2019 · Farmstead with a prominent white barn near Hayward, Minnesota · Library of Congress
Hayward’s story
Hayward in pictures
3 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
HaywardMN
A town of 231.
Population
231
residents
Median home value
$114K
Census ACS
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
48.3
years
Jobs based here
51
A commuter town
Small town
231 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Hayward’s report card
Now in Hayward
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Hayward. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Hayward
Most working residents leave Hayward for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Albert Lea (33%), Austin (16%) and Rochester (11%). Half commute less than 13 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Hayward1%
Albert Lea33%
Austin16%
Rochester11%
Owatonna5%
13 mi
median commute distance
51
jobs based in Hayward
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Hayward has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
40″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer59–79°
Fall37–58°
Oct 9
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Hayward is
Hayward beats the Minnesota average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
2 better21 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Hayward | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.8% | 76.1% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87.4% | 85.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.3% | 5.9% |
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin
6.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 58% of U.S. communities.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
Homes in Hayward sell for about $170K
The median sale price was $170,000 in March 2026.
$170Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in March
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Hayward for work
Where Hayward’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
51jobs based in Hayward
1%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Hayward
City in Minnesota, United States
Hayward is a city in Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States, near Albert Lea. As of the 2020 census, Hayward had a population of 252.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 252
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,257 ft
- ZIP code
- 56043
- Area code
- 507