City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Dayton, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dayton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,381
Residents
$137,383
Median income
$510,600
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Dayton - the verdict

Nationally, Dayton sits in the 92nd percentile for household income and the 88th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

92nd
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
88th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dayton, MN

Minnesota's Dayton is a small town, with 8,381 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Dayton brings in $137,383 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Dayton's housing stock carries a median value of $510,600, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. Educational attainment runs 41.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 74.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 242 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 17% from five years earlier. Dayton reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 434.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,709 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 21.4 minutes, with 72.3% driving alone and 21.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

8,381 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$137,383 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Dayton compare to other US cities?

Where Dayton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 92% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities
Safety 88% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, Dayton ranks #63 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dayton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Dayton's strongest outlier among Minnesota cities

Among the 774 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Dayton ranks #32 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dayton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#34 of 775
96th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#32 of 774
96th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#542 of 785
30th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#101 of 784
87th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

92ndIncome percentile
88thSafety percentile

92nd percentile nationally for median household income · 88th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dayton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dayton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Dayton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dayton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$510,600 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dayton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dayton, MN Dayton, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dayton, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dayton, MN median $137,383/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dayton, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dayton, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,381
Median Income
$137,383
Median Home Value
$510,600
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
74.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
434.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
17.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
416.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,000 residents8,000 residents10,000 residents12,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,432 residents 11,402 residents ▲ +53.4%
Dayton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
242
housing units authorized
Single-Family
236
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
28.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 290
2020 354
2021 455
2022 417
2023 215
2024 242

Permit volume decreased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.4 minutes
Drive Alone
72.3%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
21.4%
Other
1.0%

Based on 4,844 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dayton sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Virginia
8,362 people
Waite Park
8,341 people
St. Francis
8,279 people
Minnetrista
8,509 people
Orono
8,205 people
New Prague
8,195 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's 8,381 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Crete, IL
8,382 people
Oak Hills Place, LA
8,380 people
Westwego, LA
8,382 people
Lock Haven, PA
8,386 people
Hillsboro, TX
8,375 people
Atmore, AL
8,389 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's $137,383 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Antioch, GA
$137,404 median income
Shadow Lake, WA
$137,407 median income
Locust Valley, NY
$137,344 median income
Woodland Hills, UT
$137,426 median income
Leesylvania, VA
$137,460 median income
Pecan Grove, TX
$137,275 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dayton, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dayton, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.6% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.0% White 79.6% Black or African American 4.7% Asian 4.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.1% Two or more races 7.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dayton compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dayton (this city) 8,381 $137,383
Virginia 8,362 $48,321
Waite Park 8,341 $56,884
St. Francis 8,279 $101,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dayton, MN?

What is the population of Dayton, MN? +

The population of Dayton, MN stands at 8,381 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dayton, MN? +

In Dayton, the typical household earns $137,383 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dayton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dayton; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Dayton, MN safe? +

Dayton has a total crime rate of 434.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dayton, MN? +

The median home value in Dayton is $510,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.