Minnesota might not be one of the top ten best states to retire, but that doesn’t matter. It still has some of the best places in the country to live out your golden years.
Some places in the Land of 10,000 Lakes are better than others for retirees, and we’re here to tell you where the best places to retire in Minnesota are.
To determine the best places to retire in Minnesota, we analyzed 87 cities with over 10,000 people. We looked at several factors, including crime, the population of residents in this demographic, affordable housing, rent, and how close the 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 because there’s more to do in these bigger cities.
And a fun fact. All of the places on our list have at most 70,000 residents. If small, quaint cities with lots to do are your requirements, Minnesota’s best places in the top ten will not disappoint.
$833 median rent · $55,789 median income · #4 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,361 at the 2010 census. The city was built on the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range. At the edge of town is the largest open-pit iron mine in the world, the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine. U.S. Highway 169, State Highway 37, State Highway 73, Howard Street, and 1st Avenue are five of the main routes in Hibbing. The Range Regional Airport offers daily commercial flights between Hibbing and Minneapolis, as well as hosting many private pilots and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fire fighting aircraft.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,090 median rent · $61,029 median income · #26 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Itasca County, Minnesota
Grand Rapids is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 10,869 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Itasca County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$962 median rent · $64,449 median income · #15 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Brown County, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$738 median rent · $53,084 median income · #1 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Martin County, Minnesota
Fairmont is a city in and the county seat of Martin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,024 median rent · $61,367 median income · #20 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Carlton County, Minnesota
Cloquet kloh-KAY) is a city in Carlton County, Minnesota, United States, located at the junction of Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highway 33. A portion of the city lies within the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and also serves as one of three administrative centers for the Indian Reservation. The population was 12,124 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,067 median rent · $80,750 median income · #22 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Steele County, Minnesota
Owatonna is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,779 median rent · $119,517 median income · #77 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Minnetonka is a suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, eight miles west of Minneapolis. The population was 49,734 at the 2010 census. The name comes from the Dakota Indian mni tanka, meaning “great water”. The city is the home of Cargill, the country’s largest privately owned company, and United Healthcare, the state’s largest publicly owned company.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,622 median rent · $105,853 median income · #65 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Washington County, Minnesota
