Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Located 15 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis, Plymouth is the seventh largest city in the state with a population around 71,000; it is also the third largest suburb of the Twin Cities. A lively and welcoming suburb, Plymouth seems to have it all, at least according to Money Magazine as it was ranked number one among the top 100 Best Places to Live as part of the magazine's annual 2008 Best Places to Live list. Plymouth was chosen as number one because of its homes and neighbrohoods, parks, and award-winning schools; the city's main school district is ranked among the top three in the state. Also the city offers more than 50,000 jobs that keep its residents working in Plymouth. Other reasons why Money Magazine ranked it number one included affordable homes and culture. Plymouth's open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center, hosts numerous summer concerts. Aside from the Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth has many other facilities for its residents to enjoy including an ice center, the Millennium Garden, Plymouth Creek Center and also many parks and trails, off-leash dog parks, and a disc golf course.  

Minnetonka is the place to be. I live at the Stratford Woods Apartments, and being here makes you feel tucked away in the wooded surroundings, but somehow you're only 25 minutes from the excitement of Downtown Minneapolis. Then of course Lake Minnetonka is close by, where I enjoy many days during the Summer. The are also a few parks close by to visit, and also the Minnetonka School District which is top notch.

Burnsville is a very nice community very close to 35W. It very close to MOA, and Valleyfair. i'm at Stone Grove Apartments, a bus stop is only three blocks away... My daughter goes to the on site Montessori school and daycare. not a bad fitness center and pool. underground parking spots... great for the Minnesota winter. Overall great city to live in!

Heritage Hills is in a great location right in Bloomington, so getting up to the Airport and to the Mall of America is simple. Just get onto 494 and 35W and you'll be anywhere you want in no time. Close by Normandale Community College where I'm attending classes. In addition to a great area, the Heritage Hills apartments are second to none. They have a motivated and professional staff who take care of everything, and my neighbors are great. There's tons of open space on this property as well. Great for a cook out, playing frisbee, or going for a run.

Stillwater is a beautiful little community within the Twin Cities... it's a jaunt to get to the heart of the cities, especially if you're going every day. The city is extremely hilly (which is great most of the time, but gets tricky during icy wintertime) and the downtown area is lively and fun. All the great things about Stillwater have their downside - for example, the fantastic downtown area brings in daytime tourists in multitudes in the summer, which is great - but also annoys residents with traffic congestion, jammed parking lots and packed restaurants. Overall, though, this community is a really fun place to live.

Wayzata is gorgeous little town that's just a 20 minute drive from Minneapolis. Incomes are high here, so there's little diversity in terms of economics or race for that matter. Unemployment is lower than the national average and the schools good. The cost of living is higher than most U.S. cities and towns. But it's not like Manhattan or L.A. Apartments in Wayzata will cost you at least $750 for a one bedroom. That's a little surprising given the size of the town. You'll find some good choices here, but obviously it's more limited than Minneapolis. The crime rate is low. Downtown is kept up and used. And of course, you've got the lakes. The biggest issue here is the long winter. For a southerner such as myself, that's not so appealing. But if you don't mind frigid temperatures, beauty and opportunity are here.

Shoreview is terribly convenient for commuters, and is equally close to both Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Although the city doesn't have much of a distinctive flavor of its own, it is close to so much. In addition to Minneapolis and Saint Paul, charming downtown White Bear Lake is nearby and both Maplewood and Rosedale malls are within 15 minutes of Shoreview. Although you might not be able to get what you want in walking distance, if you live in Shoreview, nothing is too far away.

