There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Minnesota. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobs — as in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Minnesota cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Minnesota. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 148 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Minnesota.
The Minnesotan in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
$231,742 median income · $936,794 median home · #1 income in Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$173,527 median income · $1,113,974 median home · #4 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Orono is a city on the northern shores of Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,437 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$171,063 median income · $804,465 median home · #5 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$230,859 median income · $832,022 median home · #2 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$163,051 median income · $684,705 median home · #6 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$195,639 median income · $608,561 median home · #3 income in Minnesota
Located in
Carver County, Minnesota
Victoria is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,345 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$153,669 median income · $618,480 median home · #8 income in Minnesota
Located in
Washington County, Minnesota
Lake Elmo is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 8,069 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$128,767 median income · $615,641 median home · #25 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Edina ee-DY-n), officially known as the City of Edina, is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941, as of 2010.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$132,768 median income · $562,137 median home · #19 income in Minnesota
Located in
Dakota County, Minnesota
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$136,534 median income · $508,713 median home · #15 income in Minnesota
Located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Plymouth is the seventh largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Located 15 miles west of downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County, the city is the third largest suburb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, which is the sixteenth largest metropolitan area in the United States, with about 3.52 million residents. The population was 70,576 at the 2010 Census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Minnesota’s statewide median.
Minnesota statewide median: $89,062
Minnesota statewide median: $346,668
On the map
Where the snobs live in Minnesota
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest cities in the North Star State
Do you think we’d just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Minnesota with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 148 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, it’s not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 148 places in each category with scores from one to 148. We then averaged each place’s ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Minnesota. So let’s all flip a table in honor of North Oaks (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, let’s remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
The full plate
