2023 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in Minnesota

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful city, excellent schools and wonderful place to live! Feels like a small town! The Minnesota winters can be long.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 6,654

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  66 reviews

Current Resident: This beautiful community is known for its abundant parks, lakes, and natural areas, which offer residents a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities year-round. The people here are friendly, welcoming, and always ready to lend a helping hand. Shoreview is also home to a thriving business community, with a variety of shops, restaurants, and other local businesses that contribute to the local economy and provide job opportunities for residents. The community is conveniently located near major highways and transportation options, making it easy to commute to other parts of the Twin Cities metro area.... Read 66 reviews

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• Population 26,871

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: An amazing location on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, and minutes away from downtown Minnesota, and the MSP airport. Miles of bike trails and cul-du-sacs full of cozy nano communities make this town a special corner of Minnesota to live in. Great schools, and the charming historic town of Excelsior in the center with great shops and restaurants.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 7,779

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

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• Population 3,878

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  170 reviews

Current Resident: I love Eden Prairie! There are so many amazing parks with different walking and biking trails! It is very easy to get to downtown Minneapolis, yet not too far of a drive to Duluth and up north.... Read 170 reviews

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• Population 64,048

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  193 reviews

Former Resident: Plymouth MN is safe, clean, and family-friendly. There are many parks and trails to stay active and have fun with the family. I truly enjoy the concerts at Hilde performance center and various events like the Fire and Ice on Parkers Lake. I also enjoy the spectacular fireworks on New Year and July fourth at Parkers lake. I enjoy going to the farmers market across from Parkers lake every Wednesday in the summer. The Wayzata school district schools in Plymouth are one of the top schools in the state. Plymouth is a 20-ish minute drive from Minneapolis, and the commute to the Twin Cities is not too difficult. I find taking the bus to Minneasplos more convenient. The Plymouth Metrolink buses and the park and rides make getting to work downtown hassle-free.... Read 193 reviews

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• Population 80,034

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  59 reviews

Former Resident: Spent most of my life in Chanhassen. Loved living there! It’s only been more up and coming over the years with new developments, such as new apartment complexes, several new restaurants/food chains, and job opportunities. The standard of living is high, with nice, quiet, trusting neighborhoods/schools and great overall community. It has everything you need in one general area. It can be a little crowded at times, but still bearable. Only wish there was more of a nightlife in the area.... Read 59 reviews

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• Population 25,646

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.63 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Victoria is the best place to raise a family in Minnesota, hands down! Complete with beautiful homes in safe neighborhoods, a historic downtown with shops and restaurants, access to numerous lakes and parks, and close proximity to shopping. We are so happy that we moved here and are raising our family here. The schools are wonderful and our kids have made so many friends in the neighborhood and our neighbors are so friendly. It's a growing community with new homes being built every year and new businesses coming into town. Victoria is truly idyllic!... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 10,361

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  83 reviews

Current Resident: Edina is a city that keeps its citizens well informed and taken care of. The streets are plowed in the winter and promptly re-paved in the summer when needed. The schools are excellent and provide kids with all levels of learning. However it is in great need of more diversity and inclusiveness of all people. Having a history with anti-semitism, a great majority of white citizens, and being a wealthy area, Edina has upheld its stereotypes of being a rich and privileged city. This aside, it is a relatively safe place and many people come here to raise families.... Read 83 reviews

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• Population 53,059

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: I love it. Not too crowded, great things to do! I have loved going to college in Arden Hills. I just wish more restaurants and parks were open later!... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 9,868

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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• Population 1,320

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  123 reviews

Current Resident: Minnetonka is amazing! I grew up coming to Minnetonka, and would always visit my grad parents. After my Grandma left the house, and went to assisted living, me and my family moved in. Our neighbors were extremely welcoming, and very inclusive. Minnetonka offers many job opportunities, but also offers endless activities to do with the family. There are all sorts of shoppes and stores around, so you don’t have to travel far to get what you need. Another amazing thing that Minnetonka offers are beautiful lakes and scenery, which is an an added bonus. Living in Minnetonka can be a little pricey, however the location truly outweighs the price which makes everything worth it. The diversity in Minnetonka definitely lacks in certain parts, however there is definitely an increase every year. (Hopefully there will be great progression in the next couple years)In the end Minnetonka offers great opportunities and convenience, and creates a great family friendly experience. ,... Read 123 reviews

