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.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Minnesota For 2026
Where is the best place to retire in Minnesota for 2026? According to the most recent FBI and Census data, the best place to retire in Minnesota be Hibbing.
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.
Why did Hibbing take the top spot? And where are Minneapolis and St. Paul?
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 2026
/10
Population: 16,057
Median Income: $55,789
Median Home Price: $154,907
Median Rent: $833
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Hibbing: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,207
Median Income: $61,029
Median Home Price: $274,252
Median Rent: $1,090
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Grand Rapids: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,056
Median Income: $64,449
Median Home Price: $244,182
Median Rent: $962
Distance to Closest Airport: 72 miles
More on New Ulm: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,296
Median Income: $53,084
Median Home Price: $168,288
Median Rent: $738
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on Fairmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,537
Median Income: $61,367
Median Home Price: $256,233
Median Rent: $1,024
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Cloquet: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,498
Median Income: $80,750
Median Home Price: $294,000
Median Rent: $1,067
Distance to Closest Airport: 54 miles
More on Owatonna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 53,064
Median Income: $119,517
Median Home Price: $483,591
Median Rent: $1,779
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Minnetonka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,355
Median Income: $105,853
Median Home Price: $445,501
Median Rent: $1,622
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Stillwater: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,735
Median Income: $61,374
Median Home Price: $287,190
Median Rent: $934
Distance to Closest Airport: 125 miles
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,612
Median Income: $132,768
Median Home Price: $562,136
Median Rent: $1,631
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Mendota Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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.
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:
- Rogers
- St. Cloud
- Sartell
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Minnesota
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hibbing | 16,057 | $55,789 | $154,907 | $833 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | 11,207 | $61,029 | $274,252 | $1,090 |
| 3 | New Ulm | 14,056 | $64,449 | $244,182 | $962 |
| 4 | Fairmont | 10,296 | $53,084 | $168,288 | $738 |
| 5 | Cloquet | 12,537 | $61,367 | $256,233 | $1,024 |
| 6 | Owatonna | 26,498 | $80,750 | $294,000 | $1,067 |
| 7 | Minnetonka | 53,064 | $119,517 | $483,591 | $1,779 |
| 8 | Stillwater | 19,355 | $105,853 | $445,501 | $1,622 |
| 9 | Alexandria | 14,735 | $61,374 | $287,190 | $934 |
| 10 | Mendota Heights | 11,612 | $132,768 | $562,136 | $1,631 |