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Minnesota For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Snob Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Oaks | 1.33 | 5,179 | $231,742 | $936,794 | 75.0% |
| 2 | Orono | 3.33 | 8,195 | $173,527 | $1,113,974 | 71.0% |
| 3 | Shorewood | 4.17 | 7,647 | $171,063 | $804,465 | 72.0% |
| 4 | Medina | 4.33 | 6,968 | $230,859 | $832,022 | 67.0% |
| 5 | Minnetrista | 5.67 | 8,708 | $163,051 | $684,705 | 69.0% |
| 6 | Victoria | 6.33 | 11,295 | $195,639 | $608,561 | 67.0% |
| 7 | Lake Elmo | 10.50 | 13,140 | $153,669 | $618,480 | 62.0% |
| 8 | Edina | 11.33 | 53,262 | $128,767 | $615,641 | 73.0% |
| 9 | Mendota Heights | 12.33 | 11,612 | $132,768 | $562,137 | 67.0% |
| 10 | Plymouth | 13.00 | 79,220 | $136,534 | $508,713 | 66.0% |
| 11 | Chanhassen | 13.00 | 26,006 | $143,651 | $548,742 | 63.0% |
| 12 | Carver | 13.83 | 6,239 | $147,697 | $493,733 | 64.0% |
| 13 | Eden Prairie | 16.83 | 63,051 | $130,489 | $501,363 | 65.0% |
| 14 | Corcoran | 17.50 | 7,302 | $133,423 | $601,129 | 55.0% |
| 15 | Arden Hills | 18.83 | 9,658 | $134,118 | $477,166 | 62.0% |
| 16 | Rogers | 19.17 | 13,685 | $158,750 | $458,983 | 55.0% |
| 17 | Prior Lake | 20.17 | 28,016 | $134,255 | $525,577 | 51.0% |
| 18 | Mahtomedi | 21.00 | 8,133 | $123,319 | $478,624 | 66.0% |
| 19 | Lakeville | 21.17 | 74,354 | $139,041 | $487,882 | 51.0% |
| 20 | Minnetonka | 22.17 | 53,064 | $119,517 | $483,591 | 65.0% |
| 21 | Woodbury | 24.67 | 78,305 | $125,310 | $457,355 | 61.0% |
| 22 | Dayton | 24.67 | 9,095 | $148,947 | $509,219 | 44.0% |
| 23 | Maple Grove | 27.17 | 71,173 | $132,731 | $424,803 | 58.0% |
| 24 | Elko New Market | 29.50 | 5,002 | $152,150 | $472,662 | 42.0% |
| 25 | Savage | 30.67 | 32,889 | $125,513 | $427,463 | 54.0% |
| 26 | Rosemount | 31.00 | 27,562 | $129,625 | $432,777 | 50.0% |
| 27 | Golden Valley | 32.33 | 21,725 | $108,772 | $437,256 | 60.0% |
| 28 | Waconia | 34.50 | 13,434 | $111,031 | $458,548 | 48.0% |
| 29 | Chaska | 35.00 | 28,706 | $110,956 | $479,348 | 46.0% |
| 30 | St. Michael | 35.33 | 20,010 | $131,274 | $426,652 | 45.0% |
| 31 | Falcon Heights | 35.83 | 5,085 | $96,528 | $412,532 | 72.0% |
| 32 | Lino Lakes | 36.83 | 22,113 | $127,181 | $447,709 | 42.0% |
| 33 | Shoreview | 37.67 | 26,714 | $108,370 | $410,993 | 60.0% |
| 34 | Hugo | 37.67 | 16,340 | $116,228 | $432,376 | 47.0% |
| 35 | Byron | 37.83 | 6,646 | $124,010 | $398,896 | 48.0% |
| 36 | Stillwater | 38.17 | 19,355 | $105,853 | $445,501 | 51.0% |
| 37 | Delano | 38.50 | 6,942 | $109,946 | $435,729 | 48.0% |
| 38 | Andover | 39.17 | 33,035 | $137,593 | $435,598 | 38.0% |
| 39 | Eagan | 41.00 | 68,000 | $108,690 | $401,217 | 54.0% |
| 40 | Albertville | 41.33 | 8,207 | $132,734 | $375,310 | 46.0% |
| 41 | St. Louis Park | 41.50 | 49,594 | $101,648 | $379,371 | 64.0% |
| 42 | Ham Lake | 43.17 | 16,702 | $120,135 | $492,264 | 36.0% |
| 43 | St. Anthony | 43.83 | 9,671 | $97,363 | $396,789 | 58.0% |
| 44 | Otsego | 44.83 | 22,245 | $119,927 | $418,193 | 41.0% |
| 45 | Cottage Grove | 46.67 | 40,992 | $120,791 | $396,381 | 42.0% |
| 46 | Farmington | 47.33 | 23,902 | $123,673 | $400,171 | 40.0% |
| 47 | Apple Valley | 54.00 | 55,679 | $97,673 | $376,121 | 46.0% |
| 48 | Shakopee | 54.83 | 46,012 | $107,223 | $403,598 | 39.0% |
| 49 | Vadnais Heights | 56.00 | 12,838 | $98,685 | $370,284 | 46.0% |
| 50 | New Brighton | 56.83 | 22,710 | $88,521 | $380,080 | 48.0% |
| 51 | Northfield | 57.00 | 20,742 | $84,895 | $385,012 | 54.0% |
| 52 | Roseville | 57.17 | 35,802 | $86,930 | $374,912 | 55.0% |
