The 10 Best Small Towns In Minnesota For 2026


The best small towns in Minnesota are Wayzata and Deephaven for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Minnesota. Best sururbs in Minnesota. Best counties in Minnesota.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the North Star State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Minnesota based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Minnesota ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Minnesota For 2026

  1. Wayzata
  2. Deephaven
  3. St. Bonifacius
  4. Eagle Lake
  5. Independence
  6. Oronoco
  7. Bayport
  8. Circle Pines
  9. Long Lake
  10. Esko
  11. Tonka Bay
  12. Goodview
  13. Centerville
  14. Dellwood
  15. Hanover

Best Small Towns To Live In Minnesota Map

What’s the best small town in Minnesota? Wayzata is the best small town in Minnesota based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Wayzata, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the North Star State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Minnesota For 2026

1. Wayzata

Wayzata, MN

Source: Wikipedia User 123dieinafire (talk) | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 4,354
Median Income: $131,614 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $913,297 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

2. Deephaven

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,793
Median Income: $197,679 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,062,991 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

3. St. Bonifacius

St. Bonifacius, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Eco84 at English Wikipedia | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,997
Median Income: $109,922 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $375,773 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

4. Eagle Lake

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,281
Median Income: $96,964 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $341,523 (68th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

5. Independence

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,694
Median Income: $186,597 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $797,889 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

6. Oronoco

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,679
Median Income: $157,500 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $556,577 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

7. Bayport

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,905
Median Income: $125,893 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $434,118 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

8. Circle Pines

Circle Pines, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Cityof circlepines | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,968
Median Income: $101,800 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $309,951 (86th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%

9. Long Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,728
Median Income: $109,063 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $424,976 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

10. Esko

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,813
Median Income: $109,063 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $388,337 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

11. Tonka Bay

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,270
Median Income: $156,458 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,086,033 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 9.7%

12. Goodview

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 4,103
Median Income: $74,712 (91st Best)
Median Home Value: $267,607 (115th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

13. Centerville

Centerville, MN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,935
Median Income: $122,541 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $397,125 (32nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

14. Dellwood

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,181
Median Income: $225,000 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $910,810 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

15. Hanover

Hanover, MN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,626
Median Income: $156,536 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $444,056 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Minnesota

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Minnesota possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 209 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 209, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Minnesota. Top of that list — Wayzata.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Minnesota.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Minnesota are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Minnesota are Wayzata, Deephaven, St. Bonifacius, Eagle Lake, Independence, Oronoco, Bayport, Circle Pines, Long Lake, and Esko.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Minnesota:

