Picking the Right Minneapolis Suburb: Value, Established, Lifestyle and Luxury Picks

Minneapolis has some really good suburbs. But pick the wrong one for your life and you could be back on the market within a year. Here’s a rundown of value picks, established favorites, lifestyle towns and luxury suburbs, plus two big road projects to know about first.

Prices are as of my video above (July 2026).

First, two road projects to know about

These are great places to live; just go in knowing what’s coming.

• Blaine, Highway 65. The busiest road in Blaine is being rebuilt from June 2026 to 2029, replacing stoplights with overpasses. The heaviest year is 2027, when bridge work brings lane closures and detours. Blaine homes typically sell in the mid-$400,000s, with prices fairly flat, so it’s one of the more affordable picks here.
• I-494 in the south metro. It’s been torn up since 2023, and phase two runs 2027 to 2030, about eight straight years of work affecting commuters in Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and Eden Prairie.

Value picks

• Shakopee, about 25 miles southwest on the Minnesota River, opened the Mystic Lake Amphitheater this summer, the first big outdoor amphitheater in the Twin Cities, with 35-plus concerts in its first season. Homes sell in the low $400,000s, and prices are creeping up.
• Cottage Grove, southeast of Saint Paul on the Mississippi, is one of the fastest-growing communities in the metro, with new homes going up quickly. Homes run in the low $400,000s.
• Corcoran, in the northwest metro, has a quiet country feel and lots of open space. Amira Corcoran, a new 55-plus community, broke ground in 2026. Brockton Lane is being reconstructed, so plan around it. Big lots put prices in the high $500,000s to low $600,000s.

Established favorites

• Eden Prairie, about 16 miles southwest: more than 1,000 acres of parks and miles of trails. Homes often get multiple offers, in the low $500,000s to low $600,000s.
• Plymouth, about 10 miles west, with around 80,000 people: more than 1,800 acres of parks, a big trail network and three public beaches. Homes in the high $400,000s to mid-$500,000s move quickly.
• Maple Grove, about 15 miles northwest: The Shops at Arbor Lakes, one of the best-planned shopping areas in the Twin Cities, plus a new sheet of ice at the community center. Homes start in the low to mid-$400,000s.
• Lakeville led the Twin Cities in new home permits in 2025, then paused new plat applications to catch its breath. Homes run in the high $400,000s to low $500,000s.

Lifestyle picks

• Stillwater, an old river town on the St. Croix about 25 miles east: a walkable downtown full of antique shops, restaurants and boutiques, a working lift bridge and events all year. Homes start in the mid-$400,000s.
• Prior Lake, about 25 miles southwest, is built around 15 lakes, with public beaches and boat launches. Homes run in the mid-$400,000s to low $500,000s.
• White Bear Lake, 15 to 20 miles northeast, has a fun, walkable Main Street with dining, shopping and year-round events. Homes are among the easiest on this list to get into, in the mid-$300,000s, but they move fast.
• Carver, a small, fast-growing town on the Minnesota River with a charming historic downtown. Homes run in the low $500,000s.

Luxury picks

• Edina, about 10 miles southwest, is known for 50th & France and the Galleria. (Fun fact: Southdale was the first enclosed mall in the world.) Homes run in the high $700,000s, with single-family homes easily reaching the $800,000s.
• Medina, about 15 miles west, is private and rural, known for luxury and horse properties on big lots, with homes into the low millions and up.
• Orono, on the north shore of Lake Minnetonka, has some of the most exclusive lakefront estates in the Twin Cities, often well over $1 million.
• Wayzata, also on Lake Minnetonka’s north shore, has a walkable downtown with boutiques, great restaurants and waterfront parks. Homes are in the high six figures, and lakefront runs into the millions.

Find your fit

It’s all about the right spot for your life, your expectations and your budget. Ask for a free suburb short list built around your budget and timing. Also see 10 suburbs ranked in tiers.