Minnesota is unquestionably one of the best places to live in the United States. Minnesota offers a lovely small-town feel with four seasons and 10,000 lakes. Safe communities, clean schools, meaningful jobs, food, fairs, and family entertainment are all priorities.
The best cities in Minnesota for raising a family, education, health and safety, socioeconomics, and affordability are listed below. Although it’s not an exact science and they’re not in any particular order, it’s a great place to start your research. So if you’re considering moving to Minnesota but are unsure which city will suit your needs the best then go no further than our list.
Hibbing
Hibbing, Minnesota’s second-most cheap city overall the state, is perhaps the best place to live the good life without breaking the bank. Hibbing has the lowest median rent on this list at $580 per month, which is great news for renters.
The affordability of Hibbing’s homes, though, is what propels the city to the top. Hibbing is solidly ranked in the top ten in Minnesota for the home price-to-income ratio, with people making a typical annual salary of $47,030 and paying a median home price of $111,900.
Visit the Hull Rust Mine, one of the biggest open-pit mines in the world, to discover more about the source of the wealth that helped make Hibbing the affordable city it is today. In keeping with the inexpensive motif, admission is free.
New Ulm
New Ulm is the smallest town in Minnesota. It was established in 1854, is roughly 90 minutes southwest of the Twin Cities. This town, which takes its name from a locality in the German state of Bavaria, offers something for every American tourist.
Visit the Brown County Historical Museum to learn more about the 1860s American Indian Wars’ final major battle, or visit the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame to take a musical journey through time.
If you’re in the mood for beer, visit the second-oldest brewery in America, August Schell Brewing Company, where you may sample specialty German beer.
The 102-foot Hermann Monument, the 102-foot Glockenspiel, and the German-Bohemian Immigrant Monument are the three must-see landmarks in the city. The Kiesling House and the ancient residences of John Lind and Wanda Wag are must-sees for history aficionados.
Enjoy the Flandrau State Park’s diverse flora and wildlife or German Park’s authentically German ambiance, where you can catch live music performances during the season’s free concert series.
Minneapolis
One of Minnesota’s top cities for experiencing urban life in its whole is Minneapolis. Being one of the smallest “big cities” in the country, Minneapolis offers convenient transit options, including cab, bus, bike, and vehicle. Everything is also relatively accessible and walking.
Minneapolis, which has 13 lakes, has a tonne of public beaches, parks, and walking paths that are accessible all year long.
Currently, Bigos owns three apartment buildings in Minneapolis, two of which are close to Bde Maka Ska, also known as Lake Calhoun. This lake is a popular destination in the summer and is just as easily accessible for a romantic winter stroll or snowshoeing on the lake.
You won’t ever get bored because there are also festivals, neighborhood markets, and farmer’s markets all summer long. Minneapolis is a terrific hub for everything, from the airport to the Mall of America, and it certainly has something to offer everyone.
St. Paul
According to the St. Paul website, it is the “Most Livable City in America,” and it offers city living to those seeking a slower, more tranquil pace of life. St. Paul, the “other” Twin Cities city, shares a border with Minneapolis and is situated along the Mississippi River.
The majority of the greatest restaurants in the Twin Cities area in St. Paul, and you can go to most of them on foot from your accommodation.
St. Paul may offer some of the most walked-to and easily accessible parks in the metro area with its several parks scattered throughout downtown and Lowertown, including Mears Park, Rice Park, and Kellogg Mall Park.
Additionally, they have CHS Field for our minor league baseball team, The St. Paul Saints, as well as Excel Energy Center, which holds concerts and events all year long and hosts our Minnesota Wild games. Bill Murray has been spotted shredding tickets at the front gate and is a part-owner of the Saints.
Nine apartments are available through Bigos in the St. Paul region, just a short drive from the city’s center or the adjacent city of Minneapolis.
Edina
Edina is a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis and is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, in the United States. Edina is a best city for raising a family in Minnesota.
In the 1860s, Edina was a tiny agricultural and milling community along Minnehaha Creek. It was one of Minneapolis’s first suburbs to be incorporated in 1888. The population was projected to reach 52,857 in 2019.
Edina has a total area that is made up of both land and water, according to the United States Census Bureau. The majority of the city, which is currently more than 95% developed, is made up of residential districts.
Highlands, Indian Hills, Morningside, Country Club District, Cahill Village, Chapel Hill, South Harriet Park, Interlachen, Rolling Green, Presidents, Sunnyslope, White Oaks, Parkwood Knolls, Braemar Hills, Birchcrest, Dewey Hill, and Hilldale are just a few of the many diverse neighborhoods in Edina.
Minnehaha Creek and Nine Mile Creek, two significant Twin Cities streams, pass through Edina on their route to the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, respectively. Major regional parks and trails are located in both cities. The Interlachen Country Club and the Edina Country Club are the two country clubs in Edina.
Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie is located a little further southwest of Edina and one of the largest city in the states of Minnesota. With more than 15 lakes in Eden Prairie, families may enjoy a wide range of activities.
The Minnesota River is lined with scenic views, swimming beaches, and river walks. Eden Prairie Center, where the cult hit Mallrats was filmed, is perfect for indoor entertainment in the winter because it’s close to restaurants and shops.
Additionally, since the Southwest Light Rail Transit system will ultimately extend out to Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie is becoming particularly appealing to folks who work downtown but are tired of commuting. All residents of St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and EP can make use of quick, hassle-free commuter transit.
