Avoid These 5 Minneapolis Suburbs If You Are From Out of State
About this video
Moving to the Twin Cities from out of state? Before you fall in love with a suburb on Zillow, watch this. These 5 Minneapolis suburbs are popular for a reason — but they come with real-world surprises that catch out-of-state buyers off guard every single time.
In this video, Jason Huerkamp breaks down Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Shakopee, Brooklyn Park, and Woodbury — what the reviews don't tell you, what the commute actually feels like, and exactly who each suburb is the right fit for. If you're relocating to Minneapolis or the Twin Cities, this is the honest local perspective you need before you make a move.
Key takeaways
- Pick a suburb for how your daily life will work, not for its spot on a "best places" list. Each of these five is a great fit for the right buyer.
- Maple Grove: newer homes, Arbor Lakes shopping and Elm Creek Park Reserve, but it's car-dependent. Downtown Minneapolis is about 20 to 25 minutes in light traffic and longer at rush hour on I-94 and I-494. Median sale price was in the mid-$400,000s in early 2026.
- Eden Prairie: strong job base in the Golden Triangle, lakes and trails, with prices from the mid-$400,000s to mid-$500,000s. Budget for the full monthly cost: property taxes in the low 1% range and association fees on many townhomes.
- Shakopee: more house for the money (typically low to mid-$400,000s), but downtown Minneapolis is about 24 miles away on Highway 169: about 30 minutes in light traffic and 45 to 50 at rush hour. Best for people who work nearby or remotely.
- Brooklyn Park: larger homes in the low to mid-$300,000s close to Minneapolis, but many were built from the mid-1960s to early 1980s, so a thorough inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing and windows matters.
- Woodbury: newer, well-kept homes in the mid-$400,000s and strong retail, but it's east of Saint Paul. Downtown Minneapolis is about 30 minutes in light traffic and 45 or more at rush hour. The Gold Line bus rapid transit, opened in 2025, reaches downtown Saint Paul in about 30 minutes.
Questions this video answers
Is Woodbury a good suburb if I work in Minneapolis?
It can be a long drive: about 30 minutes in light traffic and 45 or more at rush hour, through Saint Paul on I-94. Woodbury fits best for people who work in Saint Paul or on the east side of the metro.
What should I check when buying in Brooklyn Park?
Many homes there were built from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, so get a strong inspection and look closely at the electrical panel, roof, plumbing and windows, not just cosmetic updates.
How long is the commute from Shakopee to downtown Minneapolis?
About 30 minutes in light traffic on Highway 169, and often 45 to 50 minutes at rush hour, according to the video. Bus trips can take more than an hour.
Read more: Woodbury to downtown Minneapolis · Shakopee to downtown Minneapolis · Eden Prairie vs. Shakopee · Brooklyn Park vs. Maple Grove
Notes written by Huerkamp Home Group from this video. Figures are as stated in the video on April 8, 2026; check the current numbers in our market reports.