An apartment can be found in suburbia west of Minneapolis in quaint Hopkins, Minnesota. Located 10 miles outside the Twin Cities and a pinch away from Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Edina, Hopkins has a selection of apartment homes surrounded by a community of art lovers, festival hoppers and good-hearted folk.Established in the 1850s prior to Minnesota becoming an official state, Hopkins, Minneapolis apartment homes are situated in a town rich with America history and tradition. Since approximately 60 percent of Hopkins residents rent their homes, finding an apartment in Hopkins at a reasonable price won't be difficult. Hopkins, Minnesota is a town that loves to keep you on the go. If there is an artist deep inside you, check out the apartments in Hopkins located near the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Hopkins apartments close to Hopkins Pavilion will allow you to be close to ice-skating, broomball, soccer, lacrosse, inline skating, rugby, baseball and softball activities.Become an apartment occupant of Hopkins, Minnesota and become privy to all the great family activities offered year round. In the winter, ice skate on the indoor or outdoor rinks. Take a sledding excursion at Hilltop Park, Oakes Park or Valley Park. In the summer, soak up the sun at Shady Oak Beach. Run, bike or simply walk through Regional Trails in Hopkins. Skateboard enthusiast will worship the 18,000 square feet of skate park Overpass Skate Park offers. Gather fresh foods from the Farmer's Market and enjoy free music concerts at Music in the Park. The annual Raspberry Festival is a must-go for all living in and around the Twin Cities area. With even more activities than mentioned, deciding on an apartment in Hopkins will keep your social calendar full.

If you enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle with over 90 parks, gardens, and recreation centers then St. Cloud could be your next home. St. Cloud with its Historic downtown area, numerous shops and restaurants has maintained its small town roots. The community is proud of its educational opportunities and has great public and private schools. St. Cloud State University and St. Johns College call it home. Located only 65 miles northwest of the "Twin Cities", St. Cloud is only a short distance from all the "big" city has to offer. From good public transportation, an excellent hospital and a cost of living 10% lower than US averages St. Cloud has something for everyone.

One of two suburbs geographically adjacent to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Roseville is a lively and fun suburb full of shopping, restaurants, parks, and scenic residential areas. It is also considered somewhat of a kitschy burb as its the site of the nation's many firsts in retail history, such as the first Target Store, First McDonald's in Minnesota, first Barnes & Noble store (Outside of NYC) and the first Best Buy. Roseville is also the town that "Mary," from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" moved from when she moved to the "big city" of Minneapolis.

A Twin Cities suburb, Woodbury is located just southeast of St. Paul, the state's capital and conveniently close to St. Paul's sister city, Minneapolis. With a population of 56,000, Woodbury seems to have it all, major retail establishments, restaurants, beautiful residential neighborhoods, and an impressive parks and recreation system.A beautiful and bustlingly suburb, Woodbury certainly does seem to have all the necessities of living in a major metropolitan city, think major restaurant chains and some delish mom & pops places, great shopping, and recreational outlets, including a golf course, a beach, and a the Bielenberg Sports Center that houses two indoor ice arenas and a field house with a walking/running track. Further, what makes this suburb so appealing to families and nature types is the fact that Woodbury is situated in a beautiful part of Minnesota so the suburb has 45 park sites, 3,000 acres of dedicated parkland, and approximately 100 miles of trails. Woodbury has a thriving business community with major employers, including The Hartford, Target.com, and EcoWater Systems, to name a few. Woodbury is also close to 3M headquarters. The suburb also has numerous shopping areas and restaurants all of which will need workers as well.

Located in Washington County, Oakdale is an eastern suburb of the Twin Cities with a population of just around 27,000. Fairly similar to any major American suburb-Oakdale has all the typical conveniences -the suburb strives for a community togetherness and a better future for residents to come. To do this, Oakdale has created numerous community and government based programs to better its residents and the city. These include business and housing programs, community events, and a commitment to the environment with strong recycling programs and the Generation Green program. A major effort, Generation Green is designed to conserve energy and natural resources in the community by focusing on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the residential, commercial, and governmental sectors of Oakdale. The community works strongly to do this throughout the city and includes the residents in the planning.While overall the aesthetics of the suburb, and its retail/restaurant options, may seem ‘typical', its location in Minnesota is what truly makes living in this suburb ideal. Oakdale offers close proximity to both Minneapolis and St. Paul so a resident can obtain a cultural, city experience, and on the other side of the suburb, a resident has easy access to one of Minnesota's' most beautiful natural settings, the Saint Croix Valley. This area, shared with Wisconsin, is a breathtaking natural landmark that offers up numerous recreational activities including swimming and canoeing on the St. Croix River, and in the Valley, camping, hiking, and simply exploring. Oakdale is also very close to Stillwater, one of Minnesota's most charming and oldest cities.With much to offer in the way retail and business establishments, as well as such special events as summer concerts and a farmer's market, residents can work and live here easily; raising a family here is also encouraged.

