What are the schools like in Dayton, MN?

Dayton is served primarily by Anoka-Hennepin School District. The district operates 26 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 15 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Dayton?

The median household income in Dayton, MN is $138,654 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Dayton, MN?

Dayton has an average high temperature of 22.5°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Dayton, MN affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dayton is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $459,100 and the median rent is $1,181 per month.

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

Dayton has a violent crime rate of 17.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 416.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dayton, MN a Good Place to Live?

Dayton is a small town of 7,745 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $138,654 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Dayton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Dayton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dayton 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: 104.5

Dayton's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dayton costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Dayton, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$459,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,181	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	94.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$138,654	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dayton's violent crime rate is 17.7 per 100,000 residents — 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

17.7 /100k

Property Crime

416.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dayton is served primarily by Anoka-Hennepin School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dayton, MN	National Avg
School District	Anoka-Hennepin School District	—
Elementary Schools	26	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	15	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dayton sees average highs of 22.5°F in January and 83.4°F in July, with 33.0 inches of annual precipitation and 35.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dayton, MN
Average High — January	22.5°F
Average High — July	83.4°F
Annual Precipitation	33.0"
Annual Snowfall	35.7"

Demographics

Metric	Dayton, MN	National Avg
Population	7,745	—
Median Age	41.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.7%	18.9%
Asian	5.2%	6.3%
Under 18	27.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Anoka, MN 4 mi Champlin, MN 4 mi Rogers, MN 5 mi Ramsey, MN 5 mi Maple Grove, MN 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Dayton

Dayton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55327

Dayton vs Other Cities

Dayton, MN vs Anoka, MN Dayton, MN vs Champlin, MN Dayton, MN vs Rogers, MN Dayton, MN vs Ramsey, MN Dayton, MN vs Maple Grove, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dayton, MN affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dayton roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $459,100 and median rent is $1,181/month.

What is the crime rate in Dayton, MN?

Dayton's violent crime rate is 17.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 416.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dayton?

Public schools in Dayton are operated by Anoka-Hennepin School District. The district has 26 elementary, 6 middle, and 15 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 43.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dayton, MN a good place to live?

Dayton, MN has a population of 7,745, a median household income of $138,654, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. 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 Dayton?

Dayton averages 22.5°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.0 inches with about 35.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dayton?

Dayton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55327.

What is the population of Dayton?

The population of Dayton, Minnesota is 7,745 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dayton?

Key numbers for living in Dayton: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $459,100, median household income $138,654, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dayton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.