As the year closes out we’re looking at all the towns in Minnesota, and who has been doing an amazing job at supporting family, community, holiday traditions, and even retirement. Last week we gave you the top of the list for just about everything, and now we’re delving into the best cities and towns to raise a family. We combined the rankings from Nerdwallet and Niche, and ranked the towns by low crime rates, high performing schools, affordable housing, access to grocery stores, daycare, libraries, and income growth.
- Farmington
Facebook/City of Farmington Government Farmington starts off our countdown with good schools, a great community, and good income growth.
- Andover
City of Andover Andover has top rated schools and good access to daycare for your future family.
- Woodbury
City of Woodbury Woodbury has some of the highest performing schools, not to mention great income growth, despite higher home costs.
- Sartell
City of Sartell Good schools, community, and housing costs are all reasons Sartell makes the list.
- Alexandria
City of Alexandria Alexandria has good schools and access to libraries, not to mention fantastic income growth and access to housing.
- Lakeville
Facebook/City of Lakeville, Minnesota - Government Lakeville gets 14th for its high rated schools and good income growth.
- Ham Lake
Facebook/Ham Lake City Government With top notch schools, reasonably priced homes, and good incomes reported for Ham Lake there’s no reason not to start your family in this beautiful town.
- Waconia
Facebook/Waconia Public Schools Waconia has high rated schools and good access to homes, not to mention excellent income growth.
- Monticello
Facebook/Monticello MN Community With good schools, and affordable homes, Monticello comes in 11th.
- Buffalo
Facebook/City of Buffalo Buffalo hangs on in the middle with high ratings for safety and schools and median ratings for library and grocery store access.
- North Mankato
City of North Mankato North Mankato has wonderful schools and a great community. They come in 9th because of lower access to grocery stores and a little bit lower ranked safety and library access.
- Plymouth
Facebook/City of Plymouth, MN - Local Government Plymouth is safe and has good schools, plus a great community and top rated daycare.
- Belle Plaine
Facebook/City of Belle Plaine A safe community with great access to housing and daycare, Belle Plain is hanging around at 7th with slightly lower ranked access to grocery stores and education.
- Eagan
Facebook/City of Eagan With amazing schools and good access to daycares and housing, Eagan takes 6th due to less access to libraries.
- New Prague
City of New Prague High school rankings, a good community, and good access to daycares and libraries make New Prague a good place for your family. They come in 5th because of lower access to grocery stores and because the crime rate is just a tiny bit higher than the top 4.
- Northfield
City of Northfield Northfield comes in 4th mostly due to amazing public schools. It’s also a very safe town, and has an amazing community. Way to go Northfield, #1 for retirement and #4 for families!
- Kasson
Facebook/Kasson Minnesota Kasson is very safe and full of daycares and great housing! They also get top ratings for their community and schools.
- Jordan
Jordan Chamber of Commerce. Jordan gets high ratings for education, access to libraries, community, and housing.
- Eden Prairie
City of Eden Prairie With top marks for safety, education, community, housing, and even access to daycare, Eden Prairie takes the top spot for best place to raise a family in Minnesota! Congrats Eden Prairie!
Tell us if your town made the list on the Only in Minnesota Facebook Page! Minnesota is a wonderful place to raise a family, and we all place a lot of value in community and education.
Facebook/City of Farmington Government
Farmington starts off our countdown with good schools, a great community, and good income growth.
City of Andover
Andover has top rated schools and good access to daycare for your future family.
City of Woodbury
Woodbury has some of the highest performing schools, not to mention great income growth, despite higher home costs.
City of Sartell
Good schools, community, and housing costs are all reasons Sartell makes the list.
City of Alexandria
Alexandria has good schools and access to libraries, not to mention fantastic income growth and access to housing.
Facebook/City of Lakeville, Minnesota - Government
Lakeville gets 14th for its high rated schools and good income growth.
Facebook/Ham Lake City Government
With top notch schools, reasonably priced homes, and good incomes reported for Ham Lake there’s no reason not to start your family in this beautiful town.
Facebook/Waconia Public Schools
Waconia has high rated schools and good access to homes, not to mention excellent income growth.
Facebook/Monticello MN Community
With good schools, and affordable homes, Monticello comes in 11th.
Facebook/City of Buffalo
Buffalo hangs on in the middle with high ratings for safety and schools and median ratings for library and grocery store access.
City of North Mankato
North Mankato has wonderful schools and a great community. They come in 9th because of lower access to grocery stores and a little bit lower ranked safety and library access.
Facebook/City of Plymouth, MN - Local Government
Plymouth is safe and has good schools, plus a great community and top rated daycare.
Facebook/City of Belle Plaine
A safe community with great access to housing and daycare, Belle Plain is hanging around at 7th with slightly lower ranked access to grocery stores and education.
Facebook/City of Eagan
With amazing schools and good access to daycares and housing, Eagan takes 6th due to less access to libraries.
City of New Prague
High school rankings, a good community, and good access to daycares and libraries make New Prague a good place for your family. They come in 5th because of lower access to grocery stores and because the crime rate is just a tiny bit higher than the top 4.
City of Northfield
Northfield comes in 4th mostly due to amazing public schools. It’s also a very safe town, and has an amazing community. Way to go Northfield, #1 for retirement and #4 for families!
Facebook/Kasson Minnesota
Kasson is very safe and full of daycares and great housing! They also get top ratings for their community and schools.
Jordan Chamber of Commerce.
Jordan gets high ratings for education, access to libraries, community, and housing.
City of Eden Prairie
With top marks for safety, education, community, housing, and even access to daycare, Eden Prairie takes the top spot for best place to raise a family in Minnesota! Congrats Eden Prairie!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
