The 10 Best Places To Live In Minnesota For 2026

Source: Public domain

$136,534 median income · $508,713 median home · #1 best place in Minnesota

Located in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Median income +53% vs MN

$136,534

MN $89k

Median home value +47% vs MN

$508,713

MN $347k

Unemployment -44% vs MN

2.3%

MN 4.1%

Plymouth is the largest Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb we’ll be covering, with a population of 79,220. We don’t hand out perfect 10/10 SnackAbility scores to just any place. Excellent public schools, low crime, and top-notch amenities all make Plymouth an enviable place to live. There’s so much to do at the French Regional Park that I won’t even try to list all the options, and Millenium Garden has been hailed as Plymouth’s best kept secret. The poverty level and unemployment rate in Plymouth are both substantially lower than the national average, sitting at 4.3% and 2.3% respectively. Folks are doing pretty well for themselves in Plymouth, with a median household income of $136,534/year.

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Source: Flickr User SocialMediaAdventure | CC BY 2.0

$195,639 median income · $608,561 median home · #2 best place in Minnesota

Located in Carver County, Minnesota

Median income +120% vs MN

$195,639

MN $89k

Median home value +76% vs MN

$608,561

MN $347k

Unemployment -56% vs MN

1.8%

MN 4.1%

Another western Minneapolis suburb, Victoria ranks as the 2nd best place to call home in Minnesota. The unemployment rate and poverty level in Victoria are absurdly low at 1.8% and 2.1% respectively, both of which are lower than half the national average. Unwelcome medical surprises are a little less devastating in Victoria as well, seeing as 98.9% of residents have health insurance, the 8th highest rate in Minnesota. We just hope you’re comfortable rubbing elbows with the elite, because we named Victoria the richest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $195,639/year. Tax dollars go to the right places though, like the Lowry Nature Center, with hiking, winter sports gear rentals, and maple-syrup making workshops. The word is evidently out on how great Victoria is because the population has gone up by about 30% since 2010.

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Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0

$143,651 median income · $548,742 median home · #3 best place in Minnesota

Located in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Median income +61% vs MN

$143,651

MN $89k

Median home value +58% vs MN

$548,742

MN $347k

Unemployment -22% vs MN

3.2%

MN 4.1%

Chanhassen is a Carver County city of 26,006 located about a half-hour outside of Minneapolis. A low poverty level and low unemployment rate create a solid economic foundation for the city. Not to mention that both the median household income and median home price in Chanhassen are in the top ten statewide at $143,651/year and $548,742 respectively. Chanhassen also has the 34th lowest adult high school dropout rate in Minnesota, so the motto “stay in school” is certainly felt deeply here. It’s easy to stop and smell the flowers in a city as awesome as Chanhassen. Especially when you’ve got the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum right in your neighborhood.

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Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0

$132,734 median income · $375,310 median home · #4 best place in Minnesota

Located in Wright County, Minnesota

Median income +49% vs MN

$132,734

MN $89k

Median home value +8% vs MN

$375,310

MN $347k

Unemployment -95% vs MN

0.2%

MN 4.1%

Albertville, located in Wright County, Minnesota, is a fantastic place to live in the state. With a population of 8,207, this city offers a low cost of living and a median home price of $375,310. This makes it one of the best places to live in Minnesota for those seeking affordable housing options. The city is home to the Albertville Premium Outlets, which offers a wide range of shopping options. Additionally, Albertville has access to beautiful parks and recreational facilities, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and picnicking. Albertville’s location within the state is highly convenient. It is a Northwest suburb of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, commonly referred to as the “Twin Cities.” This means you can enjoy the benefits of a quieter suburban lifestyle while still having easy access to a larger urban center’s cultural amenities and job opportunities.

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Source: Wikipedia User Gabriel Vanslette | CC BY 3.0

$132,768 median income · $562,137 median home · #5 best place in Minnesota

Located in Dakota County, Minnesota

Median income +49% vs MN

$132,768

MN $89k

Median home value +62% vs MN

$562,137

MN $347k

Unemployment -66% vs MN

1.4%

MN 4.1%

Mendota Heights, Minnesota, exists as a suburb of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, part of the largest metro complex in the state. That might make the city of 11,612 inhabitants seem like a typical urban expanse. Nope. While it does have many of the amenities of a major metropolitan area, it holds a meaningful connection to nature as well. It also serves as the number 5 top community in Minnesota.

Mendota Heights sits along two major rivers, the Mississippi and the Minnesota. This provides excellent scenic vistas and outdoor activities, whether its hiking on Pike Island or a trip to Fort Snelling State Park.

Still, living in the area gives you an exciting city experience as well. It’s 15 minutes to the center of Minneapolis. And, if you’re looking to see the wider world, it’s just over 5 minutes to the region’s busiest airport.

Given its location, Mendota Heights provides an excellent home base for commuters. As such, you’ll find many wealthy executives (and retired executives) living in the community. That leads to a relatively high median age of 47 and a hefty median income of $132,768.

All that cash floating around contributes to high home prices. The median home value sits at $562,137.

