If you’re searching for the perfect family suburb near the Twin Cities, you’re in luck, because we’ve done the work for you. These suburbs of
Minneapolis have a whole bunch of things on every family’s wish list, including great schools, low crime rates, and fun kid-friendly amenities. Plus, they’re just a quick drive away from all the action in downtown Minneapolis.
1. Eden Prairie
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $95,069
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,488
Eden Prairie kicks off our list of the Minneapolis suburbs for families with housing options to suit a family of any size, from modest townhouses and cottage style homes to spacious craftsman houses.
Enjoy tennis, basketball, volleyball, and disc-golf courses as well as a playground and waterfront activities at Staring Lake Park. The Eden Prairie branch of Hennepin County Library serves readers of all ages with a variety of programming for children and adults alike.
2. Chanhassen
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $105,563
- Total crimes per 100k: 957
Chanhassen earns the second place spot on our list, and with just 957 total crimes per 100,000 people, it’s also one of the safest. Housing ranges from modern townhouses to charming craftsman style homes.
Active families will love the variety of recreation opportunities in Chanhassen. Enjoy the Minnesota winters at one of several ice skating rinks or spend a warm summer day at Lake Ann Beach. Family-friendly community events, like the Saturday Farmer’s Market, are a great way to stay connected to neighbors.
3. Lakeville
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 8.7 out of 10
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,279
Families searching for the perfect cozy historic cottage or spacious craftsman style house to call home will have plenty of options in the Minneapolis suburb of Lakeville.
Take a class with your kids at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, or enjoy a day of skiing, snowmobiling, or hiking at Ritter Farm Park. Waterfront activities at scenic Lake Marion are the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.
4. Edina
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 9.6 out of 10
- Average commute time: 20 minutes
Edina earns the fourth place spot on our list with high marks from GreatSchools.org. Affordable townhouses and sprawling ranch style homes on large lots are common in this Minneapolis suburb.
Enjoy fishing, disc-golf, or a day at the playground at Rosland Park and Lake Cornelia, or watch wildlife and hike scenic trails through marshland at Bredesen Park.
5. Delano
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 9.3 out of 10
- Unemployment rate: 4.6 percent
Families searching for a small town vibe without sacrificing great schools and kid-friendly amenities will love the Minneapolis suburb of Delano. Spacious craftsman, farmhouse, and ranch style homes on large lots are common.
Plan a family bowling night at Delano Lanes & Entertainment Center, or go apple picking at the Luceline Orchard. Active families can also hike, bike, and swim at the Lake Rebecca Park Reserve.
6. Mound
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 9.5 out of 10
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,595
The peaceful lakeside town of Mound has plenty of housing options for families, including spacious farmhouse, ranch, and craftsman style homes with large backyards.
Mound is bordered by Lake Minnetonka, giving families plenty of space for waterfront activities, including picnics on the beach, swimming, boating, and fishing. The Westonka Library Branch is also the perfect place to get out of the cold winter weather.
7. Champlin
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 4.4 percent
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,671
Families searching for a new home in the riverside Minneapolis suburb of Champlin will find a range of options, from modest townhouses to spacious craftsman and farmhouse style homes.
Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will feel right at home. Hike or bike along the Mississippi River, or enjoy a camping trip, fishing, and disc-golf at the 4,900-acre Elm Creek Park Reserve. Teen and kids book clubs at the Champlin Library help keep young readers engaged.
8. Plymouth
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,615
Plymouth earns the eighth place spot on our list of Minneapolis suburbs with housing options ranging from modern townhouses to sprawling farmhouse style homes on large lots.
Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on scenic Medicine Lake. Eagle Lake Regional park has picnic areas and a youth golf center. Grab some fresh local produce for a healthy family meal at the Plymouth Farmers Market.
9. Minnetonka
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 20 minutes
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,699
The sizeable Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka comes in ninth on our list and has plenty of townhouses, craftsman style homes, and sprawling ranch houses for families of any size.
Active families can enjoy fishing and swimming at Lake Minnetonka, or hike scenic wooded walking trails at Purgatory Park. Convenient shopping from brand name retailers is available at the Ridgedale Center. The Minnetonka Library hosts book clubs for kids of all ages.
10. Victoria
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $122,171
- Total crimes per 100k: 741
The small Minnesota suburb of Victoria rounds out our list with one of the lowest crime rates of any suburb we ranked. Townhouses, prairie style homes, and craftsman homes are common in Victoria.
Enjoy a day on the water at scenic Lake Auburn or a camping trip at the Carver Park Reserve. The ice arena at the Victoria Recreation Center is the perfect way to embrace the Minnesota winters, while summer days can be spent at community events like family-friendly Movies in the Park.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Minneapolis suburbs for families, we looked at the following criteria:
- GreatSchools.org Score
- Total crimes per 100k
- Unemployment rate
- Average commute time
- Median household income
- Median monthly housing costs (the lower the better)
We ranked each Minneapolis suburb in the above categories. Because some things are of extra importance to families, we weighted the GreatSchools.org score and total crimes per 100k score to make up 25 percent of the final score, while the rest of the categories made up 10 percent.
For this list, we sourced data from
AreaVibes, the U.S. Census, and GreatSchools.org.
Want to see how other Minneapolis suburbs measured up? Check out the table below:
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