Stillwater is a city in Washington County, Minnesota across the St. Croix River from the state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat. The population was 18,225 at the 2010 census. Stillwater is part of the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$934 median rent · $61,374 median income · #9 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Douglas County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,631 median rent · $132,768 median income · #66 cheapest rent in Minnesota
Located in
Dakota County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Minnesota’s statewide median.
Minnesota statewide median: $89,062
Minnesota statewide median: $346,668
On the map
Where to retire in Minnesota
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the North Star State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Minnesota to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed 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 87 places from across the state.
For these 87, 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 criterion from one to 87, 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 career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Minnesota.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In Minnesota
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hibbing | 18.70 | 16,057 | $55,789 | $154,907 | $833 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | 24.90 | 11,207 | $61,029 | $274,252 | $1,090 |
| 3 | New Ulm | 26.90 | 14,056 | $64,449 | $244,183 | $962 |
| 4 | Fairmont | 27.80 | 10,296 | $53,084 | $168,289 | $738 |
| 5 | Cloquet | 31.00 | 12,537 | $61,367 | $256,234 | $1,024 |
| 6 | Owatonna | 31.10 | 26,498 | $80,750 | $294,000 | $1,067 |
| 7 | Minnetonka | 31.20 | 53,064 | $119,517 | $483,591 | $1,779 |
| 8 | Stillwater | 32.80 | 19,355 | $105,853 | $445,501 | $1,622 |
| 9 | Alexandria | 33.30 | 14,735 | $61,374 | $287,191 | $934 |
| 10 | Mendota Heights | 33.50 | 11,612 | $132,768 | $562,137 | $1,631 |
| 11 | Rosemount | 33.60 | 27,562 | $129,625 | $432,777 | $1,640 |
| 12 | Marshall | 34.40 | 13,896 | $68,566 | $235,137 | $779 |
| 13 | Inver Grove Heights | 35.10 | 35,906 | $101,316 | $374,324 | $1,465 |
| 14 | Red Wing | 35.20 | 16,758 | $67,192 | $283,795 | $969 |
| 15 | Hutchinson | 35.40 | 14,680 | $72,836 | $293,087 | $940 |
| 16 | North Mankato | 35.60 | 14,211 | $80,791 | $310,329 | $973 |
| 17 | Chaska | 35.80 | 28,706 | $110,956 | $479,348 | $1,553 |
| 18 | Anoka | 35.80 | 17,970 | $75,948 | $326,597 | $1,269 |
| 19 | Golden Valley | 35.90 | 21,725 | $108,772 | $437,256 | $1,785 |
| 20 | Albert Lea | 35.90 | 18,330 | $64,603 | $175,274 | $857 |
| 21 | Fergus Falls | 36.50 | 14,181 | $56,162 | $197,185 | $911 |
| 22 | Faribault | 37.10 | 24,631 | $61,449 | $297,210 | $1,074 |
| 23 | Mounds View | 37.90 | 12,926 | $90,009 | $341,297 | $1,245 |
| 24 | Hastings | 38.10 | 22,117 | $93,998 | $378,760 | $1,183 |
| 25 | Duluth | 38.80 | 87,093 | $68,807 | $284,100 | $1,087 |
| 26 | New Brighton | 39.10 | 22,710 | $88,521 | $380,080 | $1,397 |
| 27 | Richfield | 39.20 | 36,642 | $85,132 | $347,412 | $1,393 |
| 28 | Northfield | 39.20 | 20,742 | $84,895 | $385,012 | $1,103 |
| 29 | Eagan | 39.70 | 68,000 | $108,690 | $401,217 | $1,679 |
| 30 | White Bear Lake | 39.90 | 23,908 | $83,554 | $355,724 | $1,601 |
| 31 | Buffalo | 41.10 | 16,499 | $88,820 | $373,017 | $1,182 |
| 32 | North Branch | 41.20 | 11,565 | $90,456 | $349,510 | $1,308 |
| 33 | Farmington | 41.30 | 23,902 | $123,673 | $400,171 | $1,241 |
| 34 | Edina | 41.50 | 53,262 | $128,767 | $615,641 | $1,844 |
| 35 | Bloomington | 41.70 | 88,665 | $93,211 | $361,589 | $1,561 |
| 36 | Shakopee | 41.80 | 46,012 | $107,223 | $403,598 | $1,531 |
| 37 | Willmar | 42.20 | 21,378 | $62,280 | $237,639 | $910 |
