Dellwood is small, and we mean that. With just over 1,000 residents, it is a lakeside community of large lots, mature trees and long-held family homes, tucked against the northeast shore of White Bear Lake. There is no downtown and little turnover. When a home does come up, it tends to be something special. Here is a candid guide, including the places where data is thin.
The Setting
Dellwood had 1,171 residents at the 2020 census, up 10.2% from 2010, and covers about 2.8 square miles. It was platted in 1882, when wealthy St. Paul families built summer homes along the Stillwater & St. Paul Railroad. It became a village in 1917 and later a city. Highway 96 is the main route through the community.
Outdoors and Local Flavor
Dellwood’s best-known local destination is 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery on Highway 96 East, on the northeast side of White Bear Lake. It offers a wine bar, flatbreads and cheese, winery tours and event space, with wines made largely from cold-hardy Minnesota grapes. Check current hours before you go. Beyond that, residents rely on neighboring White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi and Stillwater for dining and shopping, and the lake itself is the main draw for those on or near the water.
The Dellwood Housing Market Right Now
We want to be plain: there is no reliable city-level market data for Dellwood. Redfin’s city page showed only a single sale, at a $750,000 price with 9 days on market, which is not a market statistic. Year-over-year change, sale-to-list and price-drop figures are not available. We have chosen not to substitute numbers from other places.
What we can say is that Dellwood is a low-inventory, high-value pocket. Sales are rare, each home is unique, and lake and large-lot properties are priced individually. The right way to value a Dellwood home is a custom analysis based on comparable sales in Dellwood, Mahtomedi and the nearby White Bear Lake shoreline. We would be happy to run one for you.
Schools
Niche lists two districts serving Dellwood: Mahtomedi Public Schools (grade A, about 3,285 students, ranked #14 in Minnesota) and White Bear Lake Area Schools (grade B, about 8,571 students, ranked #165). The difference between those ratings is worth noticing, so confirm which district a specific address belongs to before you make an offer.
Taxes and Costs
Ownwell has no Dellwood-specific figure. For nearby comparison, Ownwell reports Mahtomedi at a 1.10% median effective rate with a median bill of $4,776, and Washington County at 1.17% and $4,446. Treat these as ballparks only. Lakeshore and large-lot homes in Dellwood will typically carry higher bills than a county median suggests, and we can pull exact figures for a property.
The Commute
Highway 96 connects Dellwood to the White Bear Lake area and the broader metro highway network. We could not verify a Dellwood commute time or mileage, so we would rather have you drive the route you will actually use.
Is Dellwood Right for You?
Dellwood fits buyers who want a quiet, established neighborhood with large lots, lake proximity and Mahtomedi or White Bear Lake schools, and who are comfortable with a very limited supply of homes. It may not fit those who need a variety of price points, a walkable center, a wide selection of listings, or a bargain. Patience is part of buying here.
Let’s Talk About Your Move
If Dellwood is on your radar, tell us what you are looking for. We can watch for the rare listings and help you understand what they are worth.
Thinking about Dellwood? Get in touch with the Carchedi Group to start the conversation, or find out what your current home is worth if a move is on the table.
Data sources: Redfin city page (single recorded sale, no trend data), Niche, Ownwell (nearby and county benchmarks), 2020 Census. Figures change and are not a guarantee of future conditions.
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