Trying to find the best area to live in for you and your family can be very stressful, especially if it’s new territory. Research becomes extremely helpful during your decision-making. It’s also a good idea to find a few options and go check them out beforehand! Daymakers Moving and Storage want to make your moving day stress-free as well as your city search by providing this blog of the top 10 places to live in Minnesota.
Whether you’re planning on moving here or relocating within the state, Homesnacks.com came up with the top 10 places to live in Minnesota! If you’re still in the beginning stages and just trying to research the state, check out these 10 cities and see if any of them sounds like a good fit for you and your family!
Before you check the cities out, here three fun facts about Minnesota:
- The Twin Cities area is home to one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 Companies in the country.
- Bob Dylan, Prince, The Replacements, and countless other famous musical acts hail from Minnesota.
- With 4.3 miles of total storefront footage, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota is the biggest mall in the country.
Waconia is about 45 minutes west of Minneapolis. It seems to outshine the competition in terms of economic success with a low poverty level of 2.4% and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. Also, of the places we’ll be listing out in this blog, Waconia has the lowest cost of living, with an emphasis on affordable health care!
Are you an outdoorsy type of person? Living beside Lake Waconia might be the best bet for you. It’s the third-largest lake in the Metro and one of the cleanest lakes in the area. It’s very popular come fishing season and you can even paddle your way over to Coney Island! Waconia was also named a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Additionally, Waconia has established industrial parks, first-class education, and exceptional healthcare facilities. This is a great place to live, work, learn, and play!
Population: 12,131
Rank Last Year: 2 (up 1)
Median Home Value: $303,700 (24th best)
Chanhassen is a Carver County city located about a half-hour outside of Minneapolis. This city is low poverty and low unemployment-rated area and has the 4th lowest adult high school dropout rate in Minnesota.
If you’re a fan of plants and flowers, make sure you visit the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum right in your neighborhood! If you’re looking for even more fun, check out Lake Ann Park to find your inner peace, have a picnic at Lake Susan Park, play tennis at Meadow Green Park, and go shopping at Market Square!
It’s also worth mentioning the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret, and their Five Star Cinema!
Population: 25,657
Rank Last Year: 3 (up 1)
Median Home Value: $381,300 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
Plymouth
Plymouth is the largest Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb listed in this blog! They have excellent public schools, low crime, and awesome amenities. There’s so much to do here, especially at the French Regional Park, Millenium Garden, Emagine Theatres Will Creek, and the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park!
The poverty level and unemployment rate in Plymouth are both substantially lower than the national average, sitting at 3.6% and 2.5% respectively.
If you’re a fan of extensive trails and parks, picturesque open spaces, diverse recreation programs, and nearby shopping and entertainment, Plymouth is definitely for you!
Population: 78,132
Rank Last Year: 7 (up 4)
Median Home Value: $351,700 (12th best)
Edina
Edina is a suburb of the Twin Cities. Education is a big deal here with 51,746 multiple Blue Ribbon award-winning elementary schools and a 7.5/10 average rating on GreatSchools.
Edina is also densely populated, so you know there will be always something to do! Centennial Lakes Park is a great place to blow off some steam with an 18-hole putting course, a skating rink, an amphitheater, and a farmer’s market!
If you’re planning on working in the city, the commute is short and the median household income is $104,244/year. It’s definitely among the priciest in the state, but if it’s in your price range, you’ll enjoy every part of it.
Population: 51,746
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 3)
Median Home Value: $476,300 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Minnetonka
Also a suburb of the Twin Cities, Minnetonka has a population of 53,025. This community is targeted more towards the mature. The median age here is 44, however, Minnetonka’s school district has a student expenditure about 55% higher than the statewide average.
Moving in with your family? Make sure you check out Purgatory Park! It is filled with family activities! Also, be sure to check out Paisley Park, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and Up-Down Minneapolis!
Minnetonka is one of the most expensive cities in Minnesota, but it’s worth every penny and the current residents would agree!
Population: 53,025
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 5)
Median Home Value: $437,900 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%
Medina
Medina is a super small city of just 6,380! However, the population continues to grow so it may not be so small for very long.
One of the best parts about Medina is having Baker Park Preserve in your neighborhood, which is perfect for golfing, camping, and sledding! Make sure you keep an eye out for the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze, Knowmad Adventures, and iFly Minneapolis!
Overall, this suburb is safe to live in and healthcare is great with 99.2% of residents having health insurance.
Population: 6,380
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $606,100 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights is the largest suburb of the Twin Cities and St. Paul. One of the coolest parts about Mendota Heights is the fact that sits along two major rivers, the Mississippi and the Minnesota! This allows for awesome scenic vistas and outdoor activities like hiking on Pike Island or hanging out at Fort Snelling State Park.
For entertainment or career purposes, this suburb is only 15 minutes away from the center of Minneapolis. And, if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s just over 5 minutes to the region’s busiest airport!
Population: 11,289
Rank Last Year: 19 (Up 12)
Median Home Value: $392,600 (9th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
Lino Lakes
Minnesota is often referred to as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Lino Lakes represents that, well. This suburb offers access to many water activities and an array of amenities. Lino Lakes is definitely one of the best spots to live in Minnesota.
Don’t forget to check out Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, Waldoch Farm, and the Hammerheart Brewery!
Population: 21,404
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 4)
Median Home Value: $293,100
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
Victoria
Victoria is a great place to call home. The unemployment rate and poverty level are extremely low and the health insurance rate is very high; 98.9% of residents have it.
Tax dollars go to the right places here, like the Lowry Nature Center where you can hike, enjoy winter sports, and learn how to make maple syrup!
When you get here and you’re all settled in, don’t forget to check out Victoria Burrow for fun and games, Vic’s Bar and Grill for your nightlife wants, and the Blue Ox Log Rolling!
Population: 9,383
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 5)
Median Home Value: $427,400
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
Minnetrista
The population of Minnetrista has grown by 25% since 2010, proving that this is a great area to be a part of. It’s one of the safest cities in Minnesota and although it is one of the most expensive, the city itself and the activities included make it all worth it.
Living here offers a good time at the Big Stone Mini Golf, Carlson’s Llovable Llamas, and Parley Lake Winery.
Population: 7,621
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 4)
Median Home Value: $477,800
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
So, are you ready to make your move? We hope we were able to give you a good summary of the top 10 places to live in Minnesota to help you make your decision! Remember, Daymakers Moving and Storage can help you with your residential move, long-distance move, and even your commercial move!
If you’re between homes – or your home is full – storage units at Daymakers Moving & Storage in Hudson is the ideal place for all the things you just can’t part with! We’ve created an ideal, controlled environment for your valuables to ensure safe storage for your items, for as long as needed!
Need help with packing? We can do that too! We have many moving services available to help make your move as simple and stress-free as possible. If you have any questions or want to grab a FREE quote for your move, just contact us! We’re excited to help you continue your journey!
