While big cities like Minneapolis offer culture, cuisine, and charisma, they also deliver terrible traffic, towering expenses, and a taxing quality of life.
With that in mind, we wanted to uncover the best suburbs around Minneapolis. These burbs have all of the benefits of being near Minneapolis without actually having to be in the city.
Of course, not all suburbs of Minneapolis are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. Using Saturday Night Science, we delve into the factors that matter most, from commutes and housing costs to community vibes, to help you uncover the perfect suburban spots in the Greater Minneapolis area.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around Minneapolis for 2024:
What’s the best suburb of Minneapolis? Deephaven ranks as the best suburb of Minneapolis for 2024 based on the most recent Census and FBI data. If you happen to be a resident of Deephaven, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.
We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 Minneapolis ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.
Feel free to check out some more reading about Minnesota:
The 10 Best Minneapolis Suburbs To Live For 2024
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Deephaven is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Minneapolis area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Deephaven.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $164,149 a year, which is the 6th highest in the Minneapolis region. And only 1.42% are out of work. Homes average more than $931,810 each.
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Population: 11,642
Median Income: $129,800
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
Poverty Rate: 3.2%
More on Mendota Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Mendota Heights is the second best ‘burb we looked at near Minneapolis for 2024.
It ranks 20th for incomes in the area and only 0.97% of residents lack insurance, good for 5th best.
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Population: 13,283
Median Income: $154,611
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
Poverty Rate: 2.6%
More on Rogers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Here in Rogers, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the Minneapolis metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Rogers.
4. Greenfield, MN
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Population: 2,909
Median Income: $142,214
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
Poverty Rate: 2.3%
More on Greenfield: Real Estate
Greenfield ranks as the 4th best suburb of Minneapolis for 2024.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Greenfield and the schools are some of the best around.
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Population: 3,454
Median Income: $145,156
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
Poverty Rate: 3.2%
More on Hanover: Data | Real Estate
Coming in as the fifth best is Hanover.
Hanover gets kudos for having the 39th most expensive homes in the Minneapolis area, where houses sell for an average of $427,311. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
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Population: 3,837
Median Income: $127,982
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
Poverty Rate: 4.0%
More on North Hudson: Data | Real Estate
North Hudson is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 2.18%.
According to online reports, North Hudson is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the Minneapolis area, meaning you need to get in soon.
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Population: 10,681
Median Income: $179,515
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
Poverty Rate: 2.3%
More on Victoria: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Victoria.
Victoria schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 20.3 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
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Population: 3,718
Median Income: $191,736
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
Poverty Rate: 0.4%
More on Independence: Data | Real Estate
Independence is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 1.96% of people lack insurance, good for 23rd in the area.
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Population: 27,608
Median Income: $129,539
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
Poverty Rate: 2.5%
More on Prior Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Is ‘Everything Better In Prior Lake?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
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Population: 79,918
Median Income: $130,131
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
Poverty Rate: 3.6%
More on Plymouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
And rounding out the top ten for 2024 is Plymouth.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
It has all the amenities that you may need including a wide array of grocery stores and places to eat.
