The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 55001 sells for about $899,000, or $378 per square foot.
Prices are up +3% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 123 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $2,333 a month.
ZIP 55001 — Afton
The Afton housing market remains a high-value, low-inventory environment characterized by large, premium properties. While price growth has moderated, the market remains stable due to limited supply and strong demand for luxury, semi-rural living. Investors should note the high price-to-rent ratio, which limits cash-flow potential for rental properties.
This ZIP is best suited for affluent families and luxury buyers seeking large lots, scenic river valley views, and a quiet, semi-rural lifestyle within commuting distance of the Twin Cities.
Median prices moved up 3.0% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 123 days on market with 32.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
31% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98% of asking — demand is holding steady.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.1% · poverty 6.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 3.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 55001, Washington County MN
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Afton is generally considered a low-crime, safe residential community with crime rates significantly lower than the regional and national averages.
Schools serving the area are part of the Stillwater Area Public School District, which is highly regarded for its academic performance and extracurricular offerings.
The area is situated along the St. Croix River, presenting localized flood risks in low-lying areas, while general wildfire risk is low.
Development in Afton is characterized by low-density, high-value residential growth with a focus on preserving the rural and scenic character of the St. Croix River Valley.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Minnesota) — Condominium Unit Taxation: Each unit constitutes a separate parcel for tax purposes. If a declaration is recorded at least 30 days before a tax installment is due, the taxing authority must split the taxes among the units. State (Minnesota) — Minnesota General Property Tax Classification System: Property tax is calculated by applying a class rate to the parcel's estimated market value to determine tax capacity, then multiplying by the local tax rate. For residential homesteads (Class 1a), the rate is 1.00% for the first $500,000 of market value and 1.
Commuters typically drive to the Twin Cities metropolitan area via I-94, with travel times to downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis ranging from 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Afton is home to Afton State Park, offering extensive hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and is located near the St. Croix River for boating and fishing.
The rental market is limited and primarily consists of single-family homes, with high price-to-rent ratios making it a challenging environment for traditional buy-to-rent investors.
The local economy is primarily residential and recreational, with residents largely employed in the broader Twin Cities professional and corporate sectors.
Transportation is heavily reliant on private vehicles, with I-94 serving as the primary artery for regional connectivity.
Planning efforts are focused on land conservation and maintaining the rural aesthetic of the St. Croix River Valley.
Washington County utilizes a market-value assessment system, with properties reassessed periodically to reflect current market conditions.
Parcels are subject to Stillwater Area Public School District taxes and various county-level service districts.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the area's proximity to the St. Croix River and the prevalence of large, high-value custom homes.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 55001 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Good Times Park4.616.1 mi
- Cascade Bay Water Park4.417.2 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park46.8 mi
- WhirlyBall Twin Cities4.519.9 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park419.1 mi
- Grand Casino Arena4.613.1 mi
- Minnesota State Fair4.717 mi
- Surly Brewing Co.4.518.7 mi
- Union Depot4.512.5 mi
- Allianz Field4.816.3 mi
- Willow River State Park4.710.5 mi
- Science Museum of Minnesota4.613 mi
- Minnesota Children's Museum4.513 mi
- Marcus Oakdale Cinema4.510.8 mi
- AMC Inver Grove 164.311.2 mi
- Science Museum of Minnesota4.613 mi
- Union Depot4.512.5 mi
- Minnesota State Capitol4.713.3 mi
- Minnesota Children's Museum4.513 mi
- Saint Paul Brewing4.612 mi
- Willow River State Park4.710.5 mi
- Afton State Park4.84.9 mi
- Lake Elmo Park Reserve4.75.3 mi
- Harriet Island Regional Park4.612.7 mi
- Teddy Bear Park4.710.1 mi
- Pool and Yacht Club4.714.6 mi
- Watergate Marina4.516.2 mi
- Sunnyside Marina4.59.5 mi
- Bayport Marina Association4.77.4 mi
- Windmill Marina Assc. Inc4.52.9 mi
- Inver Wood Golf Course4.112.2 mi
- Keller Golf Course4.612.6 mi
- Troy Burne Golf Club4.64.8 mi
- Oak Glen Golf Course and Event Center4.411.1 mi
- Oak Marsh Golf Course and Event Center4.35.8 mi
- Maplewood Mall412.4 mi
- Hmong Village4.411.1 mi
- Fleet Farm4.210.6 mi
- T.J. Maxx4.25.5 mi
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport4.418.5 mi
- Shoyu3.718.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Features extensive hiking trails, river access, and winter sports facilities.
Provides significant recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, and scenic views.
A major regional destination for downhill skiing and snowboarding.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 18.0% from the nearest retained anchor (published ten-year series (2025)) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Research outlier held out — this pass returned a median of $737,383 (18.0% off the retained reading), contradicting every independent anchor; the prior reading stands pending corroboration. Validation: the flagged $737,383 (-18% vs the published ten-year series (2025)) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.