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 2024
/10
Population: 11,642
Median Income: $129,800
Average Home Price: $515,905
More on Mendota Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Mendota Heights is located 5 miles south of St. Paul.
/10
Population: 79,918
Median Income: $130,131
Average Home Price: $474,202
More on Plymouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Plymouth is located 10 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 25,868
Median Income: $131,633
Average Home Price: $509,790
More on Chanhassen: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Chanhassen is located 16 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 6,746
Median Income: $202,153
Average Home Price: $797,015
More on Medina: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Medina is located 15 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 53,037
Median Income: $125,506
Average Home Price: $598,918
More on Edina: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Edina is located 6 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 53,529
Median Income: $114,867
Average Home Price: $450,534
More on Minnetonka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Minnetonka is located 9 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 7,883
Median Income: $107,316
Average Home Price: $357,047
More on Albertville: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Albertville is located 26 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 70,696
Median Income: $129,069
Average Home Price: $465,445
More on Lakeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Lakeville is located 19 miles south of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 13,283
Median Income: $154,611
Average Home Price: $441,756
More on Rogers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Rogers is located 21 miles west of Minneapolis.
/10
Population: 25,993
Median Income: $127,252
Average Home Price: $408,304
More on Rosemount: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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 Fridley 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, Plymouth, Chanhassen, Medina, Edina, Minnetonka, Albertville, Lakeville, Rogers, and Rosemount.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in Minnesota according to the data:
- Fridley
- Little Canada
- Brooklyn Center
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 | 11,642 | $129,800 | $515,905 |
| 2 | Plymouth | 79,918 | $130,131 | $474,202 |
| 3 | Chanhassen | 25,868 | $131,633 | $509,790 |
| 4 | Medina | 6,746 | $202,153 | $797,015 |
| 5 | Edina | 53,037 | $125,506 | $598,918 |
| 6 | Minnetonka | 53,529 | $114,867 | $450,534 |
| 7 | Albertville | 7,883 | $107,316 | $357,047 |
| 8 | Lakeville | 70,696 | $129,069 | $465,445 |
| 9 | Rogers | 13,283 | $154,611 | $441,756 |
| 10 | Rosemount | 25,993 | $127,252 | $408,304 |
| 11 | Minnetrista | 8,347 | $162,474 | $660,620 |
| 12 | Stillwater | 19,316 | $107,986 | $417,520 |
| 13 | Victoria | 10,681 | $179,515 | $552,013 |
| 14 | Lino Lakes | 21,525 | $120,745 | $422,847 |
| 15 | Delano | 6,539 | $105,766 | $415,697 |
| 16 | Prior Lake | 27,608 | $129,539 | $492,980 |
| 17 | Dayton | 7,745 | $138,654 | $473,645 |
| 18 | Corcoran | 6,549 | $155,385 | $556,085 |
| 19 | Lake Elmo | 11,861 | $158,269 | $616,212 |
