Answers · MN
Hastings vs Inver Grove Heights, MN: How They Compare
The short answer
Hastings and Inver Grove Heights are both in Dakota County, and both sit on the Mississippi River. Hastings is the county seat, a historic river city with an estimated 22,563 residents in 2025 on about 10.3 square miles, while Inver Grove Heights has an estimated 36,873 residents on about 27.9 square miles. Hastings drivers use Highway 61, and Inver Grove Heights drivers use Highway 52 to Interstate 494.
Talk to Lesley About Hastings and Inver Grove Heights
Side by side
| Fact | Hastings | Inver Grove Heights |
|---|---|---|
| County | Dakota County (county seat) | Dakota County |
| ZIP codes | 55033 | 55076, 55077 |
| Population (2025 estimate) | 22,563 | 36,873 |
| Land area | About 10.3 sq mi | About 27.9 sq mi |
| Median owner-occupied home value (Census 2020-2024 survey) | $322,400 | $363,400 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.4% | 76.9% |
| School districts | Hastings Public Schools | Inver Grove Heights Schools; Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan; West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan |
| Main routes / transit | Highway 61; DARTS circulator on Tuesdays; Transit Link dial-a-ride | Highway 52 to I-494; Metro Transit Routes 68 and 71 |
| Parks and trails (official figures) | 37 parks on about 400 acres; about 30 miles of trails | 31 city parks; 275-acre Inver Wood Golf Course |
Population is the Census estimate for July 1, 2025. The home values are U.S. Census survey figures for 2020 to 2024, not today's sale prices. Confirm the schools for any address with the district.
Homes
Hastings was platted in 1853 and incorporated in 1857. In the Old Hastings Historic District, houses date from the 1860s to the 1920s, and later neighborhoods grew as the city went from 6,546 people in 1950 to more than 22,000. Parts of Hastings along the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers are floodplain, so this matters for any home near the water.
Inver Grove Heights was created as a city in 1965, and its homes span many decades of styles. Housing ranges from apartments to large-lot homes, and newer developments are still adding homes. The Mississippi River forms the city's eastern edge, and lakes, ponds, and wetlands cover many areas, so we check this for any home.
The Census survey for 2020 to 2024 put the median owner-occupied home value at $322,400 in Hastings and $363,400 in Inver Grove Heights. Owners occupy 76.4 percent of homes in Hastings and 76.9 percent in Inver Grove Heights. Those survey figures are not today's sale prices, so we pull recent sales for the homes you are considering.
Getting around
Hastings sits southeast of the Twin Cities at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, and Highway 61 crosses the Mississippi there. Hastings does not have a large fixed-route bus network, but a DARTS circulator bus loops the city on Tuesdays, and Transit Link offers dial-a-ride service on weekdays.
Highway 52 runs north and south through Inver Grove Heights and connects with Interstate 494, and the city describes downtown St. Paul as about a ten-minute drive. Metro Transit Routes 68 and 71 serve Inver Hills Community College, and MVTA Route 445 connects Inver Hills College with the Eagan Transit Station.
Which one fits you?
If you want a historic home, a river-town downtown, or trails along two rivers, Hastings has the Old Hastings Historic District and the Ten-Mile Loop. If you want a drive to downtown St. Paul that the city describes as about ten minutes, and a wide range of home ages and lot sizes, Inver Grove Heights is worth a look. Both cities have homes near water, so we check floodplain and wetlands for any home you consider.
We help buyers compare both, home by home. Send us a message or call (651) 661-4770.
You can read more on our Hastings page and our Inver Grove Heights page.
Where these facts come from
Checked November 2026. These facts come from U.S. Census QuickFacts: Hastings, U.S. Census QuickFacts: Inver Grove Heights, City of Hastings: history, City of Hastings: Heritage Preservation Commission history, City of Hastings: parks and recreation, City of Hastings: public transit, City of Inver Grove Heights: about page, City of Inver Grove Heights: parks, City of Inver Grove Heights: education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hastings or Inver Grove Heights bigger?
Inver Grove Heights has more people. Hastings had an estimated 22,563 residents on July 1, 2025, and Inver Grove Heights had an estimated 36,873. Hastings covers about 10.3 square miles of land, and Inver Grove Heights covers about 27.9.
Which has newer homes, Hastings or Inver Grove Heights?
Inver Grove Heights was created as a city in 1965, and newer developments are still adding homes. Hastings was platted in 1853, has houses from the 1860s to the 1920s in the Old Hastings Historic District, and added later neighborhoods as it grew from 6,546 people in 1950 to more than 22,000. We compare the age of each home you are considering.
Are Hastings and Inver Grove Heights in the same county?
Yes. Hastings and Inver Grove Heights are both in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Which school districts serve Hastings and Inver Grove Heights?
Hastings Public Schools serves Hastings. Inver Grove Heights Schools, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan serve parts of Inver Grove Heights. The district depends on the address, so confirm it with the district for any home before you make an offer.
How do I compare property taxes in Hastings and Inver Grove Heights?
Dakota County keeps the tax records for both cities. Search the county's property information lookup by address or parcel number to see the taxes and the assessed value for each home you are comparing. We pull those records with you for the exact homes on your list.
Is it easier to commute to Minneapolis or St. Paul from Hastings or Inver Grove Heights?
Inver Grove Heights has Highway 52 to Interstate 494, and the city describes downtown St. Paul as about a ten-minute drive. Hastings sits southeast of the Twin Cities on Highway 61, and it has a DARTS circulator on Tuesdays and Transit Link dial-a-ride on weekdays instead of a large bus network. We map your actual route before you choose.
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