Who's Moving to Minneapolis, and Where They're Buying

For seven straight years, Minnesota lost residents to other states. Then it saw a net gain of about 8,300 people, the first since 2018. Here’s where newcomers are coming from, why they’re coming, and where many of them end up buying.

Much of this comes from U-Haul’s one-way move data, which tracks where rental trucks go to and from. Prices are as of my video above (May 2026).

Where people are coming from

Wisconsin is the top origin state for one-way U-Haul moves into Minneapolis. The job market here is stronger (Twin Cities unemployment was just 2.8% in 2024), and the culture is familiar: Midwestern values, an outdoor lifestyle and the same kind of winters.

Illinois: Chicago is the top origin metro. People come for careers, a lower cost of living and big-city access without the big-city price tag. Minnesota has 17 Fortune 500 headquarters, including UnitedHealth Group, Target, U.S. Bancorp and Best Buy.

Iowa: Des Moines is another top origin metro. It’s a “metro upgrade,” with meaningfully higher salaries and a strong health care job market, while staying close to home.

California ranked in U-Haul’s top 10 for one-way moves to Minnesota in its 2025 mid-year report. Near the coast, $800,000 might buy a small two- or three-bedroom home or a condo. In Eden Prairie or Minnetonka, it can buy a brand-new home with more amenities. Many are surprised by the lake culture: Minnesota has more than 44,900 miles of lakeshore, more than California and Hawaii combined.

Texas: Several big employers here (UnitedHealth, Best Buy and C.H. Robinson) have Texas operations, so corporate transfers go both ways. Others are done with extreme heat (and yes, rattlesnakes) and want real seasons.

Why they stay

• Four real seasons. Winter is real, but it brings a magical spring, summers that mostly average from the high 70s to high 80s, and about 45 days of fall color that moves from north to south.
• Lakes and trails. Lake Minnetonka alone covers more than 14,000 acres with 37 bays, yacht clubs and lakefront dining.
• Lifestyle. Minneapolis ranked the 6th fittest city in America in 2025, with the Walker Art Center, the Guthrie and James Beard award-winning restaurants.
• Fewer dangerous critters. There are no venomous snakes in the metro (only a small pocket in southeastern Minnesota), and no dangerous scorpions or spiders.

Where they’re buying

Eden Prairie, about 15 miles southwest of downtown. Median around the mid-$400,000s, with new luxury homes reaching $1 million and up. It’s a master-planned city with more than 1,000 acres of parks and over 225 miles of trails, plus Bryant Lake Regional Park, Staring Lake Park and an outdoor center with an observatory. Local favorites include Drake & Bourbon, Redstone American Grill and Crave.

Minnetonka and Lake Minnetonka. Minnetonka’s median is in the low $500,000s, but the Lake Minnetonka area median is about $1.2 million, and the average sale on the lake topped $4 million in February 2026. Wayzata has an East Coast-style lakefront downtown, and Excelsior has a historic, walkable shoreline.

Bloomington, the accessible entry point. Prices are in the mid to high $300,000s, and homes sell in about 47 days, about 30% of them over list price. It’s next to the airport, close to downtown, and home to the Mall of America.

Plymouth, northwest of Minneapolis. Prices start in the high $400,000s, with homes selling in about 50 days; U-Haul named it a standout growth city in 2024. The Northwest Greenway trail runs over 7 miles through about 315 acres of preserved land, plus Medicine Lake, Parkers Lake and several beaches.

Maple Grove, about 20 to 25 miles northwest. Prices are in the high $300,000s with about 53 days on market. It calls itself the restaurant capital of Minnesota (nearly 150 options), with The Shops at Arbor Lakes, seven lakes, more than 1,000 acres of parks, 36 miles of trails and Elm Creek Park Reserve.

The market they’re walking into

The Twin Cities median was in the high $300,000s, with about two months of supply, which is still a seller’s market. If you’re considering a move here, reach out to our team and we’ll help you find the best fit and value.