6 Twin Cities Towns Locals LOVE (But Don’t Want You to Know About)
About this video
In this video, I’m revealing 6 underrated towns locals quietly love - so you can find your perfect fit in 2025. These aren’t the flashy ZIP codes, but they punch above their weight on lifestyle, value, and day-to-day ease. I’ll break down what life really looks like - commutes, walkability, housing, schools, lake life, and more - so you know where to focus (and why).
Key takeaways
- Six towns Jason thinks locals keep to themselves. Northfield: about 40 minutes south, home to St. Olaf and Carleton, the Cannon River and the Defeat of Jesse James Days each September.
- Stillwater: an old logging town on the St. Croix River, with antique shops, the Lift Bridge, cave tours and riverboats, plus a mix of historic and new homes. Highway 36 upgrades make I-494/I-694 easy to reach.
- New Prague: a historic town on the southwest edge with a newly rebuilt main street, surrounded by farmland, about 40 minutes from the airport.
- North Oaks: a private community in the northeast metro where residents own the roads, with large wooded lots and mature oaks.
- Mankato: a college town about 75 minutes south, with Minnesota State University, a historic downtown on the Minnesota River and a regional airport.
- Excelsior: a walkable downtown on Lake Minnetonka with dining and lake excursions, and homes from about $400,000 into the millions.
Questions this video answers
What are some charming small towns near the Twin Cities?
Jason's picks are Northfield, Stillwater, New Prague, North Oaks, Mankato and Excelsior, each with a historic downtown or a distinct setting within about an hour or so of the metro.
Who owns the roads in North Oaks?
The residents do. North Oaks' roads are privately owned, one reason the community feels so secluded.
Read more: Northfield market report · Commute times to downtown Minneapolis · Excelsior vs. Wayzata
Notes written by Huerkamp Home Group from this video. Figures are as stated in the video on October 24, 2025; check the current numbers in our market reports.
