Is Minnesota a Good Place to Live? (Pros & Cons in 2024) (2024)

Is Minnesota a good place to live? You’ve asked the right person! I’ve lived here for almost my entire life and have a lot to say about my beautiful home state.

While some people may have only ever heard of my state being known as a frozen tundra, that just couldn’t be further from the truth!

After living in Minnesota for over 20 years, I’ve been able to experience all of the pros and cons of life here. I know what it’s like to survive a winter and thrive in the summer!

In this post, I’ll share all of my local tips and advice for whether or not moving to Minnesota is a good idea.

Is Minnesota a Good Place to Live?

I’ll try to be as non-biased as possible in this post (because I do live in Minnesota, as we know), but quite honestly, it’s hard not to be biased!

Minnesota is a fantastic place to live, no matter what people say about it basically being just a massive iceball for 9 months out of the year…

And don’t only take my word for it, because other new outlets such as US News have Minnesota ranked as the 5th best overall state in the United States.

According to these rankings, we were put in the top 10 for natural environment, infrastructure, and opportunity.

Whether you’re someone who loves big cities and all that hustle and bustle, or you prefer to be tucked away in a quiet forest, we’ve got it all.

The cost of living is affordable compared to many other states, our access to nature is incredible, and we make the best hotdishes around.

And although it does get pretty darn cold here in the winter, we’ve got incredible summers that really make up for it. Plus, we Minnesotans don’t let winter drag us down. There’s still plenty to keep you busy!

Pros of Living in Minnesota

It was hard for me to narrow down this list of pros to living in the great Land of 10,000 Lakes because there are just so many. But here are some of the reasons why I love where I live.

1. Low Cost of Living

Compared to other states in the US, Minnesota has an affordable cost of living. In fact, Rent Cafe states that Minnesota has about a 1% lower cost of living than the national average.

I know this to be true because I lived in Washington State for 6 months, and the cost of living was astronomical. When we moved back to Minnesota, I felt like I was given a raise because of how much extra money was in my bank account.

From lower apartment and housing costs to a smaller grocery bill, everything adds up and it all counts towards how high of a quality of life you can have.

2. Plenty of Job Opportunities

There are a lot of job opportunities available in Minnesota, including many Fortune 500 companies headquartered here including 3M, Target, Polaris Industries, and UnitedHealth Group.

The low unemployment rate is about 2.1%, compared to the national average rate, which is 3.7%. This means there are fewer people unemployed around our state!

We’ve also been ranked number 3 by US News for economic opportunity, showcasing the fact that there are a lot of great job opportunities in the state.

3. The Best Hotdishes

Let’s be honest here. One of the best parts of living in Minnesota is having been able to fully experience what a hotdish is.

For those who have never heard of a hotdish, it’s really just a casserole, but here in the Midwest, we call them hotdishes.

My personal favorite is tater tot hotdish, which I make probably 3 times a month because it’s just so easy! It’s literally ground beef, mixed veggies, cream of mushroom, and tater tots.

But I’ve tried dozens of hotdishes, and you’ll never attend a potluck or family holiday where there isn’t at least one.

4. Lots of Activities to Enjoy

With over 10,000 lakes, plenty of forested lands, and tons of large cities, Minnesota offers lots of opportunities for recreation and fun year-round.

Whether you’re interested in getting out into nature and enjoying the lakes or wandering the streets downtown, you’ll find it here.

Plus, because we have cold weather for half of the year, we’ve gotten really good at having fun year-round. So no matter the weather, you’ll find something to do.

5. Great Places to Be in Nature

Aside from the cities such as Minneapolis and St. Paul that you’ll find in Minnesota, there is plenty of nature within Minnesota.

In fact, there is a national park in the state, Voyageurs National Park, as well as the Boundary Waters, one of America’s most remote locations.

There are over 60 state parks within Minnesota, and many of them are actually within a pretty close distance to major cities such as Minneapolis and Duluth.

Up north, you’ll find the North Shore, a beautiful stretch of land that spans the coast of the marvelous Lake Superior.

6. Few Natural Disasters

One thing that we are very thankful for up here in Minnesota is the fact that we have few natural disasters when compared to other states.

We, fortunately, do not have to worry about earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanoes, etc. And I often find myself reminding myself of this during snowstorms.

Occasionally, we do get tornadoes that can cause damage, but I’ve personally never been a part of one, and they typically cause less damage than in other states.

7. Beautiful Summers

While Minnesota is known for having ridiculously cold winters, the summers definitely make up for it! It’s something that I dream of all winter long.

We have absolutely beautiful summers with warm temperatures, lots of sunshine, and plenty of activities to take part in.

All of the lakes are thawed in the summer and people love getting out on them and boating, swimming, kayaking, and more. I don’t think I’ve ever driven by a lake in the summer and have seen it empty! There’s always someone on the water.

8. Many Major Sports Teams

If you’re a sports fan, then you’ll be glad to know that Minnesota is home to multiple major sports teams!

The Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves, and Lynx all are based here and have stadiums where you can watch games.

All of the stadiums are in the Twin Cities area, including US Bank Stadium, the Xcel Energy Center, and Target Field.

