Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
21%
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,266
Population
22,291
Renter Mix
27% Rent
Sitting where the Mississippi, Vermillion, and St. Croix Rivers converge, Hastings carries the kind of small-town character that's hard to manufacture and impossible to fake. As the Dakota County seat, it holds onto its 19th-century riverboat roots through a well-preserved downtown lined with classic architecture, boutique shops, and a cruise-in car culture that draws enthusiasts every season. Levee Park and Lake Rebecca Park bring the riverfront within easy reach, while the Hastings Scientific and Natural Area offers 69 acres of wildflowers, forests, and trails for hiking, birding, and snowshoeing. Minneapolis and St. Paul are both within roughly 30 miles, making this a genuinely connected place to settle without the pace of metro living. Rivertown Days, the city's annual summer festival, celebrates everything that makes Hastings feel grounded in its community and history.
The rental market here spans charming older homes converted into apartments, newer apartment communities near the downtown corridor, and spacious townhome-style rentals spread across quieter residential pockets. Options tend to be more attainable than what you'd find closer to the Twin Cities core, with a solid mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans available throughout the city.
Ranch homes with three car garages are a common style among newer homes in Hastings.
Many restaurants in downtown Hastings offer outdoor seating in the summer.
Hastings is also home to many historic homes, some inspired by French provincial design.
Visit the historic LeDuc Estate when you're in Hastings.
Classics cruise the street throughout the show at the Hastings Car Show.
You can also catch a view of the historic lift bridge to the right of the pavilion in Hastings.
Median Household Income
$85,241
Average: $103,869
Education
5,665
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
11,712
Workers Employed
Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
21%
Housing Distribution
Hastings has more homeowners than renters.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Hastings, MN is $1,186 for a studio, $1,266 for one bedroom, $1,421 for two bedrooms, and $1,841 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Hastings has increased by 2.7% in the past year.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Hastings, MN is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades K-5
472 Students
Christa Mcauliffe Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
472 Students
Public
Grades K-5
450 Students
Public
Grades K-5
450 Students
Public
Grades K-5
450 Students
Public
Grades K-8
1,210 Students
Public
Grades K-8
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,353 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
5 Students
Public
Grades K-12
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© 2026. All rights reserved.
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.