Compare neighborhoods · September 2026
Downtown vs. Payne-Phalen
Homes in Payne-Phalen sold for a median $244,998 over the 12 months through September 2026, 32% more than in Downtown ($185,000). Homes sold faster in Payne-Phalen: 41 days on market on average, against 169 in Downtown. The two are about 2 miles apart (center to center).
Housing market, 12 months through September 2026
| Measure | Downtown | Payne-Phalen |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $185,000 | $244,998 |
| Change from a year earlier | −7.5% | −5.8% |
| Homes sold | 101 | 254 |
| Days on market | 169 | 41 |
| Share of original list price | 92.3% | 98.1% |
| Price per square foot | $190 | $173 |
| New listings | 211 | 400 |
| Homes for sale (September 2026) | 75 | 64 |
| Months of supply (September 2026) | 9.0 | 3.0 |
Source: Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update (NorthstarMLS data).
The homes
| Measure | Downtown | Payne-Phalen |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner estimate) | $243,000 | $238,000 |
| Single-family houses | 4% | 60% |
| Townhomes and duplexes | 3% | 18% |
| Apartment buildings | 93% | 21% |
| Built before 1940 | 42% | 41% |
| Built 2000 or later | 16% | 6% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 24% | 59% |
| Population | 9,380 | 30,850 |
| Area | 665 acres | 2,724 acres |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 (block groups in the neighborhood).
How we compare places: by their homes, housing market and location only, from public sources, never by who lives there. Medians describe the middle home; both places have homes well above and below them.
Quick answers
Downtown or Payne-Phalen?
Is Downtown or Payne-Phalen more expensive?
Payne-Phalen. The median sale price was $244,998 there and $185,000 in Downtown over the 12 months through September 2026, according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update. The median is the middle sale, so both have homes well above and below it.
Where do homes sell faster, Downtown or Payne-Phalen?
Payne-Phalen: 41 days on market on average against 169, over the 12 months through September 2026.
Should I buy in Downtown or Payne-Phalen?
It depends on your budget, the kind of home you want and where you need to get to each day. This page compares the homes, prices and locations; a Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both and walk you through what's selling now.
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Payne-Phalen vs.
Deciding between them?
See homes in Downtown and Payne-Phalen.
A Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both, tell you what's selling and for how much right now, and help you decide. There's no cost to buyers.