  1. Appleton
  2. Sandstone
  3. Hinckley

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Minnesota

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Wayzata, MN 4,354 $131,614 1.7%
2 Deephaven, MN 3,793 $197,679 1.7%
3 St. Bonifacius, MN 1,997 $109,922 1.2%
4 Eagle Lake, MN 3,281 $96,964 1.2%
5 Independence, MN 3,694 $186,597 0.8%
6 Oronoco, MN 1,679 $157,500 2.4%
7 Bayport, MN 3,905 $125,893 1.8%
8 Circle Pines, MN 4,968 $101,800 3.6%
9 Long Lake, MN 1,728 $109,063 1.5%
10 Esko, MN 1,813 $109,063 2.0%
11 Tonka Bay, MN 1,270 $156,458 9.7%
12 Goodview, MN 4,103 $74,712 2.1%
13 Centerville, MN 3,935 $122,541 2.2%
14 Dellwood, MN 1,181 $225,000 0.9%
15 Hanover, MN 3,626 $156,536 1.3%
16 Nisswa, MN 1,954 $100,000 0.0%
17 Chatfield, MN 2,559 $96,078 2.0%
18 Greenfield, MN 2,894 $153,750 0.4%
19 Cottonwood, MN 1,061 $97,500 1.3%
20 Barnesville, MN 2,762 $97,917 0.9%
21 Mantorville, MN 1,047 $110,000 2.9%
22 Grand Meadow, MN 1,011 $72,125 0.7%
23 Lake St. Croix Beach, MN 1,105 $102,159 2.1%
24 Pine Island, MN 3,580 $104,432 1.7%
25 Lonsdale, MN 4,896 $95,176 1.9%
26 Baudette, MN 1,139 $71,061 0.4%
27 Mayer, MN 2,518 $124,917 3.2%
28 Grant, MN 3,950 $150,875 1.4%
29 East Gull Lake, MN 1,076 $123,333 2.7%
30 Lakeland, MN 1,492 $100,132 4.9%
31 Maple Plain, MN 1,701 $93,750 1.8%
32 St. Charles, MN 4,037 $96,200 0.0%
33 Watertown, MN 4,790 $99,671 0.0%
34 Rockford, MN 4,597 $94,162 1.6%
35 Excelsior, MN 2,570 $103,068 0.0%
36 Hawley, MN 2,178 $99,188 2.1%
37 Rockville, MN 2,452 $105,329 0.7%
38 Proctor, MN 3,100 $67,377 0.7%
39 St. Augusta, MN 3,625 $140,227 3.6%
40 Scandia, MN 3,950 $101,953 1.7%
41 Spicer, MN 1,222 $77,969 1.3%
42 Richmond, MN 1,431 $71,438 1.6%
43 Lester Prairie, MN 1,898 $96,544 0.8%
44 Lake Crystal, MN 2,606 $83,317 1.5%
45 Cologne, MN 2,282 $129,398 4.0%
46 Zumbrota, MN 3,914 $78,156 1.3%
47 New London, MN 1,187 $68,421 0.2%
48 Oak Park Heights, MN 4,756 $82,476 3.3%
49 Lake Shore, MN 1,073 $96,563 1.6%
50 Martin Lake, MN 1,068 $123,208 0.0%
51 Medford, MN 1,257 $108,250 3.3%
52 Lewiston, MN 1,613 $91,875 1.6%
53 Madison Lake, MN 1,322 $87,727 4.4%
54 Rice, MN 2,085 $107,692 2.3%
55 Grand Marais, MN 1,796 $70,583 0.9%
56 Dundas, MN 1,916 $116,310 11.7%
57 Afton, MN 2,957 $133,305 3.2%
58 Nowthen, MN 4,538 $160,417 3.3%
59 Lakefield, MN 1,507 $71,648 0.5%
60 Cold Spring, MN 4,249 $72,228 5.3%
61 Eyota, MN 1,944 $82,930 2.2%
62 Lauderdale, MN 2,388 $78,684 9.1%
63 Lindstrom, MN 4,978 $98,226 2.8%
64 Spring Park, MN 1,896 $48,315 8.9%
65 Avon, MN 1,552 $91,563 2.6%
66 Glyndon, MN 1,098 $95,313 2.9%
67 Janesville, MN 2,378 $74,643 3.6%
68 Blooming Prairie, MN 1,843 $63,656 2.4%
69 Dilworth, MN 4,713 $90,694 2.2%
70 Luverne, MN 4,925 $64,366 2.5%
71 Columbus, MN 4,248 $123,194 2.2%
72 Howard Lake, MN 1,832 $92,188 1.4%
73 Dodge Center, MN 2,880 $93,884 2.3%
74 Clearwater, MN 1,970 $91,346 2.1%
75 Albany, MN 2,821 $69,167 2.9%
76 Cannon Falls, MN 4,227 $84,097 1.7%
77 Elgin, MN 1,116 $92,083 5.2%
78 Adrian, MN 1,236 $73,438 1.3%
79 Plainview, MN 3,500 $82,926 4.9%
80 Maple Lake, MN 2,042 $93,750 2.8%
81 Fulda, MN 1,393 $71,136 2.5%
82 Madison, MN 1,550 $61,172 2.6%
83 Montgomery, MN 3,434 $79,432 3.0%
84 Sleepy Eye, MN 3,444 $66,911 2.7%
85 Crosslake, MN 2,521 $79,635 1.6%
86 Montrose, MN 3,888 $102,625 5.0%
87 Lexington, MN 2,770 $75,347 4.7%
88 New Richland, MN 1,184 $67,000 0.8%
89 Paynesville, MN 2,519 $75,250 2.4%
90 Arlington, MN 2,065 $68,073 0.3%
91 Le Center, MN 2,513 $80,673 5.2%
92 Edgerton, MN 1,104 $68,894 3.2%
93 Rushford, MN 1,826 $76,638 3.7%
94 Annandale, MN 3,399 $65,583 3.9%
95 Cohasset, MN 2,703 $92,692 8.6%
96 Red Lake Falls, MN 1,348 $64,342 1.9%
97 Atwater, MN 1,203 $71,042 8.7%
98 Waverly, MN 2,285 $112,222 2.0%
99 Shafer, MN 1,186 $99,489 2.3%
100 Scanlon, MN 1,146 $68,750 9.4%
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.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings