Hayward, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Hayward, Minnesota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Hayward, Minnesota had a total population of 231, the 668th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $61,250, which is 31% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 31% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Only 6.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.8%.

Hayward Quick Facts

Population 231

Median Household Income $61,250

Median Home Value $114,000

Poverty Rate 12.6%

Unemployment Rate 0.8%

Median Age 48.3 years

Homeownership Rate 83.2%

Affordability Ratio 1.9x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 6.6%

High School Graduation Rate 91.7%

Diversity Index 38/100

Population 231 668th of 914

Median Income $61,250 below average

Poverty Rate 12.6% about the same as national

Median Home Value $114,000 bottom 30%

How Hayward Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	219	231	+5.5%
Median household income	$53,750	$61,250	+14.0%
Median home value	$109,600	$114,000	+4.0%

How Hayward Compares

Median Household Income

Hayward

$61,250

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hayward

$114,000

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 5.6%

$25K-$50K 29.9%

$50K-$100K 34.6%

$100K+ 29.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.9%

$10K-$15K

2.8%

$15K-$20K

0.9%

$20K-$25K

0.0%

$25K-$30K

5.6%

$30K-$35K

2.8%

$35K-$40K

9.3%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

8.4%

$50K-$60K

14.0%

$60K-$75K

11.2%

$75K-$100K

9.3%

$100K-$125K

10.3%

$125K-$150K

5.6%

$150K-$200K

1.9%

$200K+

12.2%

Employment

0.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

62.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.2%

Renter 16.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.6%

18-34

19.1%

35-54

23.8%

55-74

31.2%

75+

10.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Hayward Rankings in Minnesota

#668 Population of 914

#584 Median Income of 887

#833 Education of 914

#668 Home Value of 870

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Freeborn County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Albert Lea	18,330	$64,603	12.8%	$157,500
Clarks Grove	636	$73,750	13.5%	$123,400
Alden	629	$73,250	4.5%	$128,400
Glenville	572	$56,563	9.0%	$123,300
Hartland	422	$86,250	6.4%	$166,900
Geneva	387	$61,500	10.3%	$182,500
Emmons	363	$57,969	20.1%	$106,700
Freeborn	348	$50,000	30.1%	$88,800
Hollandale	340	$64,375	13.3%	$151,500
Twin Lakes	158	$55,089	21.5%	N/A

Cities Similar to Hayward

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Williams	237	N/A	N/A	4.7%	9.7%
Lismore	233	$58,603	N/A	10.0%	16.7%
Beardsley	229	$64,375	$77,700	13.3%	18.8%
Bellechester	227	$64,167	$196,300	8.0%	8.4%
Lake Wilson	237	$65,500	$98,600	18.3%	17.3%

A note before these figures: with a population of 231, Hayward's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Hayward is a small community located in Minnesota, within Freeborn County. The total population is 231. It ranks as the 668th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hayward is 48.3 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hayward is $61,250. This is 31% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $114,000. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Hayward is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hayward is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (14.3% vs 6.4%).

Education

6.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 83% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hayward, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Hayward, Minnesota?

Hayward, Minnesota has a population of 231 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Hayward, MN?

The median household income in Hayward is $61,250, which is 24% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Hayward, MN?

The poverty rate in Hayward is 12.6%. This means approximately 29 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Hayward, Minnesota?

Hayward's population is 77.5% White, 0.0% Black, 14.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.6% Asian.

What is the median home value in Hayward, MN?

The median home value in Hayward is $114,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.

How educated is Hayward, Minnesota?

6.6% of adults (25+) in Hayward hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.