The Town FilesDayton, Minnesota
City in Hennepin County · population 7,262 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $511,300
- Household income
- $148,947
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 40.2
Dayton is a city of 7,262 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $511,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $511,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $148,947, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,651 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $511,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,651 | $991 |
| Median household income | $148,947 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2011 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 3, 1983 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 158 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 5, 2019.
Severe weather in Hennepin County since 1996
Hennepin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hennepin County
Hennepin County had 917,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Dayton
1 public school with 542 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAYTON ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 542 | 14.6 |
Towns near Dayton
- Anoka, MN4.3 mi · 17,921 people · home $308,700
- Champlin, MN4.3 mi · 23,919 people · home $358,700
- Rogers, MN4.9 mi · 13,295 people · home $459,700
- Ramsey, MN5.0 mi · 27,646 people · home $359,600
- Maple Grove, MN5.3 mi · 70,253 people · home $418,300
- Osseo, MN6.1 mi · 2,688 people · home $306,500
- Corcoran, MN7.7 mi · 6,185 people · home $569,400
- Coon Rapids, MN7.8 mi · 63,599 people · home $305,800
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 25% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 31%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $511,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $148,947, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,651 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 46.8 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 3, 1983. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)