DaytonHennepin, 2007
Dayton’s story
171 years in pictures
Census counts: 255 in 1880, 7,262 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1981 on.
- 1855Dayton is settled
Population
11,402
2025 Census estimate · +57% since 2020
Typical home
$516K
+1.4% in a year
Household income
$149K
median
Median age
40.2
years
Jobs based here
1,465
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#80 of 271 in MN
Is Dayton a good place to live?
Dayton's standout: the median household earns $149K. Overall it grades A, 80th among Minnesota's 271 graded towns. It is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 88% of U.S. towns. Dayton’s median household income is $149,000, against $90,000 in Minnesota’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Elm Creek Park Reserve, 2,821 acres with 18.5 miles of trail. On the outdoors, just 30 of Minnesota’s 575 towns do better.
What makes Dayton stand out
Where Dayton beats most towns.
A growing town
Dayton has grown 144% since 2010
4,671 counted in 2010 and 7,262 in 2020; an estimated 11,402 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 57% since 2020, after 55.5% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Dayton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Dayton is from typical.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthMaple Grove Hospital 3.8 miles awayAOpen →SafetyAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.5 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 0.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors20% conserved landAOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 75 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dayton. Close and well known come first.
Big draw18 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
17 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
19 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
25 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
18 mi LakeLake Minnetonka
19 mi LakeBde Maka SkaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Minnetonka: Dan, CC BY 2.0 · Bde Maka Ska: Tyler Vigen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dayton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dayton, and how to reach them.
PowerConnexus Energy14.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDayton water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEvery other weekCurbside recyclingTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHennepin County Gov't CenterHennepin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2021
ZIP codes55327, 55369, 5537455327 67% · 55369 32% · 55374 1%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dayton.
Dayton reports less crime than Ramsey or any other graded neighbor, costs more than Rogers or any other town next door and sends most of its workers to Minneapolis and beyond.
HealthA
Dayton stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have diabetes
Against the 2,816 U.S. towns with household incomes like Dayton’s, it is healthier than 72%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
7.2% of adults have diabetes in Dayton. Dayton beats the Minnesota average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 27% of adults have obesity in Dayton.
94%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Dayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 35% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.2% | 10% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
15 better14 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Dayton | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.8% | 8.9% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 7.2% | 10.1% |
| More binge drinkers | 20.3% | 17.8% |
Maple Grove Hospital
3.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
91st
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Dayton beat 72% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Its one school is below.
72%of MN districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 556 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA
Dayton has set aside 20.4% of its land for conservation
20 miles of trail in 15 parks and preserves. The trail density in Dayton is 0.8 miles per square mile.
#71for trails in MN
20.4%
conserved · 3,267 of 16,006 acres
20 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Elm Creek Park Reserve | 18.5 mi | 2,821 |
| 2. Dayton Central Park | 0.6 mi | 29 |
| 3. Mississippi West Regional Park | — | 79 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyA
Dayton’s grade for safety is an A
Its A tops all 6 graded towns on its borders; Ramsey (A) comes closest. Violent crime is rare: 5 reported in 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
Dayton’s property crime rate is 4.2 per 1,000 residents.
88%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Dayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Dayton0.4
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Dayton4.2
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
88th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
89th
percentile among MN towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
50
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade C
Dayton’s typical home value is about $516K
Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Rogers is next at $464K. The median property tax bill is $5,324, against $3,357 across Minnesota, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Dayton home is worth about $516,000, up 1.4% in a year, 48% above the Minnesota typical home. 93% of Dayton households own their home.
$516KZillow home value
| Dayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 93% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,651 a month | $1,192 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Dayton$516K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
60
days on market
100.2%
sale-to-list price
+1.4%
value change, 1 year
28
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Most working residents commute out of Dayton
Dayton has 1,465 jobs for its 5,029 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here grew from 1,070 in 2013 to 1,465.
Most working residents leave Dayton for work: only 2% work in town. Since 2013, Dayton has added 395 jobs, to 1,465 in 2023. The top destinations are Minneapolis (16%), Maple Grove (9%) and Brooklyn Park (5%).
2%work in town
| Dayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 23% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 3% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.9% | 9.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dayton2%
Minneapolis16%
Maple Grove9%
Brooklyn Park5%
Plymouth5%
16 mi
median commute distance
1,465
jobs based in Dayton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 17% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Minnesota overall
The median household earns $148,947, against $89,062 across Minnesota, one input to its A+ for jobs and income.
Adults 35 to 64 are 46% of residents (38% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (22% statewide). Dayton has grown 57% since 2020, to 11,402 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 44% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
40.2median age · MN 38.8
| Dayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 18% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 44% | 33% | 29% |
DaytonMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school18%
Some college16%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s33%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.6 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Dayton | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.7% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.3% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.3% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 19.8% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.4% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.2% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.1% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.2% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.5% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 32.5% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.4% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Dayton
Dayton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 5° and about 54 inches of snow falls in a winter.
54″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer59–80°
Fall38–57°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Dayton
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities. Since 1997, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Dayton.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
4
paid flood claims since 1997
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dayton
19pages on Dayton
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 72% of MN districts · 1 schoolSafetyA0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than MN on 15 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$516K typical home · up 1.4% in a yearWork & commuteA+$149K median household income · 1,465 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 65% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Dayton
Anoka Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Anoka3.3 mi$6,267 in-state tuitionAnoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Coon Rapids5.9 mi$5,682 in-state tuitionHennepin Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Brooklyn Park7.3 mi$5,940 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Dayton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
Get outside
20 miles of trails in Dayton
20.4% of the town is conserved land, across 15 parks and preserves.
3
Mississippi West Regional Park79 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Dayton
City in Minnesota, United States
Dayton is a city in Hennepin and Wright counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 7,262 at the 2020 census. According to 2025 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 11,402. Dayton is mainly located within Hennepin County, but a part of the city extends into Wright County as well. It is the northernmost city in Hennepin County and is a suburb of the Minneapolis–St. Paul "Twin Cities" metropolitan area. The city of Dayton, platted in 1855, is named for city founder, Lyman Dayton. Through his energy and finances, Lyman Dayton was instrumental in bringing the railroad into Minnesota and development of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad, of whic…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1855
- Area
- 25 sq mi
- Elevation
- 879 ft
- ZIP code
- 55327
- Area code
- 763
Dayton’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Dayton.
RamseyOtsegoRogersChamplinAnokaMaple GroveElk RiverDayton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | #80 | A | C | A | B+ | A |
| Ramsey | #84 | A | C | A | A− | A− |
| Otsego | #82 | A | C | — | A | A |
| Rogers | #95 | A | C | C+ | A | A+ |
| Champlin | #91 | A | C | B | B+ | A |
| Anoka | #163 | B+ | B | B− | B+ | B |
| Maple Grove | #161 | B+ | C | B− | B− | A+ |
| Elk River | #48 | A | B− | B+ | A | A− |
Otsego reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Dayton with a neighbor →
Questions about Dayton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dayton, MN a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Dayton grades A overall, better than 88% of U.S. towns and #80 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A for health, A for safety and B+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Dayton, MN expensive?
That is 5.2 years of the area's median household income ($99,833 across the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.