Why This Charming River Town Near Minneapolis Is So Underrated
About this video
Stillwater is one of the most unique and historic towns in the Minneapolis metro. In this video, we explore its rich history, riverfront lifestyle, outdoor recreation, housing market, and why so many people are choosing this charming St. Croix River community.
Key takeaways
- Stillwater calls itself the birthplace of Minnesota: the convention that started the push for statehood met here in the 1840s, and by the 1850s it was a leading lumber town on the St. Croix, before Minneapolis took off.
- Downtown sits on the river with neighborhoods climbing the bluffs behind it, connected by historic public staircases. The Lift Bridge is now for walking and biking and forms a loop with the newer St. Croix Crossing bridge.
- Well over 100 locally owned shops, restaurants and breweries, including the three-floor Midtown Antique Mall, Lift Bridge Brewing and River Siren, plus sandstone brewery caves in the bluffs.
- Outdoors: Brown's Creek State Trail starts downtown and connects to the Gateway Trail toward Saint Paul. The St. Croix is a protected National Scenic Riverway, and there are two full-service marinas.
- The trade-off is the commute: about 35 to 40 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in good traffic via Highway 36, longer at rush hour. It works best for remote or hybrid workers.
- Prices at the time: entry homes in the low to mid-$400,000s, in-town historic homes from the mid to high $500,000s and bluff-view homes into the low $600,000s. Inventory is tight, and Washington County property taxes run lower than Hennepin or Ramsey.
Questions this video answers
How long is the commute from Stillwater to Minneapolis?
About 35 to 40 minutes in good traffic via Highway 36, and longer at rush hour, according to the video.
Why is Stillwater called the birthplace of Minnesota?
The 1848 convention that started the push for Minnesota's territorial status met in Stillwater, which was also one of the region's earliest lumber towns.
Read more: Stillwater market report · Stillwater to downtown Minneapolis · Stillwater vs. Woodbury · Lake Elmo vs. Stillwater
Notes written by Huerkamp Home Group from this video. Figures are as stated in the video on June 5, 2026; check the current numbers in our market reports.
