2023.
| Hettinger | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 38% | 39% | 8% |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
41% of adults have high blood pressure in Hettinger. Among 24 North Dakota towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Hettinger. 20% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Hettinger.
| Hettinger | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 8.9% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 22% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 29% | 33% |
| What stands out | Hettinger | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 16.1% | 21.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.3% | 76.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.4% | 5.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mirror Lake Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Hettinger; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Hettinger residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
1,226 counted in 2010 and 1,074 in 2020; an estimated 1,119 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
City in North Dakota, United States
Hettinger ( HET-ing-gər) is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1,074 at the 2020 census. North Dakota State University operates a livestock research station near Hettinger, which often partners with South Dakota State University's Antelope Range and Livestock Research Station for sheep research.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
2 notable people were born here, including Bud Marquardt and Korliss Uecker.