With its far northwest point at the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow rivers, the city of Dayton is a growing community 30 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis. Rich in natural beauty and outdoor amenities, this community is quiet by design, with little commercial industry. “Dayton was later to develop than some of the places in this area, so it still has a more rural feel, despite the homebuilding activity,” says Realtor Jeff Shuman with Edina Realty. “But it’s so close to other developed areas that you're not far from business activity.”
With a population of just over 7,000 residents, Dayton is comprised of winding residential roads, spacious lots and ample green space. Just a few businesses line Robinson Street, the community’s historic downtown street, and locals enjoy a quiet, small-town atmosphere.
Quiet streets and well-maintained lots are a hallmark of Dayton, MN neighborhoods.
The Mississippi River provides ample scenery and recreation in Dayton, MN.
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An ever-expanding housing market
New construction has been driving up housing prices in recent years, as developments continue to into the community’s open fields and farmland. There is an abundance of homes on the market that have been built in the past three years, and most are craftsman-style builds with attached garages and three or more bedrooms. The average listing price in Dayton is around $500,000, over $100,000 more than the average house in the Twin Cities. While these new homes make up the vast majority of the market, there are some late 20th and early-21st century bi-levels, Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes available.
Homes built in the 1970s with four bedrooms, 2,000 square feet and half-acre lots are listed for $350,000, while homebuyers with bigger budgets can snag a four-bedroom, four-bathroom craftsman-style home with 4,000 square feet for $700,000. Additionally, the area is dotted with small ponds, with a selection of homes bordering Diamond Lake featuring private water access, and dozens of houses back up to the Mississippi River.
Dayton has plenty of development room for large floorplan homes to choose from.
Dayton, MN continues to grow as new housing developments take shape.
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Elm Creek Park Preserve and riverfront recreation
While locals travel to neighboring communities for their retail and restaurant needs, the town has no shortage of public green spaces and outdoor recreational facilities. Nearly a quarter of the city is occupied by the 4,900-acre Elm Creek Park Reserve. Here, local outdoor enthusiasts can be found mountain biking on the 13 miles of single-track trails or hiking, horseback riding or cross-country skiing along the park’s other paved paths. Elm Creek is also home to a swimming pond, a nature center, an off-leash dog park and an archery range.
Cloquet Overlook Park sits on the southern banks of the Mississippi River and has paved walking trails, a playground and picnic tables. The Daytona Golf Club is a popular public course known for its reasonable rates and well-maintained greens. In addition to golf, the club offers indoor pickleball, tennis, racquetball and wallyball. Driving northeast to Robinson Street will take folks to where the Mississippi and Crow rivers meet, where they can launch their craft for a day out on the water. Each September, locals flock to Robinson Street for the Heritage Days festival to listen to live music, watch fireworks and enjoy the parade.
Elm Creek Park Preserve has miles of paved trails for cyclists in Dayton, MN.
Daytona Golf Club features 18 holes over a beautifully maintained course in Dayton, MN.
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Highly rated Minnesota public schools
Families with children in Dayton are served by Anoka-Hennepin Schools, a highly rated public school district that Niche ranked as the 16th best district for athletes in the state. The community’s youngest learners can attend Fernbrook, Dayton or Hassan elementary school, each of which earns B-plus or A-minus overall grades from Niche. After the fifth grade, public school students can attend Rogers Middle, Osseo Middle or Jackson Middle. Maple Grove Senior High School earns an impressive A overall grade and is the 22nd-best public high school in Minnesota, according to Niche.
Dayton Elementary School enrolls over 550 students in grades K-5 in Dayton, MN.
Fernbrook Elementary School is a highly-ranked school in Maple Grove with an A- Niche grade.
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Hole-in-the-wall eateries and nearby amenities
The city is largely residential apart from its outdoor recreation areas, a local restaurant, a post office and a church. “Buyers like the quiet in Dayton while having access to shopping and dining destinations in neighboring communities,” Shuman says. “A lot of these areas are offshoots of Maple Grove, which is one of the most popular shopping areas in the Twin Cities.”
The Dayton Bar & Grill is an unassuming hole in the wall dive bar serving cold brews and refreshing cocktails alongside classic American pub fare. Rogers is between a five and 15-minute drive from all Dayton residents and is the go-to spot for locals to stock up on groceries and other essentials, with both a Target and Cub Foods in town. The area is also home to a wide selection of recognizable chain restaurants along with some family-owned joints like Lindas’ Cafe, which serves up sweet and savory breakfast bites.
Located in Rogers, Cub Foods is one of the main grocery options for Dayton residents.
Target in Champlin is a big-box shopping option for Dayton residents.
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Below-average crime rates
Dayton experiences lower rates of crime compared to the average United States city, with CrimeGrade.org giving it an A overall crime grade. The community is in the 86th percentile for safety, with a crime rate of 15.3 for every 1,000 residents. Crime is less common here than in surrounding, more populated areas like Champlin, Rogers and Maple Grove.
Transportation
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis, Dayton attracts those looking for a rural atmosphere without sacrificing access to an active business district. Travelers can access Interstate 94 5 miles south of town, which they can take 20 miles southeast to Minneapolis or 45 miles northwest to St. Cloud. Additionally, locals are a 40-minute drive from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
I am dedicated to helping my clients find the home of their dreams. Whether you are buying or selling a home, or just curious about the local market, I would love to offer my support and service to you. As a resident in Anoka Minnesota, I know the local community here, and can help guide you through the ever changing market. With access to top listings, a worldwide network, exceptional marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology, I’ll work hard to make your real estate experience memorable and enjoyable. I look forward to the opportunity to work for you. Let’s meet for lunch. Phone 612-380-8500
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
