Why This St. Paul Neighborhood Has Become So Irresistible
About this video
Mac-Groveland just took the #1 spot as the best neighborhood in St. Paul — and most buyers haven't caught on yet.
In this video, I'm breaking down 6 reasons Mac-Groveland is quietly outperforming Highland Park and Summit Hill: the unbeatable location near downtown St. Paul, the energy from Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas, Tangle Town's historic winding streets, Grand Avenue's walkable lifestyle, what homes actually cost in 2026, and why this pocket of St. Paul keeps drawing buyers back.
Key takeaways
- Niche ranked Macalester-Groveland the No. 1 neighborhood in Saint Paul. It sits in the southwest part of the city between the Mississippi River bluffs and Summit Avenue, with about 19,700 residents.
- It's a true 15-minute neighborhood: groceries (Trader Joe's, Kowalski's), coffee, restaurants and river walks within reach without a car. Downtown Saint Paul and the airport are each about 10 to 15 minutes away, downtown Minneapolis 15 to 20.
- Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas are both inside the neighborhood. St. Thomas's new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena (opened October 2025) hosts Division I hockey and basketball.
- Tangletown, platted in the late 1800s as part of the Macalester Park addition, has curving streets and homes mostly built from about 1910 to 1940: Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquares and Tudors.
- Grand Avenue anchors daily life, with longtime spots like Cafe Latte and W.A. Russell's Bar and Grill in the former Tavern on Grand space. Grand Old Day draws more than 200,000 people.
- Early 2026: median in the mid-$400,000s, entry homes from the low $300,000s and larger historic homes from the high $700,000s to about $1 million, typically selling in two to four weeks. The Metro A Line runs along Snelling Avenue.
Questions this video answers
What is the best neighborhood in Saint Paul?
Niche ranked Macalester-Groveland No. 1 in Saint Paul, citing its walkability, historic homes, two colleges and access to Grand Avenue and the Mississippi River.
How much do homes cost in Macalester-Groveland?
In early 2026 the median was in the mid-$400,000s, with entry-level homes from the low $300,000s and larger historic homes up to about $1 million, according to the video.
Read more: Macalester-Groveland · Highland Park · Summit Hill · Saint Paul market report
Notes written by Huerkamp Home Group from this video. Figures are as stated in the video on April 28, 2026; check the current numbers in our market reports.
