While big cities like St. Paul offer culture, cuisine, and charisma, they also deliver terrible traffic, towering expenses, and a taxing quality of life.
With that in mind, we wanted to uncover the best suburbs around St. Paul. These burbs have all of the benefits of being near St. Paul without actually having to be in the city.
Of course, not all suburbs of St. Paul are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. Using Saturday Night Science, we delve into the factors that matter most, from commutes and housing costs to community vibes, to help you uncover the perfect suburban spots in the Greater St. Paul area.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around St. Paul for 2025:
What’s the best suburb of St. Paul? Deephaven ranks as the best suburb of St. Paul for 2025 based on the most recent Census and FBI data. If you happen to be a resident of Deephaven, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.
We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 St. Paul ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.
Feel free to check out some more reading about Minnesota:
The 10 Best St. Paul Suburbs To Live For 2025
/10
Population: 3,835
Median Income: $175,441
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
Poverty Rate: 2.0%
More on Deephaven: Data
Deephaven is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the St. Paul area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Deephaven.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $175,441 a year, which is the 5th highest in the St. Paul region. And only 1.55% are out of work. Homes average more than $854,000 each.
/10
Population: 11,644
Median Income: $132,935
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%
Poverty Rate: 2.6%
More on Mendota Heights: Data
Mendota Heights is the second best ‘burb we looked at near St. Paul for 2025.
It ranks 18th for incomes in the area and only 0.44% of residents lack insurance, good for 3rd best.
/10
Population: 8,108
Median Income: $132,326
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
More on Mahtomedi: Data
Here in Mahtomedi, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the St. Paul metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Mahtomedi.
/10
Population: 6,858
Median Income: $219,181
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
Poverty Rate: 2.1%
More on Medina: Data
Medina ranks as the 4th best suburb of St. Paul for 2025.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Medina and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 53,125
Median Income: $129,225
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Poverty Rate: 4.4%
More on Edina: Data
Coming in as the fifth best is Edina.
Edina gets kudos for having the 10th most expensive homes in the St. Paul area, where houses sell for an average of $624,000. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
I hate Edina because I feel it is a stuck up city. The citizens are s****y and entitled there. It is full of ritzy, over-priced things that people don’t really need.
The thing to watch out for are the people. The people working at the stores and restaurants were rude but also the residents and people on the streets were rude and judgmental.
/10
Population: 79,526
Median Income: $133,865
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
Poverty Rate: 4.1%
More on Plymouth: Data
Plymouth is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 2.03%.
According to online reports, Plymouth is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the St. Paul area, meaning you need to get in soon.
It has all the amenities that you may need including a wide array of grocery stores and places to eat.
There is a lack of diversity in the town and the rent and cost of living is higher than the surrounding areas in the west metro.
/10
Population: 4,915
Median Income: $147,381
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%
Poverty Rate: 0.0%
More on Elko New Market: Data
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Elko New Market.
Elko New Market schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 28.8 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
/10
Population: 12,504
Median Income: $153,407
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
Poverty Rate: 4.3%
More on Lake Elmo: Data
Lake Elmo is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 1.39% of people lack insurance, good for 10th in the area.