There is a lack of diversity in the town and the rent and cost of living is higher than the surrounding areas in the west metro.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around Minneapolis for 2024
Figuring out the best suburbs around Minneapolis was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2018-2022 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Minneapolis.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 111 suburbs to evaluate around Minneapolis.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 111 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near Minneapolis.” We’re lookin’ at you, Deephaven.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best Minneapolis suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best Minneapolis ‘Burbs of 2024
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of Minneapolis are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like Minneapolis but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
Table: Best Minneapolis Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deephaven, MN | 3,852 | $164,149 | $931,810 |
| 2 | Mendota Heights, MN | 11,642 | $129,800 | $515,905 |
| 3 | Rogers, MN | 13,283 | $154,611 | $441,756 |
| 4 | Greenfield, MN | 2,909 | $142,214 | $577,755 |
| 5 | Hanover, MN | 3,454 | $145,156 | $427,311 |
| 6 | North Hudson, MN | 3,837 | $127,982 | $378,685 |
| 7 | Victoria, MN | 10,681 | $179,515 | $552,013 |
| 8 | Independence, MN | 3,718 | $191,736 | $700,059 |
| 9 | Prior Lake, MN | 27,608 | $129,539 | $492,980 |
| 10 | Plymouth, MN | 79,918 | $130,131 | $474,202 |
| 11 | Albertville, MN | 7,883 | $107,316 | $357,047 |
| 12 | Wayzata, MN | 4,365 | $118,456 | $836,055 |
| 13 | Medina, MN | 6,746 | $202,153 | $797,015 |
| 14 | Edina, MN | 53,037 | $125,506 | $598,918 |
| 15 | Chanhassen, MN | 25,868 | $131,633 | $509,790 |
| 16 | Elko New Market, MN | 4,850 | $149,881 | $443,179 |
| 17 | Shorewood, MN | 7,722 | $163,525 | $717,403 |
| 18 | Lake Elmo, MN | 11,861 | $158,269 | $616,212 |
| 19 | Orono, MN | 8,223 | $173,209 | $1,019,638 |
| 20 | Afton, MN | 2,951 | $124,159 | $675,637 |
| 21 | St. Anthony, MN | 9,332 | $91,955 | $377,784 |
| 22 | North Oaks, MN | 5,193 | $235,714 | $876,362 |
| 23 | Lino Lakes, MN | 21,525 | $120,745 | $422,847 |
| 24 | Minnetonka, MN | 53,529 | $114,867 | $450,534 |
| 25 | Minnetrista, MN | 8,347 | $162,474 | $660,620 |
| 26 | Rosemount, MN | 25,993 | $127,252 | $408,304 |
| 27 | Delano, MN | 6,539 | $105,766 | $415,697 |
| 28 | Centerville, MN | 3,916 | $117,481 | $393,612 |
| 29 | Grant, MN | 3,969 | $136,579 | $671,381 |
| 30 | Carver, MN | 5,656 | $125,123 | $477,934 |
| 31 | Lakeville, MN | 70,696 | $129,069 | $465,445 |
| 32 | Mahtomedi, MN | 8,073 | $126,579 | $460,576 |
| 33 | Hugo, MN | 15,831 | $110,160 | $413,867 |
| 34 | Scandia, MN | 3,965 | $97,159 | $490,786 |
| 35 | Stillwater, MN | 19,316 | $107,986 | $417,520 |
| 36 | Woodbury, MN | 75,549 | $125,097 | $448,821 |
| 37 | Ham Lake, MN | 16,489 | $112,854 | $463,556 |
| 38 | Maple Grove, MN | 70,110 | $127,001 | $397,985 |
| 39 | Excelsior, MN | 2,257 | $92,148 | $786,518 |
| 40 | Corcoran, MN | 6,549 | $155,385 | $556,085 |
| 41 | Dayton, MN | 7,745 | $138,654 | $473,645 |
