$423,380Average Value$239Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
Esko has spacious homes not far from Duluth or natural outlets
Spacious, wooded lawns on rolling hills define the small, unincorporated community of Esko, Minnesota. Not far from Duluth, the area got its name from Esko's Corner, an early corner store opened by a settler of the same name. The area remained mostly undeveloped until the mid-1900s when a growing need for more spacious homes around Duluth moved west. Now, Esko has large homes on spacious lots, and residents enjoy the untouched land around them. "I love to hike, bike, ski and just be outdoors," says Jamie Sathers-Day, a broker at JS Realty. "I love the rural aspect, but if I want to go into town, I have Duluth in one direction and the smaller Cloquet in the other." Esko has a CAP Index score of 1 out of a possible 10, while the national average is 4.
Esko offers homes on large, wooded private lots.
The unincorporated community of Esko is a bedroom community located between Duluth and Cloquet.
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Homes have more land and more bedrooms than those in nearby cities
The oldest homes in Esko, including Cape Cods, bungalows and cottages, are from the early 1900s and range from $140,000 to $220,000. Most homes are from the past three decades and feature new traditional and Modern Craftsman designs. The larger houses, ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals are more expensive, selling between $300,000 and $600,000 on average. "Most lots are over an acre, and some are even over four acres," Sathers-Day says. "You get that rural feeling living here, but you're close enough to neighbors that you're not disconnected. Even though it's rural, it's still a neighborhood." A few outlying homes, with five or six bedrooms and upwards of 10 acres, reach up to $1 million in price. With a median price of $390,000, Esko's median is not far from the nation's. However, the median price of homes in Esko is more than Duluth's by nearly $100,000. There is a high homeownership rate, with 94% of houses being owner-occupied.
Split-level homes are typical in Esko and feature two or more car garages and large, spacious driveways.
Larger newer homes in the Esko community range from $300,000 to 600,000.
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Top school district in Duluth area has all grade levels in one place
Esko Public Schools is the second-best school district in the Duluth area as stated by Niche, and according to Sathers-Day, "The schools are a big reason why people move to Esko." Winterquist Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through sixth grade and is rated A-minus by Niche. Lincoln Secondary School covers seventh through twelfth grade and earns a B-minus. The two schools share one building at Esko's center, within 3 miles of each home. Esko School Fields is a mile north of the building, where teams practice and play after school. The football field has a rubber track, baseball diamonds and outdoor ice rinks that are open to the public.
Winterquist Elementary serves Esko students in grades preK and K-6 .
Lincoln Secondary School serves students in grades 7-12.
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Neighborhood and state parks offer recreation opportunities
Six miles from the center of Esko is Jay Cook State Park. The park, which is among the state's most visited state parks, has over 8,000 acres of campgrounds, trails, river access and a gorge. "It's a huge draw to the area," Sathers-Day says. "People go there for hiking, biking, skiing and even rafting on the St. Louis River." The Minnesota State Parks' bird checklist has more than 190 bird species for visitors to look out for and check off during their visits. Northridge Park is in the neighborhood along Midway River, an offshoot of the St. Louis River. The little park has a field, playground and swing set. More parks are west in Cloquet, including Braun Park and Hilltop Park. Baseball leagues play at Braun, while soccer leagues play at Hilltop. Those wanting to try disc golf can practice at Hilltop Park's full course.
Visitors can hike the Ogantz Trail to the scenic overlook at Jay Cooke State Park.
Northridge Park has an play area for younger children.
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Going elsewhere for shopping and dining
Esko is almost entirely residential, with limited shops and stores. Tequila Town Mexican Cuisine opened in 2023, across from the area's school building. "It's a small community. We don't have many retail options here," Sathers-Day says. "But you live in Ekso to enjoy the quiet rural living and then go elsewhere for shopping and dining." Locally owned restaurants and shops are in Cloquet, including Bearaboo Coffee Escape and Heart Berry, a home goods store featuring scarves, blankets and art with traditional Ojibwe Indigenous designs. Walmart, Super One Foods, fast-food chains, Aldi and department stores are also in Cloquet, while Duluth has more shopping centers and a mall.
Walmart is located in nearby Cloquet for all your household essentials.
Tequila Town is Esko's only restaurant and offers authentic and fresh Mexican fare for the residents of Esko.
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Great commuter town
Cloquet is 5 miles northwest and has sizeable employers like Community Memorial Hospital. Esko is just north of Interstate 35, which leads 14 miles northeast to Duluth, where some of the area's largest employers are. Esko acts as a rural bedroom community for the two cities, and according to Sathers-Day, "People who work in Cloquet or Duluth would love to live in Esko." Duluth International Airport is 20 miles away, near the mall and shopping centers along Duluth's Miller Trunk Highway. The Carlton County Standard Bus Route makes one stop in Esko three times a day from Monday to Friday. The route passes through the county's small towns and cities.
Duluth International Airport serves the residents of Esko and is located 20 miles away in Duluth MN.
The Carlton County Standard Bus Route makes one stop in Esko at the Barnes Care Assisted Living three times a day on weekdays.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Emily Davis,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Esko, MN sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Esko, MN over the last 12 months is $447,450, up 27% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
The last 2 lots in The Ponds on Midway in Esko! Build your townhome, live in one side & sell the other side OR build a home. HOA covers exterior of the building, mowing & shoveling. City sewer at the street & a well will be needed.
Welcome to the original Erickson Farmstead on Erickson Road! Built in 1920, this property has lots of history and memories for so many! It’s time for new owners to create new memories! This home has had a complete remodel in 2003 which included gutting it to the studs and rebuilding it with new electrical, plumbing, insulation, windows, sheetrock, flooring and fixtures. The 4+ car 30x50 garage
The moment you have been waiting for is here! A new subdivision in Esko with gorgeous lots located just a couple of blocks from the Esko school. City sewer is in to each lot via a gravity feed. Building lots available for a slab home or walkout basement depending on your needs. 4 lots are still available with beautiful Midway river frontage, each lot has a designated viewing area of the river. .
This 2 bed 1 bath apartment is conveniently located in the heart of Esko, Mn. New natural gas forced air furnace for efficient heating all winter long. Tenants pay for all utilities and their own snow removal. Min 650 credit score with verified income at 2.5x rent. Call today for more details.
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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