| 53 | Oak Grove | 57.17 | 9,130 | $117,696 | $462,896 | 27.0% |
| 54 | Inver Grove Heights | 57.33 | 35,906 | $101,316 | $374,324 | 44.0% |
| 55 | Hermantown | 58.67 | 10,218 | $90,849 | $416,550 | 40.0% |
| 56 | Wyoming | 58.67 | 8,087 | $107,565 | $387,741 | 37.0% |
| 57 | Ramsey | 59.00 | 28,421 | $116,415 | $381,243 | 35.0% |
| 58 | Champlin | 59.67 | 23,294 | $116,102 | $370,691 | 37.0% |
| 59 | Mound | 61.33 | 9,107 | $86,675 | $378,827 | 46.0% |
| 60 | Bloomington | 61.67 | 88,665 | $93,211 | $361,589 | 45.0% |
| 61 | Blaine | 61.67 | 72,488 | $106,801 | $378,017 | 37.0% |
| 62 | Forest Lake | 61.83 | 20,729 | $92,944 | $421,551 | 36.0% |
| 63 | Elk River | 63.00 | 26,793 | $108,741 | $391,288 | 34.0% |
| 64 | Rochester | 64.50 | 122,330 | $89,389 | $339,455 | 51.0% |
| 65 | Jordan | 65.67 | 6,771 | $110,057 | $437,126 | 24.0% |
| 66 | Minneapolis | 70.17 | 427,246 | $80,846 | $330,882 | 55.0% |
| 67 | East Bethel | 70.83 | 12,115 | $110,000 | $414,303 | 23.0% |
| 68 | Burnsville | 71.67 | 64,463 | $87,024 | $368,611 | 40.0% |
| 69 | Richfield | 73.33 | 36,642 | $85,132 | $347,412 | 44.0% |
| 70 | White Bear Lake | 73.67 | 23,908 | $83,554 | $355,724 | 43.0% |
| 71 | La Crescent | 74.50 | 5,251 | $85,368 | $352,203 | 41.0% |
| 72 | Oakdale | 75.00 | 28,585 | $93,772 | $353,330 | 35.0% |
| 73 | Hastings | 75.50 | 22,117 | $93,998 | $378,760 | 30.0% |
| 74 | Mounds View | 77.33 | 12,926 | $90,009 | $341,297 | 37.0% |
| 75 | Belle Plaine | 77.50 | 7,423 | $99,315 | $350,700 | 32.0% |
| 76 | Little Canada | 78.00 | 10,514 | $77,957 | $362,746 | 40.0% |
| 77 | Kasson | 78.17 | 7,050 | $93,333 | $323,084 | 38.0% |
| 78 | Buffalo | 79.50 | 16,499 | $88,820 | $373,017 | 32.0% |
| 79 | New Prague | 79.50 | 8,237 | $94,539 | $350,351 | 32.0% |
| 80 | Maplewood | 79.67 | 40,695 | $91,394 | $342,804 | 35.0% |
| 81 | Hopkins | 80.00 | 18,819 | $75,234 | $330,893 | 45.0% |
| 82 | Sartell | 81.00 | 19,758 | $84,131 | $338,333 | 40.0% |
| 83 | Robbinsdale | 81.17 | 14,234 | $88,252 | $313,988 | 41.0% |
| 84 | Crystal | 83.17 | 22,476 | $92,513 | $318,582 | 36.0% |
| 85 | Baxter | 83.83 | 8,966 | $70,688 | $364,190 | 39.0% |
| 86 | Brooklyn Park | 84.50 | 83,876 | $89,891 | $347,073 | 32.0% |
| 87 | North Mankato | 87.17 | 14,211 | $80,791 | $310,329 | 41.0% |
| 88 | New Hope | 87.67 | 21,181 | $77,662 | $350,939 | 35.0% |
| 89 | St. Francis | 87.67 | 8,372 | $111,198 | $346,284 | 18.0% |
| 90 | Stewartville | 89.33 | 6,807 | $82,632 | $332,964 | 35.0% |
| 91 | St. Paul | 91.00 | 307,284 | $73,394 | $293,972 | 44.0% |
| 92 | Becker | 93.83 | 5,034 | $86,094 | $375,295 | 20.0% |
| 93 | South St. Paul | 94.33 | 20,611 | $87,994 | $295,755 | 34.0% |
| 94 | St. Paul Park | 94.33 | 5,457 | $100,642 | $314,770 | 24.0% |
| 95 | Duluth | 94.67 | 87,093 | $68,807 | $284,100 | 44.0% |
| 96 | Moorhead | 94.67 | 45,036 | $72,761 | $278,445 | 43.0% |
| 97 | Coon Rapids | 95.17 | 63,468 | $88,251 | $325,994 | 27.0% |
| 98 | North St. Paul | 95.67 | 12,570 | $84,797 | $325,856 | 31.0% |
| 99 | North Branch | 96.67 | 11,565 | $90,456 | $349,510 | 18.0% |
| 100 | Spring Lake Park | 97.50 | 7,032 | $90,753 | $318,674 | 25.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, Zillow research. 148 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Minnesota are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Minnesota are North Oaks, Orono, Shorewood, Medina, Minnetrista, Victoria, Lake Elmo, Edina, Mendota Heights, and Plymouth. Not sold on Minnesota? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