| 42 | Otsego, MN | 20,455 | $122,420 | $395,838 |
| 43 | Andover, MN | 32,639 | $123,054 | $415,283 |
| 44 | Waconia, MN | 12,993 | $101,619 | $436,466 |
| 45 | St. Michael, MN | 18,648 | $123,318 | $410,822 |
| 46 | Eden Prairie, MN | 63,623 | $129,345 | $463,961 |
| 47 | Oak Grove, MN | 8,956 | $118,871 | $431,853 |
| 48 | Savage, MN | 32,441 | $123,069 | $412,196 |
| 49 | Columbus, MN | 4,180 | $103,906 | $435,889 |
| 50 | Shoreview, MN | 26,846 | $106,153 | $391,526 |
| 51 | Champlin, MN | 23,666 | $113,570 | $347,903 |
| 52 | Mound, MN | 9,272 | $89,855 | $360,628 |
| 53 | St. Louis Park, MN | 49,500 | $94,263 | $364,388 |
| 54 | Nowthen, MN | 4,518 | $149,297 | $492,094 |
| 55 | Prescott, MN | 4,343 | $74,195 | $380,614 |
| 56 | Cottage Grove, MN | 39,274 | $117,673 | $368,093 |
| 57 | Hudson, MN | 14,763 | $90,250 | $461,468 |
| 58 | Chaska, MN | 27,764 | $99,988 | $441,075 |
| 59 | Golden Valley, MN | 22,142 | $110,026 | $409,489 |
| 60 | Watertown, MN | 4,712 | $101,667 | $352,082 |
| 61 | Farmington, MN | 23,487 | $114,737 | $373,537 |
| 62 | Cologne, MN | 2,086 | $114,375 | $369,493 |
| 63 | Circle Pines, MN | 4,996 | $97,083 | $292,408 |
| 64 | Elk River, MN | 25,936 | $95,597 | $377,388 |
| 65 | Eagan, MN | 68,262 | $104,101 | $385,125 |
| 66 | East Bethel, MN | 11,901 | $116,453 | $378,957 |
| 67 | Wyoming, MN | 8,037 | $99,821 | $379,394 |
| 68 | Hastings, MN | 22,063 | $87,722 | $313,784 |
| 69 | Ramsey, MN | 27,774 | $110,212 | $362,266 |
| 70 | Arden Hills, MN | 9,805 | $121,978 | $450,961 |
| 71 | Bayport, MN | 3,902 | $105,114 | $389,047 |
| 72 | Falcon Heights, MN | 5,232 | $87,750 | $391,737 |
| 73 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 35,673 | $98,719 | $349,482 |
| 74 | Lauderdale, MN | 2,454 | $73,931 | $289,471 |
| 75 | Apple Valley, MN | 55,594 | $97,588 | $363,468 |
| 76 | New Brighton, MN | 23,141 | $84,707 | $362,922 |
| 77 | Vadnais Heights, MN | 12,864 | $89,632 | $354,501 |
| 78 | Crystal, MN | 22,954 | $86,288 | $296,320 |
| 79 | Oak Park Heights, MN | 4,790 | $77,132 | $318,164 |
| 80 | Roseville, MN | 36,066 | $87,702 | $350,177 |
| 81 | St. Paul Park, MN | 5,497 | $92,760 | $293,855 |
| 82 | White Bear Lake, MN | 24,317 | $79,699 | $332,323 |
| 83 | Shakopee, MN | 44,135 | $103,924 | $378,683 |
| 84 | Blaine, MN | 70,047 | $100,659 | $354,091 |
| 85 | Jordan, MN | 6,648 | $111,290 | $421,455 |
| 86 | Oakdale, MN | 28,029 | $86,003 | $329,457 |
| 87 | Hopkins, MN | 18,752 | $70,058 | $317,062 |
| 88 | Mounds View, MN | 13,100 | $89,358 | $322,091 |
| 89 | Maplewood, MN | 41,405 | $86,769 | $320,605 |
| 90 | Osseo, MN | 2,634 | $65,463 | $287,563 |
| 91 | Coon Rapids, MN | 63,296 | $85,445 | $310,442 |
| 92 | North St. Paul, MN | 12,465 | $77,475 | $304,655 |
| 93 | Bloomington, MN | 89,244 | $87,381 | $347,523 |
| 94 | Richfield, MN | 36,809 | $80,712 | $327,416 |
| 95 | Burnsville, MN | 64,075 | $85,801 | $356,837 |
| 96 | Forest Lake, MN | 20,553 | $91,157 | $387,584 |
| 97 | Brooklyn Park, MN | 84,951 | $82,271 | $327,075 |
| 98 | Rockford, MN | 4,638 | $76,181 | $331,050 |
| 99 | Anoka, MN | 17,892 | $73,118 | $308,373 |
| 100 | Spring Lake Park, MN | 6,966 | $74,697 | $299,120 |
