West Heron Lake is a township in Jackson County, Minnesota, home to about 184 people across 27 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56150 and 56161.
Homes sold for a median of $126 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Population1847 per sq mi
Median home value$120,800Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$126Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside West Heron Lake. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The West Heron Lake guide is on the way
We’re writing up West Heron Lake’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
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Around West Heron Lake
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)130 miles away
Closer regional airport
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)74 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN132 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL405 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of West Heron Lake; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents West Heron Lake
U.S. Representative · Minnesota’s 1st DistrictBrad Finstad (R)
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
West Heron Lake had 130 residents in the 2020 census, down 36% since 2000.
It’s the 1927th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Jackson County grew from 14,793 residents in 1900 to 9,989 in 2020.
Jackson 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 81°F in summer, and winter lows average 5°F. About 30.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 49 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Lakefield 2ne, MN weather station (6 miles away).
Jobs in Jackson County
3,953 jobs at 304 businesses in Jackson County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
3 doctors and other health care providers list an office in West Heron Lake’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Sanford Jackson Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · Jackson14.0 miles
Windom Area HealthCritical access hospital · emergency room · Windom14.7 miles
Sanford Worthington Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Worthington17.2 miles
Providers with an office here
Dentists
1
Physical and occupational therapists
1
Chiropractors
1
Pharmacies
2
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 West Heron Lake
Parks (1 nearby)
Community Point Park · 7 acres3.2 mi
Libraries
Lakefield Library4.9 mi
Heron Lake Public Library7.4 mi
Counts are within about 3.5 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by Jackson County Central School Dist., Heron Lake-Okabena School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(3)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Pleasantview ElementaryLakefield
4–5
170
Public
5.2 mi
Jackson County Central MiddleLakefield
6–8
241
Public
5.3 mi
Heron Lake-Okabena SecondaryOkabena
7–12
137
Public
4.1 mi
Private schools(2)
School
Grades
Students
Affiliation
Distance
Immanuel Lutheran SchoolLakefield
Pre-K–8
104
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
5.0 mi
St Johns Lutheran SchoolOkabena
K–6
11
Other Lutheran
4.2 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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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.