A suburb of St. Paul, Maplewood is a good-sized city that could likely be considered a typical Middle America "burb" with a mall, Target, good schools, and parks. What sets it a little apart is that it is also the headquarters of the one of the world's major corporations: 3M. Situated 10 miles north east of downtown St. Paul, Maplewood happily and quietly hums along, as it reaps the bennies of 3M, a local mall, and a major hospital, St. John's Hospital.

Situated in Wright County and reaching only 45 minutes away from the Minneapolis metro area is the cozy Minnesota city of Buffalo. Buffalo apartment dwellers share their city with approximately 15,000 citizens that are eager to welcome a new member to their family!Euro settlers landed in this area in 1855 and the Village of Buffalo was laid out from 1856 to 1858. Everything was quiet in the town until the affluent of Minneapolis started to frequent the vicinity to get away from their busy lives. They viewed this oasis as a retreat, making the territory around Lake Pulaski and Buffalo Lake resort areas. This territory remained a popular get away from the 1890s till the 1920s. Currently, people still travel to the shores of both lakes for relaxation and fishing trips. Luckily, Buffalo apartment residents don't have to travel far for a day on the waterfront!If Buffalo apartment dwellers possess affection for the arts, Buffalo, Minnesota is the right place for them to live! Buffalo embodies a healthy and luminous art culture for a small town. The Buffalo Community Theater and the Buffalo Community Orchestra are active artistic outlets. The town is crawling with artistic expression all year long so be ready to be entertained!So make sure to thoroughly investigate all Buffalo apartment communities until you have landed the perfect Buffalo apartment for you! Once you have moved into your new Buffalo apartment home, get out into the city and discover why this wonderful town is so special to its inhabitants and onlookers!

Located 23 miles south of Minneapolis, Lakeville is a suburb that many consider to be a small town getaway from the ‘big city.' Lakeville, at one time was a rural town, but with its now easy access to Minneapolis and St. Paul, through two major interstates, Lakeville is growing, thriving, and now considered to be an urban suburb of the Twin Cities with a population just over 50,000. While it is growing, through its proud residents, the town's small town charm is still very evident and maintained throughout the town's growth. Such charm is most evident in Lakeville's adorable historic downtown neighborhood. Here one can do some shopping, eating, and participate in city events, such as the annual art festival held downtown every fall.For residents, living here is easy because of the well-maintained residential areas and easy access to the rest of Minnesota for jobs. The major Interstate 35, easily brings residents straight to the Twin Cities as well as to other major Minnesota attractions for jobs and recreation, these include Mall of America, Minnesota Zoo, Canterbury Park, Mystic Lake Casino, and Valleyfair Amusement Park. For recreation in town, Lakeville offers numerous outdoor options; the town encompasses five lakes with three public swimming beaches and two public boat launches. There are also 47 parks complete with playgrounds, sporting fields, and 25 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails, access to cross-country ski, horseback, and snowmobile trails. For the true nature enthusiasts, there is also the Ritter Farm Park nature preserve and 2700 acre Murphy Hanrehan Park reserve. Lakeville also has four major gold courses for golf enthusiasts, and interestingly, for those who enjoy an alcoholic beverage from time to time, Lakeville has three huge beautiful buildings housing liquor stores.While the city does have an Arts Center, and strives to bring culture in, it is still quite a small town with a major focus toward small town living and outdoor life. Most consider Lakeville to be a place to live a somewhat simpler life, and happily raise a family in a safe, thriving community.

