Just east of Lake Superior, on the U.S.-Canada border, is Minnesota, a small but perfect state. This is a truly diverse and naturally rich state, you know there are over 10,000 lakes! Like, a real lake! Not just really big puddles! Besides Lake Superior, dear Minnesota can boast that the spectacular Lake Itasca belongs to its state boundaries.
If we could all live on natural beauty alone, we’d all definitely consider ourselves millionaires. Alas, natural beauty is not the main deciding factor when considering where your next home will be.
Factors such as cost of living and job availability play an important role in the decision-making process. For young families, things like proximity to top-notch public schools and social regulations are major factors.
Ultimately, we all want to be part of a community, which is why we considered input and feedback from current residents of the 15 Best Places to Live in Minnesota.
While crime statistics and median house values can give you an official impression of a place, local feelings provide the most comprehensive and arguably the most accurate view of a place.
Let’s start with the 15 best places to live in Minnesota.
1. Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie is a beautiful town located just 30 minutes southwest of bustling Minneapolis. To avoid beating around the bush, Eden Prairie is a wealthy but non-exclusive town. With 62,626 people living here, it’s a very diverse, high-achieving community.
The median household income is $97,640, which is almost unheard of, with an entire town earning more than $50ka a year. Unsurprisingly, resident satisfaction is high, probably because few people worry about money!
The small-town feel was originally what drew families here, but being less than an hour from the big city of Minneapolis means that when young people get tired of playing on the streets, they can explore a safe and thriving place. City.
2. Adina
Edina, officially the City of Edina, is located in Hennepin County; just 20 minutes from the Minneapolis Central Business District, a cozy suburb in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
Of course, in Minnesota, Edina is on lakes almost everywhere, and the largest lake in the area is Cornelia Lake, which is surrounded by Roseland Park to the north.
Home prices here are very high compared to the national average, but on par with other suburbs in Minneapolis; with an average home price of $404,000, many families will find this suburb a little aspirational.
It’s a great school district with over 50 public schools to choose from, and parents need to work hard to distinguish one great school from another.
3. Chanhassen
Just northeast of Eden Prairie is the community of Chanhassen, home to 24,437 people. This is the most affordable suburb in our top three and there are always some great properties on the market.
That’s not to say it’s a ephemeral area, there’s a long-established happy community here; with many family homes now housing empty-nesters, some residents have begun moving to new ranches, leaving some remarkable homes for you choose.
On the high end, there are houses for over a million dollars, but again, there are some charming family homes for as low as $193,000; making for a very diverse community.
4. Falcon Heights
This small, safe suburb of Minneapolis has just 5,484 people; as one of the city’s smaller neighborhoods, crime is low here, and people certainly pay attention to each other.
This is the first location on our list of the 15 best places to live in Minnesota with a significant median rent. On average, tenants in Falcon Heights can expect to be charged $871, well below the national average. Here, 45% live in rental housing, and arguably finding rental housing is more fun than hard work, and some might say there are too many options.
Residents of the University of Minnesota’s campus in Falcon Heights say the influx of students has benefited the area.
5. Shenzhen and Hong Kong
With an impressive A+ overall on niche.com, Deephaven is a bit of a hidden gem. With only 3,700 full-time residents, this small, cozy suburb of Minneapolis receives little attention from newcomers to the state. This is an expensive place to buy property, but almost all homes have lakeside views in some way and you can hardly complain.
The house is also large and is actually a mansion, so considering that, the median home value of $539,400 is actually quite reasonable. You won’t be shocked to hear that the median rent has reached $2,045 per month, with only 5% of residents choosing to rent!
Most households here make over $100 a year, so the high price tag isn’t all that scary for those who live here.
6. Shorewood
Minneapolis is truly the epicenter of Minnesota action, so the city’s suburbs are booming. It is safe to say that each suburb of a city can be individually classified as a small town. If you like the feel of Deephaven Lake but don’t like crazy high house prices, then you’ll love Shorewood.
Homes average a more affordable $401,400, and with many homes on the market near the $300,000 mark, you’ll want to move in right away.
Curving around Lake Minnetonka, this neighborhood is perfect for those who love the outdoors and be active; being so close to downtown Minneapolis means you really get the best of both worlds here.
7. Dalewood
While researching Dalewood, we were surprised to find that the median rent in this small suburb of Minneapolis is even smaller at just $444 per month!
