25 Twin Cities Suburbs Where Your Housing Dollar Goes The Furthest

MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL, MN — When it comes to buying a house in the Twin Cities metro, not all suburbs are created equal.

Niche’s 2025 Best Suburbs to Buy a House rankings take a data-driven look at which areas offer the strongest mix of affordability, livability, and housing stability.

The annual rankings evaluate 121 suburbs across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, weighing home values, property taxes, school performance, and community safety.

Niche said it compiles its grades using dozens of public datasets and millions of verified reviews from residents, students, and parents. The goal is to provide accurate, comparable, and credible insights into community livability and housing value.

Factors Considered In The “Best Places To Buy A House” Grade

Niche’s Best Places to Buy a House ranking measures the overall quality and stability of an area’s housing market. The formula assigns different weights to 13 core factors:

• Home value-to-income ratio (15%)
• Public schools grade (15%)
• Median monthly housing cost (10%)
• Cost of living (7.5%)
• Median home value (7.5%)
• Percent change in median home value (7.5%)
• Crime and safety (5%)
• Property tax rate (5%)
• Homeownership rate (5%)
• Home-buying-age newcomers (5%)
• Monthly housing cost-to-income ratio (5%)
• Residents ages 25–44 (5%)

Most data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and represents the most recent figures available.

2025 Best Suburbs To Buy A House In The Twin Cities

1. Lake St. Croix Beach – Overall Grade: A- | Population: 1,106
2. Carver – A | Population: 5,935
3. Victoria – A | Population: 10,972
4. Shoreview – A+ | Population: 26,724
5. Arden Hills – A+ | Population: 9,737
6. Medina – A+ | Population: 6,858
7. Rosemount – A | Population: 26,509
8. West Lakeland Township – A | Population: 3,956
9. North Oaks – A | Population: 5,175
10. Eden Prairie – A+ | Population: 63,249
11. Plymouth – A+ | Population: 79,526
12. Falcon Heights – A+ | Population: 5,145
13. Lakeville – A | Population: 72,480
14. North Hudson, WI – A | Population: 3,848
15. Lauderdale – A+ | Population: 2,386
16. White Bear Township – A- | Population: 10,759
17. Birchwood Village – A | Population: 960
18. Circle Pines – A- | Population: 4,980
19. Mounds View – A | Population: 12,992
20. Chanhassen – A+ | Population: 26,001
21. Eagan – A+ | Population: 68,158
22. Prior Lake – A | Population: 27,832
23. Maple Grove – A | Population: 70,539
24. Laketown Township – A- | Population: 2,055
25. Dellwood – A | Population: 1,145

National Standouts

Nationwide, Niche reviewed 9,451 suburbs for its 2025 rankings. The top communities in America include

1. Hazel Green, Alabama
2. Sturgeon, Pennsylvania
3. Madison, Alabama
4. Meadowbrook, Alabama
5. Pittsboro, Indiana
6. Larkin Charter Township, Michigan
7. South Vacherie, Louisiana
8. Centerton, Arkansas
9. Shavertown, Pennsylvania
10. Dunlap, Illinois

These national leaders shared many of the same traits as Minnesota’s top suburbs: strong schools, steady home values, and affordable property taxes.