9. Over 10,000 Lakes

Ever wonder why we’re called the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Well, it’s strictly just because we have over 10k lakes in our state! Actually closer to 14,000!

Pretty much everywhere you look, you’ll see a lake, and we like to recreate on them, no matter the season!

In the winter, you’ll see a city of ice houses out on the water for ice fishing, and during the summer, there will be hundreds of boats.

Not only do the lakes provide the state with an area for activities, but they also contribute to the beauty of my home state.

Cons of Living in Minnesota

Now that you know the best parts of living in Minnesota, we should go over some of the cons. Here are my least favorite parts.

10. Long, Cold Winters

As much as I’d love to say that I fully love and adore Minnesota during all four seasons, this one’s a tough one to ignore… We have very long, cold winters.

Sometimes, I think that summer will never come. Last year, we had a snowstorm in the middle of May and I almost considered moving to Hawaii.

We tend to see temperatures below 0° F pretty often and some places in the state can get up to 70 inches of snow per year.

And we certainly can’t forget the fact that this can make driving pretty difficult in the winter months.

11. High Tax Rates

Something to really think about before planning your move to Minnesota is the tax rates that we have.

Minnesotans’ income tax is between 5.35% and 9.85%, according to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

According to World Population Review, we are the state with the 5th highest income tax, behind California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Oregon.

12. No Oceans

This one hurts me a little bit to write about… but there are unfortunately no oceans within even a close distance of the state.

You’ll have to drive halfway across the country to even have the chance of seeing a wide open sea. Which makes me sad because my ocean-loving heart would love their to be saltwater nearby.

So if you’re hoping to spend your spring break lounging on a white sand beach on the ocean, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

13. No Mountains

Another one that definitely hurts my mountain-loving soul is the fact that there aren’t any mountains here.

Well… the kind that you would normally think of, anyway. We have the Sawtooth Mountains on the North Shore, but they’re more like rolling hills than snow-capped peaks.

Mountains are some of my favorite natural features, so I wish that we had some to hike in, but I guess I’ll just have to travel elsewhere to find them.

14. Mosquitos in the Summer

If there were any reason that Minnesota is not a good place to live, it would be that we have tons of mosquitos in the summer.

These little buggers sure know how to drive someone absolutely mad, so just be prepared to douse yourself in bug spray.

Best Places to Live in Minnesota

There are a lot of great places to live in Minnesota and quite honestly, it would be really tough to include them all in this post.

But I wanted to give a quick rundown of some of the best options for those considering moving here.

Is Minnesota a Safe Place to Live?

Yes, Minnesota is a safe state to live in, and has a relatively low crime rate when compared to other states.

Consumer Affairs ranks Minnesota as the 15th safest state in the country based on violent crimes, property crimes, and the number of law enforcement officers per population.

In a survey that Safewise conducted, they found that more people in the state are worried about being a victim of package theft than any other crime.

And while crime has somewhat increased in the state in recent years, residents still report feeling safe here.

I’ve personally lived in Minnesota for my entire life and very rarely feel unsafe, even in large cities.

Is Minnesota a Good Place to Raise a Family?

Yes, Minnesota is a great place to raise your family, if you are considering moving here.

The schools in the state are well-kept and the public education system is fantastic, based on their high graduation rates of over 80%, according to Public School Review.

Crime rates are low, which makes for a nice place to have children.

We also have a good healthcare system, for if your children were to ever get sick and need any sort of health intervention.

And to top it all off, there are so many opportunities for activities, both related to school and not, for children to take part in.

Whether that’s playing a school-sponsored sport or just playing outside in the snow or going tubing on the lakes, there are many activities for little ones.

Is Minnesota a Good Place to Retire?

Unfortunately, Minnesota isn’t a well-known place for retirees, due to the severe cold weather that we experience.

Most retirees are looking for somewhere warm to retire, to be able to enjoy the weather year-round.

If you’re someone looking to retire and aren’t bothered by the cold weather, then Minnesota can be a nice place to retire.

But if you want somewhere that’s warm during all four seasons, then Minnesota definitely won’t be the place for you!

What are the Dangers of Living in Minnesota?

While I would say that the pros definitely outweigh the cons of living in Minnesota, there are a few dangers that you will want to be aware of.

Here are the top dangers that might impact your decision to move or live here.

• Blizzards: Severe cold affects everyone in different ways, and it can be dangerous if not handled properly.
• Driving in Snow: If you are unaware of how to drive in snow, it can become very dangerous. Always be cautious, give extra time, and stay home if the roads are bad.
• Tornadoes: While they don’t happen often or as severely as in other states, tornados do occur in Minnesota.
• Wood Ticks: These small bugs can cause diseases like Lymes Disease if not treated properly.
• Wildfires: While not as common as in other places, wildfires can happen in Minnesota, especially up north during the dry season.

FAQ: Living in Minnesota

Wrap-Up: Is Minnesota a Good Place to Live?

Choosing where to live can be a really tough choice, but it makes it a bit easier when you know details about why or why not a place is a good choice.

When you’re wondering if Minnesota is a good place to live or not, there is a lot to consider. But as a local, I can assure you that it really is such a great state.

Minnesota is a wonderful place to call home with positives such as a low cost of living, plenty to do, and of course, Minnesota Nice.