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Source: Public domain

$128,767 median income · $615,641 median home · #6 best place in Minnesota

Located in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Median income +45% vs MN

$128,767

MN $89k

Median home value +78% vs MN

$615,641

MN $347k

Unemployment -5% vs MN

3.9%

MN 4.1%

We begin our tour of Minnesota’s best of the best with Edina, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Education is taken very seriously in this city of 53,262, with multiple Blue Ribbon award-winning elementary schools and a 7.5/10 average rating on GreatSchools. The graduation rate in Edina is more than 10% higher than the statewide average, so it’s no surprise that the high school dropout rate is one of the lowest in Minnesota. It’s not just the kiddos who love to learn in Edina either; over 30% of adults have at least a master’s degree. Edina is also the most densely populated city on this list, so you know you’ll never be far from the action here. In fact, Edina residents enjoy the shortest commute of cities we’re covering here at just 20 minutes. The median household income in Edina is $128,767/year and home prices are among the priciest in the state. Meaning you might want a lucrative job lined up before committing to a mortgage. While Edina often gets overshadowed by the Twin Cities, there’s plenty to do here as well. A local favorite is Centennial Lakes Park, complete with an 18-hole putting course, skating rink, amphitheater, and farmer’s market.

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Source: Flickr User Ann Forstie | CC BY 2.0

$133,423 median income · $601,129 median home · #7 best place in Minnesota

Located in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Median income +50% vs MN

$133,423

MN $89k

Median home value +73% vs MN

$601,129

MN $347k

Unemployment -73% vs MN

1.1%

MN 4.1%

Unlike many small towns, Corcoran outperforms its size as one of the best places to live in Minnesota. With unemployment sitting at just 1.1%, ranking 9th lowest in the state, and only 3.6% below the poverty line, this Hennepin County community delivers economic security. Homes run around $601,129, buying room on the kinds of large wooded lots that drew families out this way in the first place.

The median household income of $133,423/year doesn’t hurt either. Elm Creek Park Reserve offers year-round trails and swimming, which explains why Corcoran keeps drawing families to this part of Hennepin County.

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Source: Wikipedia User William Wesen (Appraiser at en.wikipedia) | CC BY-SA 3.0

$139,041 median income · $487,882 median home · #8 best place in Minnesota

Located in Dakota County, Minnesota

Median income +56% vs MN

$139,041

MN $89k

Median home value +41% vs MN

$487,882

MN $347k

Unemployment -51% vs MN

2.0%

MN 4.1%

Located about 15 minutes south of Bloomington, Lakeville is the sole representative of Dakota County on this list. Lakeville is the youngest city to make the cut, with a median age of 37. Evidently, young-uns are moving here in droves, because its population has grown by 15% since 2010. Maybe they’re attracted by the high median household income of $139,041/year. Or the fact that Lakeville has the 35th lowest crime rate in Minnesota. Or maybe they just want to be as close as possible to the Minnesota Zoo. In any case, Lakeville’s economy can sustain the increased population, because both the poverty level and unemployment rate here are incredibly low.

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Source: Public domain

$119,517 median income · $483,591 median home · #9 best place in Minnesota

Located in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Median income +34% vs MN

$119,517

MN $89k

Median home value +39% vs MN

$483,591

MN $347k

Unemployment -27% vs MN

3.0%

MN 4.1%

Wrapping up our list of best places to live in Minnesota is Minnetonka, a Twin Cities suburb of 53,064. Minnetonka’s inclusion on this list means that more than half the best places to live in the state are located in Hennepin County. If you’re looking for a more mature community, Minnetonka might be your best bet, because the median age here is 43, the highest on this list. But there’s good news for young people as well because Minnetonka’s school district has a student expenditure about 55% higher than the statewide average. That’s part of the reason why we named Minnetonka one of the best cities for families in Minnesota. All the family-friendly activities available at Purgatory Park is another reason. Now, at $119,517/year, Minnetonka has the lowest median household income on this list. Seeing as home prices are in the same ballpark as other cities listed here, it makes sense that we named Minnetonka one of the most expensive cities in Minnesota. Don’t let that put you off though; we think Minnetonka is worth every penny.

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Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0

$111,031 median income · $458,548 median home · #10 best place in Minnesota

Located in Carver County, Minnesota

Median income +25% vs MN

$111,031

MN $89k

Median home value +32% vs MN

$458,548

MN $347k

Unemployment +7% vs MN

4.4%

MN 4.1%

Located about 45 minutes west of Minneapolis, the city of Waconia comes in as the 10th best place in Minnesota. Waconia really outshines the competition in terms of economic success. With a ridiculously low poverty level of 4.1% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%, you’d better believe that everyone gets in on the good times in Waconia. Of the places we’ll be covering on this list, Waconia has the lowest cost of living, with an emphasis on affordable health care. Speaking of which, Waconia has the 27th highest rate of residents with health insurance in the state at 97.6%. If you’re an outdoorsman or woman, you’ll also appreciate living beside Lake Waconia, which attracts visitors year-round for its renowned fishing. If that’s too slow-paced for you, paddling your way over to Coney Island to spot some bald eagles might be your jam.

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