City · Minnesota
Hector, Minnesota
Hector, city, in Renville County, Minnesota. Hector had 989 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,012 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,130 (±155). GEOID 2728124.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
989
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,012 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,130 ±155
Median household income
$63,362
±$3,823 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$132,000
±$16,152 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$1,125
±$159 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Hector and what county is it in?
Hector is a city in Renville County, Minnesota. It covers 1.8 square miles of land, 560 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hector, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 989 people lived in Hector on July 1, 2025, down 3.4% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 1,012 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,130 (±155).
| Measure | Hector | Renville County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,130 ±155 | 14,558 | no clear change |
| Households | 490 ±67 | 6,056 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.20 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 551 ±67 | 6,916 | no clear change |
Hector's population since 2000
From 1,166 in 2000 to 989 in 2025: down 15.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hector as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hector?
The median resident of Hector is 40.1 years old; 17.5% are under 18 and 19.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.8%.
| Measure | Hector | Renville County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 ±5.1 | 42.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.5% ±4.7 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.8% ±4.6 pts | 22.2% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±3.9 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8% ±4.2 pts | 10.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.4% ±4.8 pts | 84.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±2.8 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±2.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.2% ±4.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2% ±4.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.3% ±4.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.2% ±2.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.4% ±3.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.1% ±3.8 pts | 18.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.9% ±4.7 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.1% ±3.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Hector earn?
Half of Hector's 490 households earn less than $63,362 a year (±$3,823), against $70,625 in Renville County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $67,446 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hector | Renville County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,362 ±$3,823 | $70,625 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $80,036 ±$9,491 | $89,051 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,371 ±$5,157 | $37,576 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.8% ±2.6 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.3% ±6.9 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.3% ±4.1 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.4% ±5.5 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.0% ±6.2 pts | 85.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Hector?
Owners occupy 73.9% of Hector's occupied homes and renters 26.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $132,000 by its owner (±$16,152). The median renter pays $1,125 a month including utilities, and 34.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hector | Renville County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $132,000 ±$16,152 | $163,200 | +$31,206 |
| Median gross rent | $1,125 ±$159 | $790 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.8% ±17.0 pts | 38.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,586 ±$114 | $1,448 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.9% ±7.7 pts | 80.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.1% ±7.7 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Housing units | 551 ±67 | 6,916 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.9% ±4.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±16.1 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.7% ±6.8 pts | 84.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% ±4.0 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 21.2% ±6.2 pts | 30.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.4% ±4.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Hector building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Hector in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hector work and get to work?
74.2% of Hector's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 15.8 minutes.
| Measure | Hector | Renville County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.2% ±4.8 pts | 63.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% ±4.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.2% ±5.6 pts | 78.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.5% ±6.1 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.1% ±3.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.4% ±3.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.8 min ±2.2 | 20.9 min | −7.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Hector?
No census tract lies mostly in Hector; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7901Renville County | 2,747 | $69,479 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Hector) · Census block assignment files
How does Hector compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hector is the 10,297th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 359th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Hector ranks 473rd of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 359th | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 519th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 291st | 562 |
| Median household income | 473rd | 558 |
| Per capita income | 437th | 562 |
| Median home value | 528th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 219th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 196th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 547th | 559 |
| Median age | 332nd | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 384th | 561 |
| Travel time to work | 513th | 562 |
Hector's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Hector with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Hector?
17 of the 57 figures for Hector on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hector are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Hector.