The 10 Best Places To Retire In Minnesota For 2023


We analyzed over 80 places in Minnesota to identify the ones that offer the most to retirees.

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Editor’s Note: Data has been updated for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Minnesota.

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.

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:

The 10 Best Places To Retire In Minnesota For 2023

Overall SnackAbility

8
/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

Hibbing, MN

Overall SnackAbility

5
/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

Grand Rapids, MN

Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Fairmont, MN

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/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

New Ulm, MN

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/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

Mendota Heights, MN

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/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

Owatonna, MN

Overall SnackAbility

10
/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

Minnetonka, MN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Fergus Falls, MN

Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Albert Lea, MN

Overall SnackAbility

9
/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

North Mankato, MN

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:

  1. Rogers
  2. St. Cloud
  3. Brooklyn Center

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

Where Are The Best Places To Retire In Minnesota?

Rank City Population Median Rent
1 Hibbing 16,224 $610
2 Grand Rapids 11,056 $830
3 Fairmont 10,465 $715
4 New Ulm 14,052 $833
5 Mendota Heights 11,681 $879
6 Owatonna 26,366 $854
7 Minnetonka 53,809 $1,523
8 Fergus Falls 13,969 $718
9 Albert Lea 18,433 $746
10 North Mankato 14,356 $825

How Is The Area In ?

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.