437,069
Population
Sunny Days: 198
57100 Affordability
80100 Schools
53100 Diversity
52100 Safety
I like Hollywood. I just like Minneapolis a little bit better
-Prince
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cosmopolitan & Provincial
The Best Thing About Minneapolis?
It's Just Right
It's big enough to feel cosmopolitan but small enough to avoid that scene when you’re not feeling it. In other words, if you like a Hobbit lifestyle but want to reserve the right to mix with the erudite, arts-oriented crowd, the twin cities are good for you. You can get the city when you want it, and the quiet life when you don’t.
Here's a pov on Minneapolis from a transplant:Speaking only for myself here…I love it. I'm originally from California, spent about 6 years in New Jersey, and have been here for a little over 6 years now. To me, Minneapolis is the right scale of city -- it's big enough that it has everything you might want out of a city (food, arts, culture, music, sports, etc) but small enough that it's not overwhelming, either on a physical scale like the sprawl of LA or on a density/people scale like a place like NYC.
For more reviews of Minneapolis from locals check out: The Buzz
The Worst Thing About Minneapolis?
Winter is Coming
Winter is a six month grind in the Twin Cities that can be difficult to adjust to if you’re not used to winters. While the city does its best to mitigate the havoc this can wreak on city infrastructure, winter driving in Minneapolis has historically been more of an issue than in other midwest cities like Chicago. Brush up on your winter driving skills and pack a coat or three.
Here's a local with a pretty balanced pov on the weather:Summers are hot and humid, and in some places the mosquitoes are out of control. Fall is really nice until late October or early November. After that the bottom drops out, and you are in for a brutal winter. The cold can be really painful, even dangerous. Realistically, you'll switch to shorts in early May.
Lifestyle Of Minneapolis
Minneapolitans are considered nice-ish, public radio listening, Prius/Subaru-driving, fashion-illiterate, hardworking, responsible, slightly judgmental and environmentally conscious. Locals are well educated and there is a certain ‘house mouse’ vibe (readers, walkers and urban monks), but make no mistake, Minneapolitans get loud for their pro baseball, football, hockey (of course) and basketball teams.
Minneapolis is also serious about performing arts, none more so than theater, and the city is known for its quality craft beer scene. One common critique is that dating and making new friends is hard as it tends to be a standoffish culture (the term ‘passive-aggressive’ gets tossed around a lot in conversations about twin city dwellers).
If you want to see what locals get up to for fun and culture check out the calendar of events:https://www.minneapolis.org/calendar/
Workstyle Of Minneapolis
There’s more variety in Minneapolis than you might think for a medium-sized midwest city. Big name corporations like Target, Best Buy, and UnitedHealth headline the list of local Fortune 500s. Health and medical jobs are also readily available as Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Upsher-Smith and the National Bone Marrow Donor Program are prominent local employers. Finally, industrial and food heavyweights 3M and Cargill round out the robust economy. Generally, the average wage is slightly higher and the average cost of living slightly lower than national averages, so on balance it’s a solid economy.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Stable Market and a Cozy Midwestern Atmosphere
The job market in Minneapolis is excellent, with good wages and an unemployment rate well below the national average. That coupled with a smaller town feel makes Minneapolis a great place for youngsters or families to consider.
Living in Minneapolis
Neighborhoods in Minneapolis
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The Area
Nicknamed “Twin Cities,” Minneapolis and St. Paul are close enough to connect by an easy to navigate rail system. Both cities are in the central northeast part of the state, close to Wisconsin. Minneapolis lies along the Mississippi and the Minnesota River, highlighting the importance of water to both the city and the state of Minnesota. As “The Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minneapolis doesn’t disappoint with 13 lakes, wetlands, rivers, creeks and waterfalls, and more all within city limits. Minneapolis and St. Paul sit tucked away from other major midwest cities. The closest major metropolitan area is Chicago, a 6-hour drive southeast.
North Loop
Young Professionals
Minneapolis locals can be a bit cold, so if you’re a young professional moving to the area, we hope you have an office where you can get to know some people your age or close to it. Getting settled and feeling welcome are important to a lot of people, which is why it’s crucial for young professionals to live in a neighborhood with a lot to do and a (relatively) friendly feel. We suggest checking out North Loop, a popular alternative to the recently underwhelming Uptown. It’s a decently walkable neighborhood with a ton of condos, coffee shops, cocktail bars, breweries, and restaurants. It’s full of young professionals so there’s a chance you’ll find it easier than most to make friends living here. Bonus points for being close to the river and the rail system.
- North Loop
- Uptown
- Loring Park
Northeast
LGBTQ+
Northeast is one of the newer LGBTQ neighborhoods and is home to a growing collection of LGBTQ+ owned and supportive art galleries, cafes, boutiques, microbreweries and overall community.
If you're looking for a quieter choice consider Loring Park. Primarily residential the area is known for its beautiful green spaces, lake and extensive hiking and biking trails. It also has cool cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops.
- Northeast Minneapolis
- Loring Park
- Powderhorn Park
Loring Park
Young Families
Although taxes in Minneapolis can seem high, the overall cost of living can seem downright cheap if you are moving from a large city like Chicago or NYC. We suggest starting your search in Northeast. If you are ready to start a family but can’t quite picture yourself in the suburbs, this is your spot. It’s a popular spot thanks to the breweries, yoga studios, and adorable houses. You’ll have a super short commute if you work downtown, since it’s nestled right near the northeast corner of Minneapolis’ downtown.
- Northeast
- Loring Park
- Linden Hills
Linden Hills
Established Families
Linden Hills is a hit amongst families in Minneapolis. Located southwest of downtown, this neighborhood also borders two of the city's lakes: Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, as well as Lake Harriet Bandshell Park and Lyndale Park Rose Garden. This neighborhood has access to some great schools as well as bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks for weekends out with family or friends.
- Linden Hills
- Fulton
- Nokomis
Uptown
Retirees
If you recently retired and find yourself itching for a new place to live where you can really enjoy yourself, look no further. In Minneapolis you get two cities in one with St. Paul a quick train ride away. If you want to be close to the action, look no further than Loring Park. There are homes to rent or buy, it’s downtown adjacent, and it’s the spot to be for the huge spring/summer/fall festivals and events in the park.
- Loring Park
- Uptown
- North Loop