RAMSEY, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE

LIVING IN RAMSEY

Ramsey’s history goes back to 1849, when Thomas A. Holmes and James Beatty built the Old Log Trading Post here. Itasca Village was platted in 1852 and held the first post office in Anoka County before it was abandoned. The township went by Watertown and then Dover before taking the name Ramsey, and the city was incorporated in 1974 with about 8,000 residents. Today it’s home to roughly 27,600 people.

Water shapes a lot of life here. The Mississippi River runs along the city’s southern edge and the Rum River along its east side. Mississippi West Regional Park has a boat launch, canoe and kayak access, trails and canoe-in campsites, and Rum River Central Regional Park adds a fishing pier, paved trails, horseback and ski trails, and a picnic pavilion. On top of those two regional parks, the city has its own parks and a trail network that connects neighborhoods.

The COR is Ramsey’s planned downtown — a 322-acre mixed-use area anchored by the Municipal Center on Sunwood Drive, with apartments, shops and gathering space. It’s also where the city throws its Happy Days Festival each September, with a parade, a 5K, a car show, live music and fireworks.

For commuting, U.S. Highways 10 and 169 run together through the city, and Highway 47 heads north. Downtown Minneapolis is about 22 miles away, and St. Paul is a similar drive. Ramsey had a Northstar commuter rail station that opened in 2012; the line closed in early 2026 and was replaced by bus service. Highway 10 is also Ramsey’s main business corridor, carrying more than 70,000 vehicles a day, with major employers such as Connexus Energy based in the city. Neighborhoods range from established subdivisions near Highway 10 to homes on bigger lots farther north.

RAMSEY AT A GLANCE

Population: 27,646
Size: 29.8 sq mi
Incorporated: 1974 (as a city)
Schools: Anoka-Hennepin · Elk River
River: Mississippi & Rum
Commute: US 10/169 · Hwy 47
County: Anoka
Summer festival: Happy Days (September)
Drive to MSP Airport: about 50 minutes (39 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 35 minutes (26 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 40 minutes (31 miles), off-peak

RAMSEY SCHOOLS

Ramsey is split between two public school districts: most of the city is in Anoka-Hennepin School District 11, and part is in Elk River Area Schools (ISD 728). Anoka-Hennepin runs schools inside the city, including Ramsey Elementary. Ramsey is also home to PACT Charter School, a public charter that expanded in 2023 into separate elementary and secondary buildings.

Because the district line runs through Ramsey, two homes a short distance apart can be assigned to different districts. If schools matter to your search, I’ll confirm the district and attendance boundaries for any address before you make an offer.

What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Ramsey’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 2,396, 1,325 and 1,683 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 Ramsey: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 91% of the city’s school-age children; Elk River (ISD 728) — about 10% of the city’s school-age children.

HOW RAMSEY’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE

Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11): reading 51% and math 51% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #98 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 89% (class of 2025), #215 of 317
Elk River (ISD 728): reading 59% and math 61% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #27 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 89% (class of 2025), #212 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 RAMSEY

Ramsey Elementary: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 47% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades K–5, about 154 students per grade; reading 40%, math 47% proficient (2025–26), #559 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Brookside Elementary: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 45% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades K–5, about 128 students per grade; reading 66%, math 71% proficient (2025–26), #92 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Twin Lakes Elementary: Elk River (ISD 728) — about 8% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades K–5, about 120 students per grade; reading 72%, math 77% proficient (2025–26), #37 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools

MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING RAMSEY

Anoka Middle School for the Arts: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 91% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 559 students per grade
Salk Middle School: Elk River (ISD 728) — about 10% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 219 students per grade; reading 59%, math 48% proficient (2025–26), #64 of 264 Minnesota middle schools

HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING RAMSEY

Anoka High School: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 89% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 578 students per grade; reading 41%, math 24% proficient (2025–26), #270 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 92%
Elk River High School: Elk River (ISD 728) — about 12% of Ramsey’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 385 students per grade; reading 37%, math 43% proficient (2025–26), #176 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 88%

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 Ramsey, MN in?

Ramsey is served by two public school districts. Most of the city is in Anoka-Hennepin School District 11, and part of it is in Elk River Area Schools (ISD 728). PACT Charter School also operates elementary and secondary buildings in Ramsey. Since the district line runs through the city, it’s worth confirming the district for any specific address.

What county is Ramsey, MN in?

Ramsey is in Anoka County. It sits in the northwest part of the county along the Mississippi River, bordered by Anoka, Andover, Oak Grove, Nowthen, Elk River and, across the river, Dayton. Anoka County handles property taxes and records for Ramsey homes.

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

Driving from the center of Ramsey at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 26 miles (roughly 35 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 31 miles (roughly 40 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 39 miles (roughly 50 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Ramsey you start from.

What is there to do in Ramsey, MN?

Ramsey has two Anoka County regional parks: Mississippi West, with river access, trails and canoe-in campsites, and Rum River Central, with a fishing pier, paved trails and horseback and ski trails. The COR, Ramsey’s downtown area, hosts the Happy Days Festival each September with a parade, a 5K, a car show, live music and fireworks.

Is Ramsey a good place to buy a home?

Ramsey offers a lot of variety: established neighborhoods near Highway 10, larger lots farther north, newer housing around the COR, two regional parks and access to both the Mississippi and Rum rivers. Whether it fits depends on your budget, commute and school preferences. I can walk you through the options and run the numbers on any home you’re considering.

NEARBY CITIES I SERVE

Anoka · Andover · Champlin · Oak Grove · Ham Lake · St. Francis · East Bethel · Blaine

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