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• Population 53,809

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Lauderdale is a little, family-oriented city that is tucked away between Roseville (nice city to live in as well) and Minneapolis. After living here for over 3 years, I have come to appreciate all the positive aspects of the city. These include, safe environment (what crime? and law enforcement regularly patrols the area due to them stopping at the city hall to convene), lovely parks (one large one has everything you could want=basketball, tennis courts, playground, sand volleyball, baseball diamond, street or ice hockey enclosed space, space for parties, birthday events for children or just grilling out, archery options, dog park and an amazing layout of trees for hammocking) and overall the people are friendly and supportive. It is located within distance to major freeways/highways so getting to Minneapolis (downtown or the University of Minnesota) or St Paul is easily accessible. Not too high of rents either. Overall a hidden gem... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 2,479

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very safe and quiet neighborhood. Located very close to a middle school. It is near a lake with hiking trails, a beach, a golf club, and tennis courts. There are also many parks and open fields for recreational purposes, and in the winter there is an ice rink. The people in the neighborhood are mostly very nice and friendly.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 5,204

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.8 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mendota Heights for about 5 years now, and I believe it is a great place to raise a family. The community is very open and friendly. We enjoy being close to so many parks and trails, and love how many trees there are. There is just a general sense of everything being open, natural, and safe. We are a short walk from the river, and often use the many bike trails around here as well, even though there are quite a few hills! There is also a relatively small commute time to school and work, while not feeling we are in the middle of a crowded city.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 11,681

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Lake Elmo offers a small town environment while providing easy access to commercial and metropolitan centers. Opportunities available at every turn, Lake Elmo accommodates a diverse and supportive community. This town holds numerous living styles that anyone may choose from. Although pricey, the expenses are definitely worth the quality of living.... Read 48 reviews

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• Population 11,237

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Former Resident: I grew up in Falcon Heights and it will always be “home” to me. Although I live 40 miles south of the cities now, it would be my first choice if I had to move again. It’s close to everything and is very charming!... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 5,388

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: St. Anthony is a small suburb bordering Minneapolis. Even with the current social climate of Minneapolis and St. Anthony being a bordering suburb, it feels like you're mile away and in a completely different setting.... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 9,145

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: Mahtomedi is nice and has an active community, but is relatively limited in terms of diversity. It has an extremely good public school system with a highly developed technology and engineering department. The school also has a variety of athletic extracurriculars, but could be improved with more academic extracurriculars. The downtown area is quite small, but the abundance of surrounding suburbs fill what is missing. Additionally, nearby White Bear Lake makes many outdoor activities like swimming and boating very accessible.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 8,041

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  60 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up here in Rosemount. Everyone is very nice the schools are amazing! I just graduated from the Rosemount High school and we are one of the top schools in our state for academics and sports. Rarely there is any safety issues, you only thing is there are crashes every once in a blue moon. Great restaurants and places to visit like the Mall of America which is only a 30 minute drive. And there is Lebanon park which is a great place to hike and relax in the outdoors. I do wish though that we would make it more affordable, because some housing and apartments for rent are a little expensive, but other then that Rosemount is great.... Read 60 reviews

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• Population 25,513

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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• Population 1,957

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  173 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here since 2001, and raised 3 sons here. We love the amazing parks-- green space abounds here! The accessibility and convenience to the Metro, although everything you need is here also. We have the Eagan Outlet Mall, MOA within 10 mins, Vikings practice facility, every grocery story and restaurant. There are 3 school districts here. If you are in a wealthier tax base district, it will have better schools. This is not just Eagan of course, but that is the unfair truth of school districts in general. So, I am rating schools average, though some are so much better than that, even within a less affluent district. People here are friendly and helpful, and I love our diverse neighborhood.... Read 173 reviews

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• Population 68,205

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: Byron is an amazing town when you don't want to live in the city, but not too far away either. I would love to see a rise in diversity within the community, but otherwise all aspects are amazing!... Read 18 reviews

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• Population 6,220

• Suburb of Minneapolis, MN

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: I think Excelsior is a vibrant city that offers wonderful experiences for individuals of all ages. Whether it be gathering in downtown Excelsior in the Commons for a concert or eating at Maynard, the city of Excelsior is a wonderful place to grow up. Not only is the social scene exceptional, the school district of Minnetonka schools is absolutely exceptional. The education is second to none. The nightlife is also great, with restaurants such as Lago Tacos and Maynards staying open for extended periods of time and offering tasty food!... Read 18 reviews

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• Population 2,389

• Suburb of St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: I wouldn't want to grow up an any other area in the world. Having a 300-acre Wildlife Management Area butting up against my backyard was a place I could really mature on my own. It was an escape from the concrete jungle I called everyday life, and pressed me to learn things no textbook could ever teach me.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 3,985