Minneapolis

Most affordable Minneapolis suburbs

Ranked on what a household actually pays: the in-house cost-of-living index at 55%, the median home value against the metro at 25% (lower is better here), and the share of households already stretched by housing costs at 20%.

Updated Sep 2026·60 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
800-block of St Germain St, St Cloud Commercial Historic District, St Cloud, Minnesota, USA. Viewed from the east. This is an image of a place or building that
St. Cloud$225k median · 19.8 min commute
Cost of living A−Housing FEmployment D−
74
Affordability
overall 50 D+
2
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HASTINGS CRUISE-IN & CLASSIC CAR SHOW Hastings, Minnesota June 30, 2018 Click here for previous Hastings Cruise Night pictures Click here
Hastings$322k median · 25.3 min commute
Cost of living B+Housing D+Employment C−
71
Affordability
overall 60 C
3
Grandview Park overlooking the Mississippi River in South St. Paul, MN
South St. Paul$282k median · 21.3 min commute
Cost of living BHousing DEmployment D+
69
Affordability
overall 56 C−
4
Crystal$296k median · 21.4 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing D+Employment B−
67
Affordability
overall 64 C+
5
Church of St. Michael, St. Michael, Minnesota, USA. Viewed from the northeast. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register o
St. Michael$390k median · 29.0 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing C+Employment B+
67
Affordability
overall 62 C
6
Farmington$366k median · 27.7 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing CEmployment B
67
Affordability
overall 60 C
7
River Falls City Hall
River Falls$328k median · 22.0 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing DEmployment C
67
Affordability
overall 61 C
8
Jackson Street Water Tower, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was restored in 2021 to its original colors (silver structure and tank with red
Elk River$370k median · 27.4 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing C−Employment B
67
Affordability
overall 61 C
9
Downtown Anoka, Minnesota, July 2009
Anoka$309k median · 24.5 min commute
Cost of living BHousing D−Employment D
66
Affordability
overall 59 C
10
This map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Anoka County, highlighting Ham Lake in red. This file has been updated to reflect the recent incorpo
Ham Lake$443k median · 28.6 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing CEmployment C+
66
Affordability
overall 54 C−
This list's weighting
Cost of living 55%Median home value (lower is better) 25%Cost-burdened households 20%
Other Minneapolis lists
Best Minneapolis suburbs for familiesBest Minneapolis suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown MinneapolisMost walkable Minneapolis suburbsBest Minneapolis suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Minneapolis suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: St. Cloud (McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0); Hastings (Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA · CC BY 2.0); South St. Paul (Epsatre · CC BY-SA 4.0); St. Michael (McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0); River Falls (Wikideas1 · CC0); Elk River (ElkRiverCommunications · CC BY-SA 4.0); Anoka (123dieinafire (talk) · CC BY 3.0); Ham Lake (123dieinafire · Public domain).