Only 6% of residents live in rental housing, which means rental housing can be in a very blue moon, but if you have the patience to wait until rental properties become available, you’ll make money, no…just not out of the pocket!
With only 1,164 people, it’s a tight-knit but typical community. With an average annual income of over $160,000, there is little room for economic diversification here.
8. Minnetonka
Lovely by name and nature, Minnetonka is located on the water’s edge of the lake of the same name, and this suburb is home to 51,240 people. Despite being another Minneapolis suburb on paper, those who live in Minnetonka will soon prove it’s a town all its own.
Unlike Dellwood, Minnetonka has a truly diverse community of residents. While the average annual income is less than $80, Minnetoncans live comfortably here.
Locals are quick to notice that if they had to start over with their lives, they would still choose Minnetonka, which is very laudable. Parents will be happy to hear that this is a great school district that offers young people a leap forward in life.
9. Woodbury
The largest city in Washington County, Woodbury is located southeast of the Minnesota Twins, St. Paul and Minneapolis. There is confusing information about whether Woodbury is a St. Paul suburb or a Minneapolis suburb.
However, local residents consider Woodbury to be a separate community, as the suburb is sure to develop into a city of its own!
In the development notes, it’s no surprise to hear that Woodbury is popular with millennials looking to settle down and start their own family. Developments in the area have been welcomed, with better infrastructure and more employment opportunities, as the number of households in almost every household continues to grow.
10. Plymouth
Home to Medicine Lake, Parkes Lake and Gleason Lake (to name a few), the waters of Plymouth are never too far. The township is a solid all-rounder; job opportunities are abundant, schools are good, and residents are satisfied.
With 73,896 people calling Plymouth home, they rarely say bad things about the place. With an affordable cost of living and plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and socialize, why should you complain?
Plymouth homes are spacious and stately, and many mansions have large gardens and long dining rooms for families to enjoy. The median home value is $297,400, but in reality, if you want the option, you’ll need $390,000 to play.
11. Victoria
“Glamour” is how locals describe Victoria, others call it “irreplaceable” and “beautiful”. Really rave reviews.
The bottom line is that the town is small and safe enough to support a family, yet close enough to Minneapolis that commuting to the city is never a chore. This is exactly what many residents do during the working day, and it has proven lucrative, as the average household income in Victoria is $131,971 a year.
With the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to the east and the Carver Park Preserve to the north, there are countless opportunities for outdoor exercise and fitness. On warm summer days, you can take a dip in one of the many lakes in the suburbs.
12. Shore View
The Shoreview names and properties Turtle Lake, Snail Lake and Lake Owasso can all be found within the confines of this community.
It’s a very liveable area and increasingly popular with millennials, partly because of its excellent schools and partly because of high real estate prices.
Home values here average $233,100, which is not ideal for many working families. So there is a hardworking and diverse community here. Shoreview is a mid-sized suburb of 25,951 people.
While the neighborhood has a suburban feel, with countless parks and lakes to explore, you’re too far from lush green parks.
13. Linden Mountain
Linden Mountain is home to many long-time residents who are quick to mention how great the community is, and we have nothing against it.
There are 47 public schools in the area and only 21% of residents are in school age, so there is always an ideal student-teacher ratio. Many schools have exceeded targets set by the government, another major strength for Linden Hills.
Residents here earn almost double the national average and live well within their means. Community attention is high, so crime rates are low. This, in turn, has led to Linden Mountain being considered the best community to support a family in the Minneapolis area.
We don’t need to say more.
14. Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights is located in Dakota County, south of the Twin Cities. This is our greenest community to date. Mendota Heights is located on the south bank of the Mississippi River and is home to Fort Snelling Park. This historic park offers a wonderful array of hiking and mountain biking trails, and is certainly a great option in summer.
There are 11,172 people in this community, many of whom earn more than $95ka a year.
Being so close to the Twin Cities means residents have all the infrastructure and jobs they want, and it’s just metres away!
15. Arden Hill
A high score on niche.com is the last of our 15 Best Places to Live in Arden Hills, MN. High-quality housing, a reasonable cost of living, and top-notch public schools all contribute to Arden Hill’s appeal.
Fewer than 10,000 people call this town home, so it has all the amenities you could want. While not developing as fast as an area like Woodbury, Arden Hills is perfect as it stands.
The only complaint the locals have is the harsh winters here, we recommend getting a warm and comfortable bubble cap and moving on.
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