Are you sick of being a city slicker?
Do you long for life in suburban Minnesota? Where you can drive an overly-large vehicle to the store for groceries and schlep the kids around to practices and appointments without worrying about a parking space.
We do, too.
If you wanted to move out to the suburbs of Saint Paul, where would you go? And how would you decide on the ranking factors to help you pick which Minnesota suburb was best?
No worries. We got it all figured out here using Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the 10 best suburbs in the North Star State
Mendota Heights is the place to be when it comes to being a soccer mom in suburban Minnesota.
So if you’re thinking of packing up your mini van and making a move to a quiet place to live in Minnesota, we’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. Or, check out the best places to live in Minnesota and the best places to raise a family in Minnesota.
Best Suburbs In Minnesota For 2025
/10
Population: 11,644
Median Income: $132,935
Average Home Price: $504,100
More on Mendota Heights: Data
Mendota Heights is located 5 miles south of St. Paul.
/10
Population: 26,001
Median Income: $138,034
Average Home Price: $530,700
More on Chanhassen: Data
Chanhassen is located 16 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 79,526
Median Income: $133,865
Average Home Price: $474,700
More on Plymouth: Data
Plymouth is located 10 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 53,125
Median Income: $129,225
Average Home Price: $624,000
More on Edina: Data
Edina is located 6 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 6,858
Median Income: $219,181
Average Home Price: $660,800
More on Medina: Data
Medina is located 15 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 72,480
Median Income: $138,119
Average Home Price: $425,200
More on Lakeville: Data
Lakeville is located 19 miles south of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 10,972
Median Income: $192,821
Average Home Price: $572,800
More on Victoria: Data
Victoria is located 20 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 53,256
Median Income: $120,496
Average Home Price: $456,200
More on Minnetonka: Data
Minnetonka is located 9 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 6,854
Median Income: $143,250
Average Home Price: $540,100
More on Corcoran: Data
Corcoran is located 18 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 26,509
Median Income: $127,247
Average Home Price: $406,100
More on Rosemount: Data
Rosemount is located 14 miles south of St. Paul.
Methodology:How we crunched the suburb numbers for the North Star State
We have to use Saturday Night Science and look at several metrics to give you the best suburbs in Minnesota. We want to measure the type of place around major cities that people arguing at a bar would say makes it the “best suburb.”
First, we had to define a suburb. Using U.S. Census data produced for the state of Minnesota, we looked at every town with at least 5,000 residents, and within 30 miles of a city that’s over 200,000 people.
In other words, suburbs.
We paid particular attention to the following criteria:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is Better)
- Unemployment Rates
- Commute Time
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We ranked each suburb in Minnesota across these criteria from one to 85, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the town posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Suburb To Live In Minnesota.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and ideal places to live in Minnesota.
Read on to see why Mendota Heights is the ‘burb with the most, while Little Canada is probably not the best place to live in Minnesota.
Summary: There You Have It – The Best Suburbs In Minnesota
If you’re measuring the locations in Minnesota where there are lots to do, and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best suburbs in Minnesota are Mendota Heights, Chanhassen, Plymouth, Edina, Medina, Lakeville, Victoria, Minnetonka, Corcoran, and Rosemount.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in Minnesota according to the data:
- Little Canada
- Brooklyn Center
- Fridley
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Minnesota
- Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota
- Most Dangerous Cities In Minnesota
- Richest Cities In Minnesota