Minnetonka
West of Minneapolis, a few miles away, in the Western Suburbs, is Minnetonka. Lake Minnetonka, the ninth-largest lake in the state, is located there. It is particularly well-liked in the summer, and boaters, sailors, and anglers will fill the lake all season long, as well as during the winter when ice fishing is popular.
It’s undoubtedly the place to go for a pleasant summer evening on the lake, with boat-up restaurants and dinner excursions. The elite reside in Minnetonka, which gives the suburbs a very upscale feel and is home to numerous local athletes and celebrities. Minnetonka is one of the prettiest cities with a lake which is why it is one of the best lakes in Minnesota to live in.
Woodbury
Woodbury, which is one of the most populous cities in the state of Minnesota and is situated east of St. Paul, has more than 70,000 residents. Over 100 miles of trails can be found in Woodbury’s 45 parks.
It also has a sizable indoor central park just adjacent to the library, which makes for a pleasant Sunday afternoon of reading in the “park” throughout the winter.
Not to mention, Woodbury offers a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy suburban life, including several shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city in Hennepin Country, Minnesota. The seventh-largest city in the state, Plymouth, is a terrific place to live close to the Twin Cities.
Plymouth has built a national reputation as a community offering an excellent quality of life. You name it, it has it—movie theatres, dining options, shops, golf courses, etc.
Plymouth, which has a population of over 58,000, is very family-friendly and offers first-time homebuyers a terrific location near the city but with a pleasant neighborhood for their first houses.
It’s not difficult for residents of Plymouth, which is located about 15 miles outside of downtown Minneapolis, to enjoy some aspects of city life while also returning home to a view of a lake or pond amid Plymouth’s verdant surroundings.
Chanhassen
The city of Chanhassen, which is located in Carver County and a small portion of Hennepin County in Minnesota, is about 16 miles (26 kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis. Chanhassen is in the Carver Country and is one of the best places to live in Minnesota.
In the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, there is a mixture of suburban communities and rural settings. Five municipal parks and 22 neighborhood parks are dispersed throughout the 500-acre park system in Chanhassen.
For walkers, cyclists, runners, and in-line skaters, there are 55 kilometers of pathways and sidewalks to enjoy. Downtown, parks, and communities are all connected by trails.
The best way to describe Chanhassen, which is situated southwest of Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, and Shakopee, is pleasant. Chanhassen is a lovely suburb with quaint houses, lush trees, and strollable areas.
Another of its claims to fame is Paisley Park Studios, where Prince lived and produced his well-known hits and albums. Visitors come to Paisley Park from all around the world.
Bloomington
Bloomington is the fourth largest city in the states of Minnesota. The lovely suburban community of Bloomington is situated about 10 miles south of Downtown Minneapolis.
Large, tree-lined homes, a tone of shopping and many enterprises can be found in Bloomington, a city with a total area of over 34 square miles. In actuality, there are hundreds of thousands of jobs in Bloomington, more than in Minneapolis and St. Paul combined.
Bloomington has emerged as one of the top suburbs for families thanks to its modern housing stock, affordable costs, and excellent educational system.
It is particularly pleasant for people who work in cities but don’t want to live there. Thanks to the fact that both 35W and 494 pass through the surrounding suburb, Bloomington is only a short distance from Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Richfield
Richfield is one of Minnesota’s best locations to live. It is located directly between Bloomington and South Minneapolis. Richfield was chosen by City Pages as the best Twin Cities suburb back in 2018, and it has since grown to be a popular choice for young people looking to buy their first home.
Richfield is significantly smaller than the nearby cities, yet it still boasts charming tiny houses in adorable little neighborhoods, as well as Target and Walgreens, tucked away in convenient spots all across the city.
Richfield also has a large number of small enterprises that can meet any specialized needs you may have. In addition, a sizable park offers hill sledding in the winter and a small water park in the summer.
One of the main reasons Richfield locals appreciate living there is because of its beauty, small-town feel despite being in the center of a large metropolis, great diversity, and the fact that everyone knows their neighbors.
Maple Grove
One of the suburbs in the states of Minnesota that have expanded the most recently is Maple Grove, which is located 15 to 20 minutes outside of Minneapolis.
The Shoppes and Arbor Lakes shopping centers, a sizable Community Center, and a tonne of the department and big-box stores have all been built on property that was formerly made up of vacant plots and open countryside. However, Maple Grove also contains a huge number of wonderful parks with beaches and outdoor sports.
There are countless outdoor activities to enjoy in this nearby community, from Elm Creek Park Reserve to Fish Lake Regional Park.
One of the largest Hindu temples in the US, located in Maple Grove and serving more than 40,000 Hindus in Minnesota, is one of the largest in the country at 43,000 square feet. As you pass Highway 94, you can see this amazing structure towering through the trees.
If you have the opportunity to visit, do so! Another stunning structure is the Maple Grove Senior High School, which, it’s true, looks like a maple leaf from above.
Conclusion
Minnesota offers more beautiful scenery than you can imagine. It is a magnificent place like no other on Earth. Minnesota’s cities are beautiful and well-kept. They aren’t the largest cities in the United States, but that’s what makes them so unique.
Minnesota features some of the world’s top Fortune 500 companies as well as some of the best small enterprises. And their creativity knows no limitations. Minnesotans are loyal and kind people, and marrying a Minnesotan or settling down in Minnesota is the best decision you’ll ever make.