Dinehart-Holt House · National Register of Historic Places
Slayton’s story
145 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1980.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1881Slayton is settled
SlaytonMN
A town of 1,930, settled in 1881.
Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,930
2025 Census estimate · −4% since 2020
Typical home
$255K
+7.6% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
1,065
Balanced
Is Slayton a good place to live?
Slayton’s best subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and schools and an A− for safety. 32% of working residents work locally in Slayton, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 9.8% and U.S. towns at 8%. On cost of living, just 10 of Minnesota’s 573 towns do better. Slayton has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Dinehart-Holt House. Slayton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Slayton stand out
Where Slayton beats most towns.
Typical home value
Slayton$255K
Minnesota$349K
Cost of livingA+
3.4 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 98% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Murray County Central Schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| West Elementary | 2–6 | 256 |
| Murray County Central Elementary | PK–1 | 137 |
| Murray County Central High School | 7–12 | 328 |
SchoolsA+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Slayton1
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
57% less violent crime than MN
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
How Slayton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Slayton is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →SchoolsA+Open →SafetyA−Open →Jobs & income$62K median household incomeC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 10.8% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthMurray County Memorial Hospital 0.2 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trailsC+Open →History2 places on the National Register; 5 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life13.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Slayton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Slayton, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSlayton water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMurray County Recycling Center1820 Erlandson AvenueOpenStreetMap
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 hereMurray County ElectionsMurray County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5617256172 100%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 Slayton.
SchoolsA+
Slayton’s public schools outperform 95% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Murray County Central Schools. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Murray County Central High School, with 328 students.
95%of MN districts it outscoresA+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades 2–6 | Grades 2–6 | 256 | A |
| Murray County Central High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 328 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
SafetyA−
Less crime per resident in Slayton than in 79% of U.S. towns
At 3.1 per 1,000 residents, Slayton’s property crime rate is below both the Minnesota town median (8.7) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9).
79%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Slayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.1 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Slayton1
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Slayton3.1
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
79th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
6
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A+
Slayton’s typical home value is about $255K
The typical Slayton home is worth about $255,000, up 7.6% in a year, 27% below the Minnesota typical home. The median rent in Slayton is $752 a month.
$255KZillow home value
| Slayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $752 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Slayton$255K
Minnesota$349K
+7.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Slayton has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Slayton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 6° and about 46 inches of snow falls in a winter.
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring33–55°
Summer58–80°
Fall36–57°
Sep 29
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Older than Minnesota overall
People 65 and older are 25% of residents (17% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 34% of residents (38% statewide). Slayton has lost 4% of its people since 2020, down to 1,930 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
39.9median age · MN 38.8
| Slayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 18% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 33% | 29% |
SlaytonMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school33%
Some college18%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
56% women, 44% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.3 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Slayton | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.9% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.7% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.9% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.4% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 6.8% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.6% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.3% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33.4% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 18% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.5% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.2% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.8% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,900, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With 1.1 jobs for every working resident, Slayton draws in 764 commuters
About one in 3 of Slayton’s working residents works in town. Slayton’s average trip to work is 17 minutes. Jobs based in Slayton fell to 1,065 in 2023, 200 fewer than in 2013.
32%work in town
| Slayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Slayton32%
Worthington6%
Marshall6%
Fulda4%
Sioux Falls3%
18 mi
median commute distance
1,065
jobs based in Slayton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 59% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Slayton faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Slayton is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns
Slayton beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 30% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Slayton.
59%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Slayton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 23% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better24 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Slayton | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.1% | 76.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 14.4% | 8.9% |
Murray County Memorial Hospital
0.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,305 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bi-Centennial Park | — | 12 |
| 2. Gullord Park | 0.1 mi | 3 |
| 3. Rupp Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Slayton
20pages on Slayton
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 95% of MN districts · 4 schoolsSafetyA−1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than MN on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA+$255K typical home · up 7.6% in a yearWork & commuteC+$62K median household income · 1,065 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Slayton; the nearest are
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marshall32 mi$10,361 in-state tuitionNorthwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sheldon, IA56 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Slayton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
Landmarks
2 places in Slayton on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Slayton
5 notable people were born in Slayton.
About Slayton
City in Minnesota, United States
Slayton is a city in and the county seat of Murray County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,013 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,601 ft
- ZIP code
- 56172
- Area code
- 507
Questions about Slayton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Slayton, MN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
What is Slayton, MN known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Vin Weber and Trevor Winter.