Heron Lake, MN

This city of 582 residents needs 7 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
582 (2026)
Households
267
Median household income
$66,489 (2026)
Typical home value
$191,725
Owner-occupied
74%
Five-year housing need
7 units

Comparison to other Minnesota municipalities

Heron Lake: $66,489 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$43K >$191K
Heron Lake: None jobs to household ratio
<0.04 >2.53
Heron Lake: No permit data
<0% >14.7%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Heron Lake, MN, the typical home price of $191,725 is below the Minnesota average of $271,234. Heron Lake, MN's median household income of $66,489 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Heron Lake, MN has roughly 267 households, though population has been declining at 1.1% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Heron Lake, MN is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 91% of units. Heron Lake, MN is a strongly owner-occupied community, with 74% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How does this place compare to similar communities?