The Town FilesHutchinson, Minnesota
City in McLeod County · population 14,599 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,600
- Household income
- $72,836
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 41.9
Hutchinson is a city of 14,599 people in McLeod County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $229,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 93% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 90% of Minnesota towns.
How Hutchinson ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hutchinson is worth $229,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $72,836, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $940 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hutchinson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $940 | $991 |
| Median household income | $72,836 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hutchinson
| People | Hutchinson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hutchinson
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hutchinson since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 19, 1951 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 11, 2023.
Severe weather in McLeod County since 1996
McLeod County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in McLeod County
McLeod County had 15,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,991 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Hutchinson itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Hutchinson
12 public schools with 3,104 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUTCHINSON SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 888 | 17.8 |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 568 | 16.2 |
| HUTCHINSON WEST ELEMENTARY | PK-1 | 424 | 12.1 |
| HUTCHINSON PARK ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 393 | 14.0 |
| Hutchinson Tiger Elementary | 2-3 | 385 | 13.3 |
| NEW DISCOVERIES MONTESSORI ACADEMY (charter) | PK-8 | 223 | 11.7 |
| New Century Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 98 | 16.3 |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL A.L.C. | 6-8 | 61 | — |
| CROW RIVER AREA LEARNING CENTER | 9-12 | 26 | — |
| HUTCHINSON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PG | 12-12 | 25 | 25.0 |
| CORNERSTONE | K-12 | 11 | — |
| HUTCHINSON NIGHT ALT LEARNING CTR | 9-12 | 2 | — |
Towns near Hutchinson
- Glencoe, MN13.7 mi · 5,744 people · home $227,900
- Cokato, MN16.1 mi · 2,799 people · home $223,300
- Litchfield, MN17.9 mi · 6,624 people · home $187,600
- Norwood Young America, MN23.8 mi · 3,863 people · home $299,300
- Montrose, MN25.6 mi · 3,775 people · home $275,700
- Watertown, MN26.6 mi · 4,659 people · home $337,200
- Franklin, MN28.0 mi · 2,885 people · home $637,800
- Annandale, MN28.7 mi · 3,330 people · home $251,800
Hutchinson questions
Is Hutchinson, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hutchinson scores better for retirees than 48% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 19%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Hutchinson?
The median owner-occupied home in Hutchinson is valued at $229,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,836, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $940 a month.
What is the weather like in Hutchinson?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 46.0 inches of snow.
Does Hutchinson get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hutchinson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 19, 1951. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)