Best places to live in Minnesota (2026)

All 23 ranked places in Minnesota, by all-round score. 2 other places without FBI crime data are on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Eagan, MNSuburb · 3-bed $375k · very safe69
2. 2Minnetonka, MNSuburb · 3-bed $465k · very safe68
3. 3Plymouth, MNSuburb · 3-bed $457k · very safe68
4. 4Edina, MNSuburb · 3-bed $603k · very safe67
5. 5Eden Prairie, MNSuburb · 3-bed $441k · very safe67
6. 6Lakeville, MNSuburb · 3-bed $395k · very safe66
7. 7Cottage Grove, MNSuburb · 3-bed $360k · very safe65
8. 8Apple Valley, MNSuburb · 3-bed $360k · very safe65
9. 9Maple Grove, MNSuburb · 3-bed $379k · very safe65
10. 10Woodbury, MNSuburb · 3-bed $400k · very safe65
11. 11Bloomington, MNSuburb · 3-bed $365k · safe64
12. 12St. Louis Park, MNSuburb · 3-bed $396k · very safe64
13. 13Blaine, MNSuburb · 3-bed $357k · very safe64
14. 14Brooklyn Park, MNSuburb · 3-bed $337k · safe63
15. 15Burnsville, MNSuburb · 3-bed $358k · very safe62
16. 16Shakopee, MNSuburb · 3-bed $356k · very safe62
17. 17Maplewood, MNSuburb · 3-bed $332k · moderate crime62
18. 18St. Paul, MNBig city · 3-bed $296k · moderate crime61
19. 19Minneapolis, MNBig city · 3-bed $362k · higher crime58
20. 20Rochester, MNSmall city · 3-bed $305k · very safe53
21. 21Duluth, MNSmall city · 3-bed $306k · safe52
22. 22St. Cloud, MNSmall city · 3-bed $251k · moderate crime48
23. 23Mankato, MNSmall city · 3-bed $286k · safe42

Cheapest places to live in Minnesota

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1St. Cloud, MNSmall city · rent $1,600/mo · cost of living 88$251k
2. 2Moorhead, MNCollege town · rent $1,550/mo · cost of living 91$274k
3. 3Mankato, MNSmall city · rent $1,630/mo · cost of living 91$286k
4. 4St. Paul, MNBig city · rent $2,260/mo · cost of living 105$296k
5. 5Rochester, MNSmall city · rent $1,960/mo · cost of living 91$305k

Safest places to live in Minnesota

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Plymouth, MNSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate46 per 100k
2. 2Minnetonka, MNSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate55 per 100k
3. 3Eagan, MNSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate58 per 100k
4. 4Woodbury, MNSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate62 per 100k
5. 5Lakeville, MNSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate67 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Minnesota

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Duluth, MN7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding89
2. 2Burnsville, MN3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes87
3. 3Coon Rapids, MN2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, strong wind85
4. 4Eagan, MN3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes85
5. 5Apple Valley, MN3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes83

Best places to live for families in Minnesota

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Maple Grove, MNSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $379k81
2. 2Eden Prairie, MNSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $441k81
3. 3Lakeville, MNSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $395k81
4. 4Plymouth, MNSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $457k81
5. 5Woodbury, MNSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $400k79

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.