- Safest Places In Minnesota
- Worst Places To Live In Minnesota
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Minnesota
The Best Suburbs In Minnesota
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mendota Heights | 11,644 | $132,935 | $504,100 |
| 2 | Chanhassen | 26,001 | $138,034 | $530,700 |
| 3 | Plymouth | 79,526 | $133,865 | $474,700 |
| 4 | Edina | 53,125 | $129,225 | $624,000 |
| 5 | Medina | 6,858 | $219,181 | $660,800 |
| 6 | Lakeville | 72,480 | $138,119 | $425,200 |
| 7 | Victoria | 10,972 | $192,821 | $572,800 |
| 8 | Minnetonka | 53,256 | $120,496 | $456,200 |
| 9 | Corcoran | 6,854 | $143,250 | $540,100 |
| 10 | Rosemount | 26,509 | $127,247 | $406,100 |
| 11 | Albertville | 8,066 | $126,307 | $326,400 |
| 12 | Lino Lakes | 21,847 | $121,800 | $385,000 |
| 13 | Eden Prairie | 63,249 | $127,732 | $463,300 |
| 14 | Delano | 6,712 | $118,091 | $347,500 |
| 15 | Waconia | 13,223 | $104,929 | $407,600 |
| 16 | Stillwater | 19,323 | $109,297 | $398,100 |
| 17 | Carver | 5,935 | $144,408 | $427,600 |
| 18 | Mahtomedi | 8,108 | $132,326 | $466,100 |
| 19 | Lake Elmo | 12,504 | $153,407 | $588,900 |
| 20 | Otsego | 21,358 | $127,219 | $367,200 |
| 21 | St. Anthony | 9,516 | $97,784 | $365,700 |
| 22 | Prior Lake | 27,832 | $130,278 | $429,900 |
| 23 | St. Michael | 19,267 | $130,814 | $365,800 |
| 24 | Rogers | 13,405 | $159,638 | $437,900 |
| 25 | Minnetrista | 8,509 | $156,346 | $624,600 |
| 26 | Orono | 8,205 | $181,875 | $952,400 |
| 27 | Golden Valley | 21,927 | $114,435 | $423,500 |
| 28 | Chaska | 28,146 | $110,000 | $379,400 |
| 29 | Woodbury | 76,945 | $126,222 | $434,900 |
| 30 | Champlin | 23,450 | $115,719 | $338,400 |
| 31 | Maple Grove | 70,539 | $129,481 | $397,400 |
| 32 | St. Louis Park | 49,541 | $100,250 | $371,600 |
| 33 | Savage | 32,706 | $122,646 | $395,600 |
| 34 | Dayton | 8,381 | $137,383 | $510,600 |
| 35 | Cottage Grove | 40,124 | $121,452 | $359,600 |
| 36 | Ramsey | 28,070 | $112,060 | $345,000 |
| 37 | Shorewood | 7,679 | $172,325 | $684,500 |
| 38 | North Oaks | 5,175 | $235,858 | $756,300 |
| 39 | Farmington | 23,675 | $118,556 | $345,100 |
| 40 | Eagan | 68,158 | $107,486 | $380,800 |
| 41 | Hugo | 16,076 | $114,057 | $394,200 |
| 42 | Shoreview | 26,724 | $109,399 | $365,100 |
| 43 | New Brighton | 22,900 | $87,272 | $345,900 |
| 44 | Elk River | 26,367 | $99,457 | $338,300 |
| 45 | Falcon Heights | 5,145 | $93,233 | $366,800 |
| 46 | Wyoming | 8,063 | $101,938 | $328,900 |
| 47 | Andover | 32,825 | $131,528 | $389,200 |
| 48 | Hastings | 22,050 | $92,940 | $294,100 |
| 49 | Oak Grove | 9,031 | $114,679 | $394,100 |
| 50 | Shakopee | 45,002 | $110,989 | $361,400 |
| 51 | Ham Lake | 16,575 | $116,845 | $430,100 |
| 52 | Arden Hills | 9,737 | $128,668 | $423,800 |
| 53 | Jordan | 6,704 | $110,139 | $319,000 |
| 54 | Inver Grove Heights | 35,772 | $104,055 | $352,300 |
| 55 | White Bear Lake | 24,026 | $79,712 | $318,000 |
| 56 | Apple Valley | 55,696 | $99,277 | $354,200 |
| 57 | Hopkins | 18,696 | $71,170 | $350,100 |
| 58 | St. Paul Park | 5,464 | $98,670 | $252,800 |
| 59 | Blaine | 71,261 | $103,382 | $327,500 |
| 60 | East Bethel | 11,995 | $114,583 | $343,200 |
| 61 | North St. Paul | 12,511 | $81,641 | $286,600 |
| 62 | Oakdale | 28,109 | $90,379 | $305,900 |
| 63 | Crystal | 22,685 | $86,752 | $280,500 |
| 64 | Spring Lake Park | 6,997 | $77,112 | $281,800 |
| 65 | Mounds View | 12,992 | $90,148 | $294,500 |
| 66 | Coon Rapids | 63,348 | $86,618 | $287,200 |
| 67 | Roseville | 35,905 | $88,440 | $334,800 |
| 68 | St. Francis | 8,279 | $101,875 | $297,800 |
| 69 | Forest Lake | 20,678 | $89,879 | $375,900 |
| 70 | New Hope | 21,402 | $73,698 | $314,600 |
| 71 | Mound | 9,176 | $91,370 | $348,600 |
| 72 | Richfield | 36,725 | $84,055 | $320,400 |
| 73 | Robbinsdale | 14,318 | $84,719 | $280,400 |
| 74 | Vadnais Heights | 12,789 | $91,946 | $334,500 |
| 75 | Bloomington | 88,838 | $90,677 | $346,200 |
| 76 | Burnsville | 64,295 | $83,953 | $335,100 |
| 77 | South St. Paul | 20,633 | $84,472 | $266,800 |
| 78 | Anoka | 17,941 | $75,262 | $292,900 |
| 79 | Maplewood | 40,981 | $88,534 | $291,300 |
| 80 | West St. Paul | 21,076 | $70,738 | $281,800 |
| 81 | Brooklyn Park | 84,349 | $85,964 | $313,500 |
| 82 | Columbia Heights | 22,016 | $74,688 | $259,900 |
| 83 | Fridley | 29,944 | $79,274 | $277,100 |
| 84 | Brooklyn Center | 32,811 | $72,009 | $261,100 |
| 85 | Little Canada | 10,546 | $71,370 | $302,600 |