What are the schools like in Dalton, MN?

School district data for Dalton is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Dalton?

The median household income in Dalton, MN is $63,237 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Dalton, MN?

Dalton has an average high temperature of 18.4°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.6 inches.

Dalton, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dalton, MN affordable or expensive?

Dalton's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dalton is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $96,700 and the median rent is $730 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dalton, MN?

Dalton has a violent crime rate of 81.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 754.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dalton, MN a Good Place to Live?

Dalton is a small town of 295 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $63,237 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Dalton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dalton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dalton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.8

Dalton's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dalton costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dalton, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$96,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$730	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	86.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,237	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dalton's violent crime rate is 81.7 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

81.7 /100k

Property Crime

754.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Dalton, MN	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dalton sees average highs of 18.4°F in January and 80.8°F in July, with 27.4 inches of annual precipitation and 49.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dalton, MN
Average High — January	18.4°F
Average High — July	80.8°F
Annual Precipitation	27.4"
Annual Snowfall	49.6"

Demographics

Metric	Dalton, MN	National Avg
Population	295	—
Median Age	34.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.4%	22.2%
65 and over	15.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ashby, MN 7 mi Underwood, MN 8 mi Fergus Falls, MN 11 mi Battle Lake, MN 12 mi Wendell, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Dalton

Dalton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56324

Dalton vs Other Cities

Dalton, MN vs Ashby, MN Dalton, MN vs Underwood, MN Dalton, MN vs Fergus Falls, MN Dalton, MN vs Battle Lake, MN Dalton, MN vs Wendell, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dalton, MN affordable or expensive?

Dalton's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dalton roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $96,700 and median rent is $730/month.

What is the crime rate in Dalton, MN?

Dalton's violent crime rate is 81.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 754.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dalton?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Dalton, MN a good place to live?

Dalton, MN has a population of 295, a median household income of $63,237, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dalton?

Dalton averages 18.4°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.4 inches with about 49.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dalton?

Dalton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56324.

What is the population of Dalton?

The population of Dalton, Minnesota is 295 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dalton?

Key numbers for living in Dalton: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $96,700, median household income $63,237, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dalton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.