The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 165 towns of 500–10,000 people in Minnesota. #1 is North Oaks, MN.

1. 25Luverne, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 81% of Minnesota towns

   Luverne is a city of 4,946 people in Rock County, Minnesota. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Minnesota towns and more walkable than 90% of Minnesota towns.

   4,946 people · Rock County · median home $208,000 · income $64,366 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

   Full Luverne, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Lake City, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns

   Lake City is a city of 5,252 people in Wabasha County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Minnesota towns and more walkable than 92% of Minnesota towns.

   5,252 people · Wabasha County · median home $238,700 · income $72,244 · Jan low 4°F · 34 in snow

   Full Lake City, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23La Crescent, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns

   La Crescent is a city of 5,276 people in Houston County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Minnesota towns and more walkable than 87% of Minnesota towns.

   5,276 people · Houston County · median home $272,400 · income $85,368 · Jan low 12°F · 38 in snow

   Full La Crescent, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Marion, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 84% of Minnesota towns

   Marion is a township of 4,027 people in Olmsted County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Minnesota towns and more of a college town than 94% of Minnesota towns.

   4,027 people · Olmsted County · median home $416,100 · income $116,797 · Jan low 7°F · 52 in snow

   Full Marion, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Zumbrota, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 85% of Minnesota towns

   Zumbrota is a city of 3,726 people in Goodhue County, Minnesota. It also ranks better transit than 83% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 79% of Minnesota towns.

   3,726 people · Goodhue County · median home $249,300 · income $78,156 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

   Full Zumbrota, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Cascade, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   Cascade is a township of 2,837 people in Olmsted County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Minnesota towns and better transit than 93% of Minnesota towns.

   2,837 people · Olmsted County · median home $506,800 · income $150,000 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

   Full Cascade, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Caledonia, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   Caledonia is a city of 2,847 people in Houston County, Minnesota. It also ranks more walkable than 86% of Minnesota towns and more of a college town than 83% of Minnesota towns.

   2,847 people · Houston County · median home $157,900 · income $76,477 · Jan low 8°F · 45 in snow

   Full Caledonia, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Deephaven, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   Deephaven is a city of 3,899 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Minnesota towns and better for families than 98% of Minnesota towns.

   3,899 people · Hennepin County · median home $935,900 · income $197,679 · Jan low 6°F · 55 in snow

   Full Deephaven, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Cohasset, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 88% of Minnesota towns

   Cohasset is a city of 2,689 people in Itasca County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of Minnesota towns and better for families than 86% of Minnesota towns.

   2,689 people · Itasca County · median home $330,500 · income $92,692 · Jan low -3°F · 60 in snow

   Full Cohasset, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Corcoran, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns

    Corcoran is a city of 6,185 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for families than 98% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 94% of Minnesota towns.

    6,185 people · Hennepin County · median home $569,400 · income $133,423 · Jan low 7°F · 45 in snow

    Full Corcoran, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Montevideo, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns

    Montevideo is a city of 5,398 people in Chippewa County, Minnesota. It also ranks hipper than 96% of Minnesota towns and more walkable than 87% of Minnesota towns.

    5,398 people · Chippewa County · median home $141,000 · income $68,596 · Jan low 2°F · 46 in snow

    Full Montevideo, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Shorewood, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns

    Shorewood is a city of 7,783 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Minnesota towns and better for families than 98% of Minnesota towns.

    7,783 people · Hennepin County · median home $703,200 · income $171,063 · Jan low 6°F · 55 in snow

    Full Shorewood, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Breezy Point, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns

    Breezy Point is a city of 2,574 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Minnesota towns and better for young professionals than 79% of Minnesota towns.

    2,574 people · Crow Wing County · median home $340,800 · income $85,938 · Jan low -1°F · 39 in snow

    Full Breezy Point, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Ely, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns

    Ely is a city of 3,268 people in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Minnesota towns and hipper than 100% of Minnesota towns.

    3,268 people · St. Louis County · median home $157,300 · income $43,901 · Jan low -7°F · 65 in snow

    Full Ely, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Collegeville, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    Collegeville is a township of 3,344 people in Stearns County, Minnesota. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Minnesota towns and better transit than 99% of Minnesota towns.

    3,344 people · Stearns County · median home $468,600 · income $115,909 · Jan low 4°F · 57 in snow

    Full Collegeville, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Benson, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    Benson is a city of 3,480 people in Swift County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Minnesota towns and more of a college town than 100% of Minnesota towns.

    3,480 people · Swift County · median home $156,000 · income $52,821 · Jan low 1°F · 43 in snow

    Full Benson, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Grant, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    Grant is a city of 3,966 people in Washington County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for families than 100% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 98% of Minnesota towns.

    3,966 people · Washington County · median home $683,400 · income $150,875 · Jan low 5°F · 47 in snow

    Full Grant, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Northern, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns

    Northern is a township of 4,535 people in Beltrami County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 87% of Minnesota towns.

    4,535 people · Beltrami County · median home $320,200 · income $99,848 · Jan low -4°F · 49 in snow

    Full Northern, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Independence, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns

    Independence is a city of 3,755 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of Minnesota towns and better for young professionals than 90% of Minnesota towns.

    3,755 people · Hennepin County · median home $663,400 · income $186,597 · Jan low 3°F · 45 in snow

    Full Independence, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Glenwood, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns

    Glenwood is a city of 2,657 people in Pope County, Minnesota. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Minnesota towns and better for cycling than 91% of Minnesota towns.

    2,657 people · Pope County · median home $179,400 · income $42,188 · Jan low 2°F · 46 in snow

    Full Glenwood, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Afton, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns

    

    Afton is a city of 2,955 people in Washington County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Minnesota towns and better for families than 95% of Minnesota towns.

    2,955 people · Washington County · median home $679,300 · income $133,305 · Jan low 6°F · 47 in snow

    Full Afton, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Scandia, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns

    Scandia is a city of 3,984 people in Washington County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of Minnesota towns and better for families than 84% of Minnesota towns.

    3,984 people · Washington County · median home $475,800 · income $101,953 · Jan low 3°F · 52 in snow

    Full Scandia, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3May, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns

    May is a township of 2,670 people in Washington County, Minnesota. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 97% of Minnesota towns.

    2,670 people · Washington County · median home $685,700 · income $137,321 · Jan low 5°F · 48 in snow

    Full May, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Wayzata, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns

    Wayzata is a city of 4,434 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Minnesota towns and more upscale than 98% of Minnesota towns.

    4,434 people · Hennepin County · median home $1,153,400 · income $131,614 · Jan low 7°F · 54 in snow

    Full Wayzata, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1North Oaks, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns

    North Oaks is a city of 5,272 people in Ramsey County, Minnesota. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Minnesota towns and better for young professionals than 93% of Minnesota towns.

    5,272 people · Ramsey County · median home $821,200 · income $231,742 · Jan low 8°F · 40 in snow

    Full North Oaks, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Minnesota rankings

• The 14 Quietest Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
• The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Minnesota

Same ranking, other places

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