| 38 | South St. Paul | 42.30 | 20,611 | $87,994 | $295,755 | $1,199 |
| 39 | Cambridge | 42.40 | 10,307 | $69,154 | $323,785 | $1,302 |
| 40 | Columbia Heights | 42.90 | 22,155 | $73,691 | $295,929 | $1,295 |
| 41 | New Hope | 43.20 | 21,181 | $77,662 | $350,939 | $1,335 |
| 42 | Eden Prairie | 43.70 | 63,051 | $130,489 | $501,363 | $1,833 |
| 43 | Champlin | 43.90 | 23,294 | $116,102 | $370,691 | $1,689 |
| 44 | Austin | 44.00 | 26,358 | $68,057 | $185,657 | $953 |
| 45 | Lino Lakes | 44.30 | 22,113 | $127,181 | $447,709 | $1,874 |
| 46 | St. Peter | 44.40 | 12,185 | $65,122 | $294,105 | $961 |
| 47 | West St. Paul | 44.70 | 21,382 | $68,464 | $317,548 | $1,282 |
| 48 | Detroit Lakes | 44.80 | 10,025 | $62,958 | $361,195 | $954 |
| 49 | Plymouth | 45.40 | 79,220 | $136,534 | $508,713 | $1,766 |
| 50 | Woodbury | 45.40 | 78,305 | $125,310 | $457,355 | $1,908 |
| 51 | Coon Rapids | 45.90 | 63,468 | $88,251 | $325,994 | $1,494 |
| 52 | Oakdale | 45.90 | 28,585 | $93,772 | $353,330 | $1,481 |
| 53 | Worthington | 45.90 | 13,780 | $61,797 | $240,254 | $938 |
| 54 | Savage | 46.00 | 32,889 | $125,513 | $427,463 | $1,766 |
| 55 | Prior Lake | 46.40 | 28,016 | $134,255 | $525,577 | $1,654 |
| 56 | Roseville | 46.60 | 35,802 | $86,930 | $374,912 | $1,374 |
| 57 | Hermantown | 46.90 | 10,218 | $90,849 | $416,550 | $1,463 |
| 58 | Elk River | 47.60 | 26,793 | $108,741 | $391,288 | $1,283 |
| 59 | Winona | 48.10 | 26,009 | $56,337 | $252,453 | $882 |
| 60 | Blaine | 48.20 | 72,488 | $106,801 | $378,017 | $1,705 |
| 61 | Hopkins | 48.50 | 18,819 | $75,234 | $330,893 | $1,468 |
| 62 | Lakeville | 49.70 | 74,354 | $139,041 | $487,882 | $1,806 |
| 63 | Forest Lake | 50.10 | 20,729 | $92,944 | $421,551 | $1,421 |
| 64 | North St. Paul | 50.30 | 12,570 | $84,797 | $325,856 | $1,352 |
| 65 | Apple Valley | 50.60 | 55,679 | $97,673 | $376,121 | $1,738 |
| 66 | Moorhead | 50.90 | 45,036 | $72,761 | $278,445 | $1,033 |
| 67 | Cottage Grove | 51.50 | 40,992 | $120,791 | $396,381 | $1,783 |
| 68 | Maplewood | 51.50 | 40,695 | $91,394 | $342,804 | $1,406 |
| 69 | Rochester | 51.70 | 122,330 | $89,389 | $339,455 | $1,399 |
| 70 | Sauk Rapids | 51.70 | 13,852 | $71,841 | $294,873 | $964 |
| 71 | Robbinsdale | 52.00 | 14,234 | $88,252 | $313,988 | $1,758 |
| 72 | Minneapolis | 52.60 | 427,246 | $80,846 | $330,882 | $1,371 |
| 73 | Ramsey | 52.60 | 28,421 | $116,415 | $381,243 | $1,826 |
| 74 | Crystal | 52.70 | 22,476 | $92,513 | $318,582 | $1,467 |
| 75 | Brainerd | 52.70 | 14,468 | $56,111 | $307,940 | $827 |
| 76 | Burnsville | 52.80 | 64,463 | $87,024 | $368,611 | $1,513 |
| 77 | Maple Grove | 53.70 | 71,173 | $132,731 | $424,803 | $1,868 |
| 78 | St. Paul | 53.90 | 307,284 | $73,394 | $293,972 | $1,281 |
| 79 | Brooklyn Park | 54.40 | 83,876 | $89,891 | $347,073 | $1,325 |
| 80 | Mankato | 54.40 | 45,473 | $66,873 | $304,131 | $1,132 |
| 81 | St. Louis Park | 58.20 | 49,594 | $101,648 | $379,371 | $1,644 |
| 82 | Bemidji | 58.90 | 15,569 | $55,405 | $213,684 | $1,067 |
| 83 | Brooklyn Center | 59.30 | 32,479 | $72,535 | $297,384 | $1,376 |
| 84 | Fridley | 59.90 | 30,241 | $77,680 | $318,919 | $1,326 |
| 85 | Sartell | 60.60 | 19,758 | $84,131 | $338,333 | $1,275 |
| 86 | St. Cloud | 63.70 | 70,629 | $61,374 | $253,365 | $1,003 |
| 87 | Rogers | 70.00 | 13,685 | $158,750 | $458,983 | $1,789 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 87 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
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.
The best places to retire in Minnesota are Hibbing, Grand Rapids, New Ulm, Fairmont, Cloquet, Owatonna, Minnetonka, Stillwater, Alexandria, and Mendota Heights.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley.
