7 Twin Cities Suburbs That Will Look Completely Different by 2050
The Twin Cities are adding about 17,000 new homes a year this decade, and one suburb grew so fast the city told builders to stop. Here are seven suburbs about to change in a big way, including some hardly anyone is talking about yet.
Figures are as of my video above (July 2026).
Lakeville: grew so fast it hit pause
My hometown, south of the Minnesota River on I-35, built more homes than any suburb in the metro: close to 4,900 new homes from 2020 to 2025. In April 2026, the city council voted 5-0 for a one-year pause on new plat approvals so the city can catch up.
Already-approved projects keep building, with more than a thousand lots and townhomes still on the way, so you’ll still see new homes. What stopped is new projects coming online. Lakeville has about 78,000 people and is nowhere near done, but the easy shot at brand-new construction may be narrowing. See Lakeville.
Woodbury: #2 for new homes
East of Saint Paul in Washington County, Woodbury built more than 4,200 homes from 2020 to 2025. It’s clean and well kept, with newer homes, great shopping and a growing food scene. Washington County property taxes tend to run lower than Hennepin County’s. Topgolf opened in late 2025 and the Slick City indoor slide park in early 2026. The trade-off is the I-94 drive to downtown Minneapolis, but if you work around Saint Paul, it’s a strong pick, and it’s projected to keep growing through 2050.
Maple Grove and Blaine: proven demand
Maple Grove built about 3,600 homes from 2020 to 2025 and is projected to add roughly 20,000 people by 2050. It’s often called the restaurant capital of Minnesota, with The Shops at Arbor Lakes, and the community center opened a third ice rink in early 2026.
Blaine, in Anoka County, built about 2,700 homes over the same stretch, with a similar 20,000-person forecast. It’s home to the National Sports Center, one of the largest amateur sports campuses in the country.
Here you’re buying into steady, proven demand.
Rosemount and Cottage Grove: south metro value plays
Rosemount built about 3,200 homes and grew 24.3% from 2020 to 2025, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Part of UMore Park on its southern edge is lined up for an aerospace research site, the kind of thing that brings jobs.
Cottage Grove, southeast of Saint Paul, built about 2,300 homes. It’s building a new water tower, with another planned, and working to attract more restaurants and shops.
Both offer friendlier prices than the west side while staying close to job centers. You’re getting in before shopping and dining fully catch up to the rooftops.
Corcoran and Carver: the biggest upside by percentage
Corcoran, in Hennepin County, covers nearly 36 square miles, about as much land as Plymouth or Maple Grove, and much of it is still farmland and woods. The Metropolitan Council projects it to grow from about 6,200 people in 2020 to nearly 19,600 by 2050, more than triple. Most new building is on the east side, with water and roads already being planned.
Carver, on the Minnesota River in Carver County, is projected to nearly triple, from about 5,200 to nearly 14,900. The city is working to protect its historic downtown from the 1800s (with fun bars and restaurants), and it opened a new park in late 2025 with pickleball courts, a dog park and a picnic shelter.
Which fits you?
- Lakeville, Woodbury and Maple Grove are solid, proven bets, with less room left for early-buyer deals.
- Rosemount and Cottage Grove are value plays: real growth at prices that are easier to swing.
- Corcoran and Carver have the biggest change still ahead.
Do you want a suburb that’s already arrived, or one that’s just getting going? The market cooled a bit in 2026, with more homes to choose from than in recent years, which is good news if you’re buying. Tell us your budget and timeline, and we’ll help you find the right fit. Also see why the outer-ring suburbs are winning.
