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Minnesota might not be one of the top ten best states to retire, but that doesn't matter because it has some of the best places in the country to live out your golden years.
There are some places, however, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that are better than others for retirees and HomeSnacks is here to tell you where the best places to retire in Minnesota for 2023.
In order to determine the best places to retire in Minnesota, we analyzed 85 for every place with over 10,000. We looked at several factors including crime, population of residents in this demographic, affordable housing and rent, and how close said city is to an international airport.
We discovered that most of the North Star State's best places to retire are close to major metropolises like Minneapolis and Rochester. Probably because there's more to do in these bigger cities. And a fun fact, none of the places on our list have more than 70,000 residents; so if small, quaint, cities with lots to do are your retirements, Minnesota's best places top ten will not disappoint.
So, find yourself a diner, order that early bird special, and read on as we uncover the list of the best places to retire in Minnesota.
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Minnesota For 2023
Why did Hibbing take the top spot? And where are Minneapolis and St. Paul?
Picture a cool, idyllic, Minnesota city where the people who live there are hard working, nice individuals. Then, picture a place with fun outdoor activities, affordable housing, and close to an international airport and you will know what it's like to live in Minnesota's best place to retire.
So, where is the best place to retire in Minnesota for 2023? Well, according to the most recent FBI and Census data, that would be Hibbing.
To see Minnesota's other best places to retire, take a look below. And if you don't find your favorite there, head to the bottom.
For more Minnesota state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Minnesota
- Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Minnesota
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Minnesota For 2023
/10
Population: 16,224
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Rent: $610
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Hibbing: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 11,056
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Median Rent: $830
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Grand Rapids: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 10,465
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 2)
Median Rent: $715
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on Fairmont: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 14,052
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Rent: $833
Distance to Closest Airport: 72 miles
More on New Ulm: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 11,681
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 3)
Median Rent: $879
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Mendota Heights: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 26,366
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 2)
Median Rent: $854
Distance to Closest Airport: 54 miles
More on Owatonna: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 53,809
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Median Rent: $1,523
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Minnetonka: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 13,969
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 2)
Median Rent: $718
Distance to Closest Airport: 125 miles
More on Fergus Falls: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 18,433
Rank Last Year: 15 (Up 6)
Median Rent: $746
Distance to Closest Airport: 85 miles
More on Albert Lea: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 14,356
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 3)
Median Rent: $825
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on North Mankato: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the North Star State for 2023
To create our list of the best places in Minnesota to retire, we first used Census data to find all places in the North Star State -- 904 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren't townships. This left us with 85 places from across the state.
For these 85, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI's Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criteria from one to 85, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Hibbing, with the lowest average rank was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second careers. You can download the data here.
Summary: Maybe You're Not Ready To Retire In Minnesota Yet...
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Minnesota goes to Hibbing.
If you're not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Rogers
- St. Cloud
- Brooklyn Center
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
Where Are The Best Places To Retire In Minnesota?
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hibbing | 16,224 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | 11,056 |
| 3 | Fairmont | 10,465 |
| 4 | New Ulm | 14,052 |
| 5 | Mendota Heights | 11,681 |
| 6 | Owatonna | 26,366 |
| 7 | Minnetonka | 53,809 |
| 8 | Fergus Falls | 13,969 |
| 9 | Albert Lea | 18,433 |
| 10 | North Mankato | 14,356 |
