GRANT, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE

LIVING IN GRANT

Grant has been organized for a long time — the Town of Grant was formed on October 20, 1858, and named for Ulysses S. Grant, and its first school opened even earlier, in 1856. For most of its history it was a farming township, with the small village of Withrow as an early exception. Over the years several villages on its western side split off as their own cities, and in November 1996 the Town of Grant itself became the City of Grant, largely to preserve its rural character and protect natural areas from high-density development.

That rural character is still the defining feature. Since 1976 Grant’s zoning has required an average lot size of 10 acres with a 5-acre minimum, so the landscape is a mix of family farms, horse boarding and training facilities, orchards and hobby farms, along with hardwood forests, prairie remnants, wetlands and lakes. Farm equipment on the roads and seasonal field work are a normal part of life here.

Homes in Grant are mostly on acreage, served by private wells and septic systems rather than city utilities. You’ll also find a few older subdivisions, such as Wake Robin Acres from the early 1960s, with smaller lots. Commercial development is limited to a couple of areas near Hwy 36.

The Gateway State Trail is Grant’s best-known recreational feature, used by cyclists, horseback riders, skiers and snowmobilers. For commuting, Hwy 36 and Hwy 96 are the main routes, and downtown St. Paul is roughly 15 to 20 miles away depending on where you live in Grant. Stillwater, Mahtomedi and White Bear Lake are all close for shopping and dining. If you want room to spread out without giving up access to the Twin Cities, Grant is one of the few places in the metro that still offers it.

GRANT AT A GLANCE

Population: 3,966
Size: 26.5 sq mi
Incorporated: 1996 (as a city)
Schools: Mahtomedi · Stillwater
Trails: Gateway State Trail
Commute: Hwy 36 · Hwy 96
County: Washington
Known for: Acreage & horse farms
Drive to MSP Airport: about 40 minutes (25 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 35 minutes (23 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 30 minutes (18 miles), off-peak

GRANT SCHOOLS

Grant is served by two public school districts: Mahtomedi Public Schools (ISD 832) and Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834). Which district a home is in depends on its location within the city. Mahtomedi High School and Mahtomedi Middle School are actually located inside Grant’s city limits.

Students in the Mahtomedi district attend Mahtomedi High School, and students in the Stillwater district attend Stillwater Area High School. Because the line runs through the city, I confirm the district for every Grant property my clients consider.

What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Grant’s children of that school’s age who live in its attendance area — ages 5–10 for elementary, 11–13 for middle and 14–17 for high school (about 272, 134 and 233 children in the 2020 Census). District percentages use all children ages 5–17. It shows where the city’s kids are assigned; it is not a test score or a rating. Students per grade is each school’s 2025–26 enrollment divided by the number of grades it serves.

School districts serving Grant: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — about 63% of the city’s school-age children; Stillwater (ISD 834) — about 37% of the city’s school-age children.

HOW GRANT’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE

Mahtomedi (ISD 832): reading 67% and math 68% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #8 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 96% (class of 2025), #76 of 317
Stillwater (ISD 834): reading 59% and math 58% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #40 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 95% (class of 2025), #95 of 317

Proficient = share of tested students who met or exceeded Minnesota’s grade-level standards (MCA, MTAS and Alternate MCA, all tested grades). Test-score rank = position among Minnesota school districts (charter schools not included) by the average of reading and math proficiency; school ranks compare each school with all Minnesota public schools at the same level. Ranks are calculated by Minnesota Chuck from Minnesota Department of Education data and are not an official state rating.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SERVING GRANT

Wildwood & Anderson elementary schools: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — about 63% of Grant’s children that age; grades K–5, about 208 students per grade; reading 66%, math 75% proficient (2025–26), #68 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Rutherford Elementary: Stillwater (ISD 834) — about 38% of Grant’s children that age; grades K–5, about 91 students per grade; reading 61%, math 62% proficient (2025–26), #215 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools

MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING GRANT

Mahtomedi Middle School: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — about 70% of Grant’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 264 students per grade; reading 67%, math 64% proficient (2025–26), #14 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Stillwater Middle School: Stillwater (ISD 834) — about 30% of Grant’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 309 students per grade; reading 63%, math 60% proficient (2025–26), #28 of 264 Minnesota middle schools

HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING GRANT

Mahtomedi High School: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — about 59% of Grant’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 285 students per grade; reading 65%, math 58% proficient (2025–26), #14 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 96%
Stillwater High School: Stillwater (ISD 834) — about 41% of Grant’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 665 students per grade; reading 50%, math 56% proficient (2025–26), #40 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 96%

Sources: Minnesota Department of Education, School Attendance Areas, SY2025-26; Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 assessment results and graduation rates (Minnesota Report Card); U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (children by age, by census block); Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 enrollment. Boundaries can change, so confirm the assigned school with the district for a specific address.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What school district is Grant, MN in?

Grant is split between Mahtomedi Public Schools (ISD 832) and Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834), depending on where the home sits. Mahtomedi’s high school and middle school are located within Grant. I check the district for any property you’re considering.

What county is Grant, MN in?

Grant is in Washington County, Minnesota. It covers about 26.5 square miles on the eastern edge of the Twin Cities metro and borders Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Pine Springs, Mahtomedi, White Bear Township, Hugo and May Township. Most of the city is rural, with farms, horse properties and wooded acreage.

What is the minimum lot size in Grant, MN?

Since 1976, Grant’s zoning has required an average lot size of 10 acres, with a 5-acre minimum. That’s why most homes in Grant sit on acreage with private wells and septic systems. Some older subdivisions created before then, like Wake Robin Acres, have smaller lots.

How far is Grant from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?

Driving from the center of Grant at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 23 miles (roughly 35 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 18 miles (roughly 30 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 25 miles (roughly 40 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Grant you start from.

Is Grant a good place to buy a home?

Grant is a good fit if you want space — acreage, room for horses or a hobby farm, and a rural setting within reach of the Twin Cities. Wells, septic, outbuildings and land all affect value, so pricing takes care. I’m happy to walk you through any property you’re considering.

NEARBY CITIES I SERVE

Mahtomedi · Dellwood · Hugo · Willernie · White Bear Township · Stillwater · White Bear Lake · Scandia · Forest Lake

Thinking about buying or selling in Grant? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results