If I Could Live Anywhere Around Minneapolis in 2026, I'd Pick One of These
There are hundreds of places to live around Minneapolis. If I were starting over in 2026, here are five I’d personally consider, each with a completely different lifestyle and price, plus a lakeside hidden gem almost nobody talks about.
Prices are as of my video above (December 2025).
1. Near Lebanon Hills, Eagan
You’re five minutes from coffee shops and Target, but turn a corner and it feels like the Boundary Waters. Lebanon Hills Regional Park is nearly 2,000 acres, the largest park in Dakota County (some call it the “Boundary Waters of the South”), with hiking, running, mountain biking, lakes and cross-country skiing. The visitor center is open daily and runs programs year-round.
- Median: about $417,000 (up 16.9%), with homes selling in about 28 days.
- Central Park Commons and Town Square for shopping, about 15 minutes to the Mall of America and 20 to 30 to either downtown.
If your idea of luxury is peace, space and trails, this could be it. See Eagan.
2. Credit River: acreage and custom homes
Incorporated as a city in 2021, Credit River has become one of the south metro’s most sought-after luxury areas: custom homes on 2.5 to 10 acres, with room for workshops and pools. The median listing price was about $1.3 million, with a wide range from older homes to brand-new builds in neighborhoods like The Ranch and Yellowstone. There are two regional parks and four neighborhood parks, plus The Legends Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course with a great restaurant patio. You get privacy without feeling isolated.
3. Elko New Market: small-town feel
Neighbors still wave here. Right off I-35, it’s about 30 minutes to downtown Minneapolis. The median sale price was about $385,000, similar to Eagan, with a very different feel, and listing prices were up about 7.2%.
The reality check: there’s no grocery store in town yet; Walmart is about 10 miles away and a SuperTarget about 12. In return you get a quiet, laid-back small town: Firehouse and In Zone locally, one of my top five steak spots just south, summer outdoor movies, and Elko Speedway, one of Minnesota’s oldest racetracks (since the ’60s), where some NASCAR drivers raced on their way up. See Elko New Market.
4. Northfield: a city that stands on its own
A historic downtown along the Cannon River, with a river walk, public art and the Riverwalk Market Fair. The median sale price was about $363,000 (up 8.4%), with listings around $435,000. Carleton and St. Olaf bring about $290 million to the local economy and keep the culture lively, and the Cowling Arboretum at Carleton is beautiful for walks. Every September, the town celebrates the Defeat of Jesse James Days, honoring the townspeople who stopped the James-Younger gang’s 1876 bank robbery. Eat at Hogan Brothers and Reunion. It even has its own well-regarded hospital. See Northfield.
5. Waconia: lake life
Lake living with access to the city. Waconia sits on Lake Waconia, near Carver Park Reserve, with a growing scene: Waconia Brewing on Main Street, Schram Vineyards, Lola’s Lake House and Pangea Cafe. The median sale price was about $435,000 (down 3.3%). It’s farther out, but it doesn’t feel isolated.
Hidden gem: St. Bonifacius
Just 4 to 6 miles from Waconia, tiny St. Bonifacius had a median home price around $345,000 and a very competitive market. It’s known for one thing: Mackenthun’s, a famous meat market and deli, with homemade smoked meats, sausages and jerky that people drive in from all over to get. If you’re looking near Waconia, check it out.
Which fits you?
Five lifestyles, five price ranges, and all with Twin Cities quality of life. The best opportunities still go fast. Email our team and we’ll walk you through each area, and read the mistakes people make when moving to Minneapolis.
