Hill River is a township in Polk County, Minnesota, home to about 140 people across 35 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56542, 56556 and 56684.
Homes sold for a median of $103 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Population1404 per sq mi
Median home value$195,500Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$103Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Trail, MN56684Not enough recent sales for market figures yet.
Mostly Hickory; part is in Hill River
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Hill River. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Hill River guide is on the way
We’re writing up Hill River’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
Are you a local agent who knows Hill River well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
Around Hill River
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)228 miles away
Closer regional airport
Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF)34 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN221 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL565 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Hill River; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Hill River had 197 residents in the 2020 census, up 22% since 2000.
It’s the 2127th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Polk County grew from 35,429 residents in 1900 to 31,192 in 2020.
Polk County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 78°F in summer, and winter lows average -5°F. About 26.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Fosston 1 E, MN weather station (7 miles away).
Jobs in Polk County
8,944 jobs at 733 businesses in Polk County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
34 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Hill River’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Essentia Health FosstonCritical access hospital · emergency room · Fosston6.2 miles
Sanford Bagley Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · Bagley20.3 miles
Sanford Thief River Falls Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · Thief River Falls36.8 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
5
Specialist doctors
1
Dentists
6
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
11
Mental health providers
2
Physical and occupational therapists
6
Chiropractors
3
Pharmacies
4
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Places in and around Hill River
Grocery stores
Jered's Grocery4.5 mi
Hugo's Family Marketplace5.6 mi
Libraries
McIntosh Public Library4.4 mi
Fosston Public Library5.7 mi
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by Fosston Public School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(2)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Magelssen ElementaryFosston
Pre-K–6
340
Public
6.0 mi
Fosston SecondaryFosston
7–12
256
Public
5.8 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Fosston, McIntosh, Rosebud, Columbia, Brandsvold, Lessor, Knute, King, Heier, Queen, Hickory, Chester Township (Polk County), Sletten, Deer Park, Gully Township, Eden Township (Polk County), Trail, Equality and Johnson Township.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.