/10
Population: 4,363
Median Income: $125,344
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
Poverty Rate: 6.3%
More on Wayzata: Data
Is ‘Everything Better In Wayzata?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 10,972
Median Income: $192,821
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Poverty Rate: 1.8%
More on Victoria: Data
And rounding out the top ten for 2025 is Victoria.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around St. Paul for 2025
Figuring out the best suburbs around St. Paul was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2019-2023 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of St. Paul.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 99 suburbs to evaluate around St. Paul.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 99 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near St. Paul.” We’re lookin’ at you, Deephaven.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the best St. Paul suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best St. Paul ‘Burbs of 2025
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of St. Paul are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like St. Paul but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
Table: Best St. Paul Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deephaven, MN | 3,835 | $175,441 | $854,000 |
| 2 | Mendota Heights, MN | 11,644 | $132,935 | $504,100 |
| 3 | Mahtomedi, MN | 8,108 | $132,326 | $466,100 |
| 4 | Medina, MN | 6,858 | $219,181 | $660,800 |
| 5 | Edina, MN | 53,125 | $129,225 | $624,000 |
| 6 | Plymouth, MN | 79,526 | $133,865 | $474,700 |
| 7 | Elko New Market, MN | 4,915 | $147,381 | $407,400 |
| 8 | Lake Elmo, MN | 12,504 | $153,407 | $588,900 |
| 9 | Wayzata, MN | 4,363 | $125,344 | $1,047,400 |
| 10 | Victoria, MN | 10,972 | $192,821 | $572,800 |
| 11 | North Hudson, MN | 3,848 | $114,539 | $372,900 |
| 12 | Rogers, MN | 13,405 | $159,638 | $437,900 |
| 13 | Lakeville, MN | 72,480 | $138,119 | $425,200 |
| 14 | Orono, MN | 8,205 | $181,875 | $952,400 |
| 15 | Chanhassen, MN | 26,001 | $138,034 | $530,700 |
| 16 | St. Anthony, MN | 9,516 | $97,784 | $365,700 |
| 17 | Scandia, MN | 3,966 | $100,179 | $471,900 |
| 18 | Shorewood, MN | 7,679 | $172,325 | $684,500 |
| 19 | Rosemount, MN | 26,509 | $127,247 | $406,100 |
| 20 | North Oaks, MN | 5,175 | $235,858 | $756,300 |
| 21 | Afton, MN | 2,944 | $129,956 | $655,400 |
| 22 | Grant, MN | 3,959 | $145,357 | $622,000 |
| 23 | Minnetonka, MN | 53,256 | $120,496 | $456,200 |
| 24 | Prior Lake, MN | 27,832 | $130,278 | $429,900 |
| 25 | Corcoran, MN | 6,854 | $143,250 | $540,100 |
| 26 | Carver, MN | 5,935 | $144,408 | $427,600 |
| 27 | Excelsior, MN | 2,359 | $108,611 | $839,500 |
| 28 | Eden Prairie, MN | 63,249 | $127,732 | $463,300 |
| 29 | Maple Grove, MN | 70,539 | $129,481 | $397,400 |
| 30 | Lino Lakes, MN | 21,847 | $121,800 | $385,000 |
| 31 | Hugo, MN | 16,076 | $114,057 | $394,200 |
| 32 | Oak Grove, MN | 9,031 | $114,679 | $394,100 |
| 33 | Minnetrista, MN | 8,509 | $156,346 | $624,600 |
| 34 | Centerville, MN | 3,915 | $119,361 | $364,700 |
| 35 | St. Louis Park, MN | 49,541 | $100,250 | $371,600 |
| 36 | Columbus, MN | 4,211 | $117,917 | $439,200 |
| 37 | Shoreview, MN | 26,724 | $109,399 | $365,100 |
| 38 | Champlin, MN | 23,450 | $115,719 | $338,400 |
