Every week I talk to buyers relocating to the Twin Cities who ask the same question: "Which suburb should we be in?" The honest answer is that it depends on your priorities — but there are clear differences between suburbs that most relocation guides don't tell you.
I've helped hundreds of buyers land in the right community. This guide reflects what I've seen work, based on school district information, median home prices, and commute data as of 2026 — verify current figures before making a decision, since prices and district data change.
What I Weighed for Each Suburb
I looked at four factors for each community:
- School district — see the school district guide for details, and verify current graduation rates and test data with the Minnesota Dept. of Education Report Card
- Affordability — median home price (Redfin/Zillow, 2026 — figures shift monthly)
- Commute — typical drive time to downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul
- Amenities — parks, recreation programs, walkability, community infrastructure
For public-safety data on any of these communities, see the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or the specific police department's published statistics — I'd rather point you to the primary source than give you a number I can't stand behind.
1. Eden Prairie — Strong Schools and an Extensive Park System
Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie ranked #5 among Best Places to Live in Minnesota and #3 among Best Suburbs in Minnesota (Niche.com, 2026). It combines a strong school district with an extraordinary park system — 225+ miles of sidewalks and trails and 17 lakes (City of Eden Prairie). Eden Prairie Schools (ISD 272) is ranked #3 among Minnesota school districts by Niche.com (2026).
The trade-off: homes here are priced at a premium relative to nearby suburbs.
2. Maple Grove — Best Value for the Amenities
Maple Grove
If Eden Prairie is the premium option, Maple Grove is the well-equipped value play — strong on nearly every metric and more affordable. Osseo Area Schools (ISD 279) serves most of Maple Grove, with a portion in Wayzata ISD 284. The suburb itself is master-planned, with retail corridors, walking trails, and recreation facilities throughout.
Maple Grove is especially popular with buyers relocating from the Midwest — the layout and feel are familiar, the amenities are excellent, and prices typically run lower than Eden Prairie for comparable homes.
3. Woodbury — East Metro, Newer Construction
Woodbury
East of St. Paul, Woodbury has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota for good reason. South Washington County Schools (ISD 833) serves most of the city, with portions in ISD 834 and ISD 622. The suburb is newer-construction-heavy, so homes tend to be larger and more modern for the price than west-metro alternatives.
A great choice if you work in St. Paul, the east metro, or near the Wisconsin border. Also popular with buyers from Illinois and the Chicago area who like the Midwest feel.
4. Lakeville — Most Space Per Dollar
Lakeville
South of the metro, Lakeville offers some of the most square footage per dollar of any suburb on this list. Lakeville Area Schools (ISD 194) serves most of the city, with portions in ISD 192 and ISD 196; ISD 194 posted a four-year graduation rate around 93% in 2024 (MN Dept. of Education) — well above the state average of about 84%. The city has grown dramatically over the last decade, with new parks, retail, and community infrastructure to match.
The real trade-off is commute — downtown Minneapolis runs 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. Many Lakeville buyers work remotely or in the south-metro tech and medical corridors (Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley).
5. Eagan — Best Highway Access
Eagan
Eagan sits at the intersection of I-35E and I-494 — one of the best highway positions in the entire metro. You can typically reach downtown Minneapolis in 20-30 minutes and MSP Airport in 10-15. Thomson Reuters, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and other major employers are based here. Eagan is served by ISD 196, ISD 191, and ISD 197 depending on address.
Home prices generally run lower here than in Eden Prairie or Woodbury, reflecting the more corporate, less boutique feel of the area.
6. Edina — Most Walkable, Closest to Minneapolis
Edina
Edina is the closest thing the Twin Cities has to an upscale walkable suburb. The 50th & France retail district and proximity to Minneapolis's Chain of Lakes give it an urban energy other suburbs lack. Edina Public Schools (ISD 273) is frequently cited among Minnesota's top-performing districts — verify the current-year ranking directly (e.g. Niche.com). Public school districts serving the city include ISD 273, ISD 270, and ISD 280; school assignment depends on the property's address.
It's the priciest suburb on this list, and inventory is tight. But buyers who want strong schools plus proximity to Minneapolis consistently choose it.
The Bottom Line on Suburb Selection
For most buyers relocating to the Twin Cities, Maple Grove or Eden Prairie is a strong starting point — solid schools, reasonable commutes, and well-established communities. If you're working in the east metro, Woodbury is a natural fit. On a budget? Lakeville gives you the most home for your money without sacrificing school access.
How to Narrow It Down Further
The suburb question is really a combination of four inputs: your work location, your budget, your school priorities, and what you want your daily life to feel like. I help buyers work through this matrix on every call — it usually takes about 20 minutes to get clarity on where to focus your search.
If you're not sure where to start, check out the full suburb explorer or our school district guide for more detail on each community. Or just book a call — I'll ask you a few questions and tell you exactly which 2-3 suburbs to focus on.
* Sources: Minnesota Dept. of Education, U.S. Census Bureau, Niche.com, Redfin/Zillow (2026). Prices are medians and vary by neighborhood and property type — ask me for current comps on any specific address.