States › Minnesota › Dayton

Is Dayton, MN expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 14 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,8264% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$160,639about $13,387/month · 84% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$511,30054% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 59% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 92% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Most homes (93%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $73,040 a year. That is $35 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Minnesota cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Minnesota. It is number 107 of 150 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Dayton
$1,826
Mound
$1,920
Little Falls
$826
Oak Grove
$2,258
East Grand Forks
$876
Waseca
$1,032
Baxter
$1,301

How much do households earn in Dayton?

Under $25k
3.1%
$25k–50k
9.5%
$50k–100k
27.8%
$100k–150k
23.1%
$150k+
35.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 58.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Dayton overall?

Everyday prices in Minnesota overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
91
Goods (food, clothes…)
101
Utilities
91
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Dayton, so the Minnesota figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Dayton

🏛️ Property tax$5,324a year · 1.04% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$130a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Dayton

Commute to work26.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree44%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home93%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dayton?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,722 a month less.

Renting
$1,826
Owning
$3,548

Owning assumes a typical $511,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $51,130 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Dayton, MN?

Renting in Dayton costs a median of about $1,826 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Minnesota median is $1,525.

How much do I need to make to live in Dayton?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $73,040 a year, or $35 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Dayton cheap or expensive?

Dayton is rated Cheap: rent takes 13.6% of the typical household income of $160,639. It ranks 107th cheapest of 150 Minnesota cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Dayton?

The median homeowner in Dayton pays $5,324 a year in property taxes, about 1.04% of the median home value.

Is Dayton more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Minnesota are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Dayton?

The median home value in Dayton is $511,300, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

9,095 people live in Dayton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.