| 39 | Stillwater, MN | 19,323 | $109,297 | $398,100 |
| 40 | Savage, MN | 32,706 | $122,646 | $395,600 |
| 41 | Ham Lake, MN | 16,575 | $116,845 | $430,100 |
| 42 | Woodbury, MN | 76,945 | $126,222 | $434,900 |
| 43 | Andover, MN | 32,825 | $131,528 | $389,200 |
| 44 | Falcon Heights, MN | 5,145 | $93,233 | $366,800 |
| 45 | Dayton, MN | 8,381 | $137,383 | $510,600 |
| 46 | Circle Pines, MN | 4,980 | $96,477 | $277,300 |
| 47 | Chaska, MN | 28,146 | $110,000 | $379,400 |
| 48 | East Bethel, MN | 11,995 | $114,583 | $343,200 |
| 49 | Cottage Grove, MN | 40,124 | $121,452 | $359,600 |
| 50 | Golden Valley, MN | 21,927 | $114,435 | $423,500 |
| 51 | Ramsey, MN | 28,070 | $112,060 | $345,000 |
| 52 | Eagan, MN | 68,158 | $107,486 | $380,800 |
| 53 | Farmington, MN | 23,675 | $118,556 | $345,100 |
| 54 | Wyoming, MN | 8,063 | $101,938 | $328,900 |
| 55 | Bayport, MN | 3,948 | $115,781 | $363,200 |
| 56 | Prescott, MN | 4,376 | $82,730 | $282,100 |
| 57 | Apple Valley, MN | 55,696 | $99,277 | $354,200 |
| 58 | Mound, MN | 9,176 | $91,370 | $348,600 |
| 59 | Lauderdale, MN | 2,386 | $76,558 | $273,600 |
| 60 | Arden Hills, MN | 9,737 | $128,668 | $423,800 |
| 61 | Hastings, MN | 22,050 | $92,940 | $294,100 |
| 62 | Hudson, MN | 15,004 | $97,036 | $355,000 |
| 63 | New Brighton, MN | 22,900 | $87,272 | $345,900 |
| 64 | River Falls, MN | 16,349 | $78,078 | $299,800 |
| 65 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 35,772 | $104,055 | $352,300 |
| 66 | Crystal, MN | 22,685 | $86,752 | $280,500 |
| 67 | Oak Park Heights, MN | 4,782 | $84,639 | $333,600 |
| 68 | Shakopee, MN | 45,002 | $110,989 | $361,400 |
| 69 | White Bear Lake, MN | 24,026 | $79,712 | $318,000 |
| 70 | Roseville, MN | 35,905 | $88,440 | $334,800 |
| 71 | Vadnais Heights, MN | 12,789 | $91,946 | $334,500 |
| 72 | Hopkins, MN | 18,696 | $71,170 | $350,100 |
| 73 | Blaine, MN | 71,261 | $103,382 | $327,500 |
| 74 | St. Paul Park, MN | 5,464 | $98,670 | $252,800 |
| 75 | Oakdale, MN | 28,109 | $90,379 | $305,900 |
| 76 | Somerset, MN | 3,084 | $76,176 | $271,200 |
| 77 | North St. Paul, MN | 12,511 | $81,641 | $286,600 |
| 78 | Mounds View, MN | 12,992 | $90,148 | $294,500 |
| 79 | Bloomington, MN | 88,838 | $90,677 | $346,200 |
| 80 | Coon Rapids, MN | 63,348 | $86,618 | $287,200 |
| 81 | Richfield, MN | 36,725 | $84,055 | $320,400 |
| 82 | Robbinsdale, MN | 14,318 | $84,719 | $280,400 |
| 83 | Spring Lake Park, MN | 6,997 | $77,112 | $281,800 |
| 84 | Maplewood, MN | 40,981 | $88,534 | $291,300 |
| 85 | Forest Lake, MN | 20,678 | $89,879 | $375,900 |
| 86 | Anoka, MN | 17,941 | $75,262 | $292,900 |
| 87 | Burnsville, MN | 64,295 | $83,953 | $335,100 |
| 88 | Minneapolis, MN | 426,845 | $80,269 | $345,600 |
| 89 | Brooklyn Park, MN | 84,349 | $85,964 | $313,500 |
| 90 | Osseo, MN | 2,601 | $66,875 | $275,000 |
| 91 | West St. Paul, MN | 21,076 | $70,738 | $281,800 |
| 92 | South St. Paul, MN | 20,633 | $84,472 | $266,800 |
| 93 | New Hope, MN | 21,402 | $73,698 | $314,600 |
| 94 | Little Canada, MN | 10,546 | $71,370 | $302,600 |
| 95 | Columbia Heights, MN | 22,016 | $74,688 | $259,900 |
| 96 | Lexington, MN | 2,616 | $72,955 | $282,000 |
| 97 | Fridley, MN | 29,944 | $79,274 | $277,100 |
| 98 | Brooklyn Center, MN | 32,811 | $72,009 | $261,100 |
| 99 | Newport, MN | 4,460 | $63,365 | $331,300 |