These Twin Cities Suburbs Rank Among America’s Best Places To Buy A House

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — If buying a home in the Twin Cities feels increasingly out of reach, new national rankings suggest some local communities are still getting it right.

Several Twin Cities suburbs and small towns earned spots on Niche’s list of the Best Places to Buy a House in America, with metro-area communities appearing throughout the national rankings of more than 2,800 places.

The rankings evaluate housing markets using a mix of affordability and stability measures, including home values relative to income, property taxes, crime rates, public school quality, and long-term real estate trends.

Data is drawn primarily from the U.S. Census and other public sources.

Niche places the greatest weight on home value relative to income and public school quality, each accounting for 15 percent of a community’s overall score. Housing costs, safety, homeownership rates and property taxes also factor into the final grades, which can be filtered by priorities such as family-friendliness, housing type and cost of living.

Here’s a look at some of the Twin Cities-area communities that stood out in the rankings.

1. Lake St. Croix Beach — National rank: #429

This small Washington County town ranked highest among Twin Cities communities. With just over 1,100 residents, Lake St. Croix Beach earned strong marks for housing stability and public schools.

2. Carver — National rank: #641

Located southwest of Minneapolis, Carver scored well for schools and housing while maintaining a small-town feel. Niche reviewers frequently cited parks and walkability.

3. Victoria — National rank: #663

Victoria earned high ratings for family-friendliness and community atmosphere. Public schools and neighborhood safety contributed to its strong showing.

4. Shoreview — National rank: #851

One of the larger suburbs on the list, Shoreview received high overall grades, particularly for safety and public schools.

5. Arden Hills — National rank: #944

Arden Hills scored well across multiple categories, including housing and education, and was noted for its family-oriented environment.

6. Medina — National rank: #1,147

Medina earned one of the highest overall grades among metro-area communities, with strong marks for schools and housing trends.

7. Rosemount — National rank: #1,394

This Dakota County suburb continued to perform well in national rankings, supported by stable housing costs and public school ratings.

8. North Oaks — National rank: #1,536

Known for its quiet residential setting, North Oaks scored highly for safety and homeownership.

9. Eden Prairie — National rank: #1,565

Despite being one of the metro’s larger cities, Eden Prairie earned an A-plus overall grade, with high marks for schools and amenities.

10. Plymouth — National rank: #1,592

Plymouth again ranked among Minnesota’s top-performing suburbs, driven by public school quality and long-term housing stability.

11. Eagan —National rank: #2,558

Eagan earned solid scores for safety, parks and community resources, placing it comfortably within the national rankings.

12. Maple Grove —National rank: #2,578

Maple Grove rounded out the list of notable Twin Cities entries, scoring well for schools and overall livability.

Check out the full rankings here.