A fully developed, first tier suburb, Crystal is located just west of Minneapolis in Hennepin County and has a population of 23,000. A suburb with a small town feel, Crystal is so close to Minneapolis that access to a ‘Big City life' is very convenient. With this in mind, not only do residents easily enjoy the art and culture of Minneapolis, but due to its location, if Crystal doesn't have the modern day conveniences one wants (i.e. grocers, banks, gyms) one can get these things easily in Minneapolis or other nearby suburbs.Due to Crystal being one of the first suburbs of Minneapolis, the city is slightly dated, however residents and government are committed to keep the community modern with redevelopment and updating its infrastructure. While the dedication is there, the city will always have the feel of an older suburb, as the layout is not as wide open as the newer suburbs of Minnesota. However, as part of its redevelopment, Crystal does have some newer homes and development areas.Truly its people are what make Crystal attractive, that and its proximity to the city. Crystal government maintains a strong community by offering its residents numerous programs servicing affordable housing, the elderly, the environment, businesses, and more, along with wonderful recreational activities and parks. With a large number of parks, one can relax with a picnic, or, for the younger set, skateboard at the Crystal Skate Park. Also for recreation there is the Crystal Cover Aquatic Center, as well as year-round activities for the whole family. Crystal also has its own airport, the Crystal Airport that is owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, as it will often hold special events for kids to teach them about flight and plans.

Near the confluence of the Mississippi, St. Croix and Vermillion Rivers, you'll find the scenic river town of Hastings. Popular with families and tourists, Hastings has witnessed quite a population growth in recent years. Luckily, along with the increase in population comes a wide variety of housing options and apartments from which to choose. Hastings apartments along the bluff that overlook the Mississippi River will provide the best river views. For those people that prefer a slightly more "urban" way of life, look for historic apartments along Main Street in downtown. Also, some of the original Victorian residences have been turned into apartment homes and flats. Blessed with beautiful scenery, Hastings, Minnesota has worked hard to meet its resident's needs while retaining its charming past. Apartment hunters will find that Hastings has something for everyone - beautiful, rushing rivers, tree-lined streets and a picture perfect downtown.

If small town values combined with accessibility to the Twin Cities are for you, then take a look at Rogers,MN. Rogers with an estimated population of 8,000 residents has experienced solid growth the past years prompted by the expansion of the Twin Cities. Its residents can enjoy the small downtown with shops and restaurants as well the maintained parks and trails. Rogers is conveniently located just off I94 north and west of Minneapolis which makes it a great choice for retirees and young families.  

Excelsior, Minnesota is a very small city located 20 minutes away from nearby Minneapolis. Founded in 1853 by colonists from New York, Excelsior was once merely a vacation spot. With a population of just under 3,000 people this small town is now known as a suburb of Minneapolis, though Excelsior has an identity all its own.Apartment rentals in Excelsior run the range between inexpensive and very expensive, depending on complex age, size and amenities. Most Excelsior apartments are recent construction, with a few older and even historical complexes in the mix. Generally, the newer complexes are less expensive, though lack many of the modern amenities that the new ones offer. Despite the small population, there are many apartment homes available for rent in a variety of complexes.Employment is not difficult to find in Excelsior, though much of it lies just a few miles away in Minneapolis. State Highway 7 serves as the major highway between the two cities and is very useful for the short commute. In addition to the highway, a light rail runs through Downtown Excelsior, with stops just steps away from many Excelsior apartment complexes. While Minneapolis is home to most major industry and corporations, Excelsior has many employment opportunities available. Most of the work available in Excelsior is in the tourist and vacation industry.One of the great things about Excelsior is the variety of activities available for all preferences. Nestled against Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior has lots of boating, fishing and other lake-oriented activities year round. Downtown Excelsior is home to a bustling historic district, complete with shopping, dining, bars and entertainment. Museums, libraries and other cultural pursuits are also readily available and are a short hop away from virtually any Excelsior apartment.While many families tend to prefer living in single family homes, there are many families who make the larger Excelsior apartments home. While this can be rather expensive, the recently constructed complexes are great places to raise a family due to size and amenities. Public schools are served by the Minnetonka Public School System and there are plenty of public schools available within the city. Private schools are also available, though there isn't as wide of a variety in town.Historical preservation, as well as close proximity to the large city of Minneapolis, has made Excelsior, Minnesota a very desire place to live, work and play. A variety of apartments to choose from, plenty of activities, and a short ride down to a major city is a major boon for both current and future residents.

