2021 Best Counties to Live in Minnesota

Hennepin County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.92 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: It is a great place to live! Within walking distance of many different activities. The one thing I do not like is the snow emergency system. I was under the impression that cars would be towed if they were parked on the wrong streets for certain days. However, I have only seen them plow around those cars leaving a mess where the cars were parked. Also, when they plow the main streets that first day of the emergency they tend to block off my side street with a wall of snow. Very inconvenient since those are the only streets we are supposed to park on that first day...Read 13 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 1,245,837 Population

Olmsted County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Olmsted County has a great transportation system, a low crime rate, and great medical care. The county has a good atmosphere with a couple small towns and the "just the right size" city of Rochester.Read 4 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 154,809 Population

Ramsey County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to live! I have lived in Ramsey county for three years and absoulty love it. The area by the University of St. Thomas and Grand Avenue is full of bars and restaurants, museums, shopping, and literally anything you can think of...Read 8 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• 544,442 Population

Dakota County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 4.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: I love Dakota County because there is plenty of parks to take my kids to. I also love their library system. I think the schools in Dakota County are great. There is plenty to do, I always feel safe. It's a great place to raise a family...Read 6 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 421,453 Population

Washington County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Living here my whole life, my parents have been here for 22 years and they haven't been able to leave this area because we love it so much and have become so used to living here. This county has everything you need and is also a safe environment to live in...Read 3 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 255,938 Population

Carver County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: My family moved here over twenty years ago, back when it was nearly all farmland! As the years went by, and as it became more and more urbanized, it has become a major place to live within Minnesota. Something new is always being built, yet it still has the surrounding towns have the "small town" feel to them. Although it is becoming very expensive to live there, Carver County is full of future potential for both domestic and industrial atmospheres!...Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 101,949 Population

Scott County

• County in Minnesota

• grade A

• grade A

• 145,275 Population

Stevens County

• County in Minnesota

• grade A

• grade A

• 9,789 Population

Cook County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• grade B

• 5,376 Population

Nicollet County

• County in Minnesota

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• 33,954 Population

Anoka County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.81 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very small town, easy to get around, and the community is welcoming! I attend the high school in Anoka, it is very friendly school but could use some attitude adjustments, as the tone of the school has shifted in the recent years. My favorite part of Anoka is the downtown area...Read 16 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• 350,253 Population

Clay County

• County in Minnesota

• grade A minus

• grade B

• 63,446 Population

Blue Earth County

• County in Minnesota

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• 66,795 Population

Stearns County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I have lived in Stearns County since I was born. I like all the parks there, and it has a nice landscape. The one thing I dislike about Stearns County is a lot of residents are unwelcoming to the immigrants moving there. I have heard citizens say very cruel things about immigrants...Read 1 Review

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 158,452 Population

Winona County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.73 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Winona County is amazing. As a person who was born and raised in a completely different Country and has been to different States before Winona County is the best one yet. There’s amazing people.Almost everyone is so nice. You can make conversations with anyone. A place where anyone can go is The Levee Park. Is honestly one of my favorite places, it’s so peaceful. And it’s also a very good place to meet new people. Another good park is the Sinclair Park. No matter how old you are, you can always have fun there. There’s always kids on the slides and running around. Everyone has a great time. There’s also The Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Wheelchairs and walkers are available to go and free of charge. Audio guides are available and free of charge for those with low vision or vision-impairment. It doesn’t matter if museums or not your thing. You can honestly have fun anywhere is Winona County. Anyone can guarantee you, you will have an amazing time...Read 11 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• 50,725 Population

Wright County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.74 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: Fun, safe and accessible environment to live in. Plenty of parks for families and developments to keep business local.Read 27 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 134,438 Population

Lyon County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I moved here from Pittsburgh just last year. Although the town is very small, I love every aspect of it. People here are very friendly. Marshall High School is also a great school. I have amazing teachers and friends from here...Read 1 Review

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 25,758 Population

Rice County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I live in Northfield which is an idyllic little town in Rice county.The people are nice, parks are great and there is plenty to do if you like nature.It helps that Rice county is 45 minutes away from the Twin cities.I have fallen in love with this peaceful community!Read 1 Review

• grade B+

• grade B

• 66,185 Population

Rock County

• County in Minnesota

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 9,402 Population

St. Louis County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  10 reviews

Niche User: Living and traveling in Minnesota is great and there beauty all across it. I have traveled from the northern trees for such as the Superior National Forest to the plains of the southwest and I enjoy ever minute of it...Read 10 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• 199,759 Population

Beltrami County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• 46,403 Population

Norman County

• County in Minnesota

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 6,520 Population

Mower County

• County in Minnesota
• Rating 3.25 out of 5  4 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• 39,807 Population

Steele County

• County in Minnesota

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• 36,683 Population

Brown County

• County in Minnesota

• grade B+

• grade B

• 25,163 Population