| 20 | Eden Prairie | 63,623 | $129,345 | $463,961 |
| 21 | St. Anthony | 9,332 | $91,955 | $377,784 |
| 22 | Woodbury | 75,549 | $125,097 | $448,821 |
| 23 | Orono | 8,223 | $173,209 | $1,019,638 |
| 24 | Carver | 5,656 | $125,123 | $477,934 |
| 25 | St. Michael | 18,648 | $123,318 | $410,822 |
| 26 | Mahtomedi | 8,073 | $126,579 | $460,576 |
| 27 | Otsego | 20,455 | $122,420 | $395,838 |
| 28 | Waconia | 12,993 | $101,619 | $436,466 |
| 29 | Maple Grove | 70,110 | $127,001 | $397,985 |
| 30 | Savage | 32,441 | $123,069 | $412,196 |
| 31 | Hugo | 15,831 | $110,160 | $413,867 |
| 32 | Cottage Grove | 39,274 | $117,673 | $368,093 |
| 33 | Chaska | 27,764 | $99,988 | $441,075 |
| 34 | Farmington | 23,487 | $114,737 | $373,537 |
| 35 | North Oaks | 5,193 | $235,714 | $876,362 |
| 36 | Champlin | 23,666 | $113,570 | $347,903 |
| 37 | Golden Valley | 22,142 | $110,026 | $409,489 |
| 38 | Shorewood | 7,722 | $163,525 | $717,403 |
| 39 | St. Louis Park | 49,500 | $94,263 | $364,388 |
| 40 | Ramsey | 27,774 | $110,212 | $362,266 |
| 41 | Eagan | 68,262 | $104,101 | $385,125 |
| 42 | Hastings | 22,063 | $87,722 | $313,784 |
| 43 | Elk River | 25,936 | $95,597 | $377,388 |
| 44 | Shoreview | 26,846 | $106,153 | $391,526 |
| 45 | Ham Lake | 16,489 | $112,854 | $463,556 |
| 46 | Andover | 32,639 | $123,054 | $415,283 |
| 47 | New Brighton | 23,141 | $84,707 | $362,922 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 8,037 | $99,821 | $379,394 |
| 49 | White Bear Lake | 24,317 | $79,699 | $332,323 |
| 50 | Inver Grove Heights | 35,673 | $98,719 | $349,482 |
| 51 | Arden Hills | 9,805 | $121,978 | $450,961 |
| 52 | Oak Grove | 8,956 | $118,871 | $431,853 |
| 53 | Shakopee | 44,135 | $103,924 | $378,683 |
| 54 | Apple Valley | 55,594 | $97,588 | $363,468 |
| 55 | Falcon Heights | 5,232 | $87,750 | $391,737 |
| 56 | St. Paul Park | 5,497 | $92,760 | $293,855 |
| 57 | Mound | 9,272 | $89,855 | $360,628 |
| 58 | Crystal | 22,954 | $86,288 | $296,320 |
| 59 | Hopkins | 18,752 | $70,058 | $317,062 |
| 60 | Jordan | 6,648 | $111,290 | $421,455 |
| 61 | Blaine | 70,047 | $100,659 | $354,091 |
| 62 | Roseville | 36,066 | $87,702 | $350,177 |
| 63 | North St. Paul | 12,465 | $77,475 | $304,655 |
| 64 | Mounds View | 13,100 | $89,358 | $322,091 |
| 65 | East Bethel | 11,901 | $116,453 | $378,957 |
| 66 | Coon Rapids | 63,296 | $85,445 | $310,442 |
| 67 | Oakdale | 28,029 | $86,003 | $329,457 |
| 68 | Forest Lake | 20,553 | $91,157 | $387,584 |
| 69 | St. Francis | 8,198 | $98,390 | $325,664 |
| 70 | Vadnais Heights | 12,864 | $89,632 | $354,501 |
| 71 | Bloomington | 89,244 | $87,381 | $347,523 |
| 72 | Burnsville | 64,075 | $85,801 | $356,837 |
| 73 | Anoka | 17,892 | $73,118 | $308,373 |
| 74 | Richfield | 36,809 | $80,712 | $327,416 |
| 75 | Maplewood | 41,405 | $86,769 | $320,605 |
| 76 | New Hope | 21,620 | $69,244 | $328,822 |
| 77 | Robbinsdale | 14,452 | $80,125 | $296,059 |
| 78 | Brooklyn Park | 84,951 | $82,271 | $327,075 |
| 79 | Spring Lake Park | 6,966 | $74,697 | $299,120 |
| 80 | South St. Paul | 20,598 | $82,644 | $280,795 |
| 81 | West St. Paul | 20,820 | $68,359 | $296,144 |
| 82 | Columbia Heights | 21,822 | $70,470 | $280,659 |
| 83 | Brooklyn Center | 33,109 | $70,692 | $278,078 |
| 84 | Little Canada | 10,624 | $69,673 | $351,425 |
| 85 | Fridley | 29,731 | $76,592 | $302,586 |