A south-southwest suburb of Minneapolis, Savage is located 15 miles from downtown Minneapolis, but feels more like 100 miles away. Savage is truly its own little city with a small town feel that is densely populated by has a strong backbone for immense growth. Full of wildlife and nature, Savage is closely located to the suburb Shakopee, that has numerous businesses and major recreational facilities including Valley Fair Amusement Park, Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Club, Mystic Lake Casino, the second largest Indian-owned casino in the nation, and Historic Murphy's Landing.With efficient transportation routes, the nearby Bloomington Ferry Bridge, and major interstates and freeways, Savage is conveniently located to a major metropolitan hub, but maintains a small town feel that seems has if it's in the middle of no where.

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota is a city located in Benton County. Sauk Rapids has a population of roughly 12,000 residents. Sauk Rapids is approximately 9 miles north of St. Cloud and 67 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Sauk Rapids is situated directly on the Mississippi River. Sauk Rapids has a farmers market that is open every Thursday beginning in May through October. Sauk Rapids hosts "Rapids River Days" which is a 4-day festival held the last weekend in June. Sauk Rapids offers resident's reasonable housing prices and a variety of rental properties to fit everyone's needs. Sauk Rapids real estate is slightly less then the median price for the state of Minnesota, making it a more affordable place to reside. Sauk Rapids has a very low crime rate and is extremely family oriented. Overall, Sauk Rapids is a great place to live, work and play!

Located between Stillwater and St. Paul is the charming suburb of Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Proudly part of Washington County, Mahtomedi is a peaceful retreat from its neighboring metro area. Mahtomedi apartment dwellers reside in a quaint town that claims approximately 7,600 residents. Don't you want to become their next neighbor?The name Mahtomedi was derived from the Native American language, Dakota. It means White Bear Lake. This makes total sense; the city sits long side of the White Bear Lake right outside of Minneapolis. The town was established for the elite who had summer homes and cottages lining the lake. But as the Minneapolis and St. Paul area grew, so did the population of Mahtomedi.Mahtomedi soon gained the reputation as a recreational spot with the Wildwood Amusement Park and the tourist draw to the lakefront. Another major enticement the city had to offer was the Piccadilly Restaurant. But the Great Depression put the amusement park out of business and soon the Piccadilly Restaurant was a meeting place for notorious gangsters during Prohibition. Something about Piccadilly and gangster activity just doesn't jive!Currently, the city serves as a pleasant alternative to the nearby metropolis. Make sure that prior to signing your lease, you have surveyed all the Mahtomedi apartment communities. Once you have found the right Mahtomedi apartment home for you, settle in and start seeing why so many move to this wonderful peaceful town.

Willmar is lovely, if you're looking for a more rural community. It's a bit too far for me, however, if you're commuting to the Twin Cities. Willmar does offer more stores, restaurants, schools and opportunities than anything else in the area, but if you want something that Willmar doesn't offer, then you're kind of out of luck. Have fun driving to Saint Cloud (1 1/2 hours) or Minneapolis (2 hours)...

Mora is a very small place in northern Minnesota. If you enjoy long cold winters and ice fishing, this may be the place for you. It has a small town atmosphere where everyone knows your name. You're very close, 24 miles, to Mille Lacs Lake. However, metro areas are much further away. Driving the distance can seem daunting in -20 degree winter weather. Apartments are few in a place this small, but what's available is fairly cheap given the low cost of a living. However, unemployment is abysmal at 17%. The close higher education institutions are at least 50 miles away. Some small towns are prosperous and thriving economically, This isn't one of them.