The largest cities in Minnesota may surprise you! According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, there are 854 cities in Minnesota. There are hundreds of towns, Census-designated communities, and unincorporated communities as well. These communities give you many options when you're looking for a new place to live in Minnesota. However, the sheer number of options can make your home search overwhelming.
You can make things simpler by focusing just on the 10 largest cities in Minnesota. However, even that focus on Minnesota major cities can be tricky. Start by learning more about the state of Minnesota and then dive into the demographics, population data, and attractions in each city. Here's what to know about the 10 largest cities in Minnesota.
Before you start looking at the largest cities in Minnesota, you should learn more about Minnesota demographics. Here is the latest data about Minnesota and Minnesota major cities from the Census Bureau:
Minnesota is the 22nd most populous state in the country. Only one city in Minnesota ranks in the top 50 most populous cities in the country. Minnesota is the 12th-largest state in the country in terms of land area and the 32nd-most-dense state in terms of population density. The Minnesota population has grown steadily over the last few decades. Between 2010 and 2020, the population grew by 7.6%.
Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota and the 46th-largest city in the country. When people think of major cities in Minnesota, they often think of Minneapolis. Minneapolis's nickname is the "City of Lakes" for its 13 lakes, access to the Mississippi River, and scenic creeks and waterfalls. It's a bustling and vibrant city with some of the top schools, museums, and things to do in the state of Minnesota. US News ranks Minneapolis in the top 100 places to live in the country, the highest of any city in Minnesota and major cities in Minnesota.
Minneapolis is a great all-around city, no matter what you're looking for in cities in Minnesota by population. Minneapolis is one of the best of the largest cities in Minnesota for students. College students can attend the University of Minnesota (UMN), which has its main campus in the city, with smaller campuses in other Minnesota major cities. Families with young children can also enjoy the public schools from Minneapolis Public Schools. US News ranks four Minneapolis elementary schools in the top 100 elementary schools in the state and two Minneapolis high schools in the top 50 high schools in Minnesota.
Art enthusiasts can visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), the Walker Art Center, and the Guthrie Theater. The Trust for Public Land ranked Minneapolis the second-best city in the US for access to parks, with 99% of Minneapolis residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
St. Paul (also known as Saint Paul) is the second largest city in Minnesota. It and Minneapolis form the Twin Cities, as the two cities are across the Mississippi River from each other. The Twin Cities metropolitan area covers 15 counties, two of which are in Wisconsin. The Twin Cities area includes most of the largest cities in Minnesota and Minnesota major cities.
Saint Paul is the capital of Minnesota, and it's home to the Minnesota State Capitol and state government offices. This makes St. Paul one of the best largest cities in Minnesota for politics and government work. St. Paul is best known for its rich history, being one of the oldest cities in Minnesota and one of the most historic cities in Minnesota by population.
Many St. Paul neighborhoods have historic homes and historic buildings, including the James J Hill House and the Cathedral of St. Paul. You can also visit more modern and eclectic attractions like Xcel Energy Center, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Rochester is the biggest city in Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities area. Rochester is best known for the Mayo Clinic, one of the top hospitals in the United States. According to DataUSA, over 26,000 residents in Rochester work in health care, with nearly all of them working at the Mayo Clinic. Many businesses cater to tourists and out-of-town visitors getting treatment at the Mayo Clinic, including a number of hotels.
Besides the Mayo Clinic, Rochester is well known for its technological innovation. It's one of the best Minnesota largest cities for jobs and technology careers. It's home to the Rochester Technology Campus, which is home to offices for IBM and other technology companies. It's also home to the Federal Medical Center, Rochester (FMC Rochester), one of the top hospitals for federal inmates in America.
Duluth is on Lake Superior in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota. It's one of the top largest cities in Minnesota for water access and scenic views. It is the largest American city on Lake Superior, and it's well known for being a major shipping port. Duluth is another of the best Minnesota largest cities for jobs. The Duluth Port generates nearly $600 million in revenue every year and supports over 7,100 jobs, most of which are in Duluth.
Duluth is also a major hub for tourism in the Great Lakes and Arrowhead Region. Spirit Mountain is one of the highest ski hills in the state, with a vertical elevation of roughly 700 feet. You can go hiking on a 39-mile section of the Superior Hiking Trail and enjoy scenic views of the North Star State.
Bloomington is best known for the Mall of America, the largest enclosed shopping mall in America. This makes Bloomington one of the best biggest Minnesota cities by population for shopping. The Mall of America contains over 500 stores and a number of unique attractions. You and your kids can visit Nickelodeon Universe, the largest indoor theme park in America. You can also visit the Mall of America Aquarium, which is home to over 4,500 sea animals and a 300-foot-long tunnel through water.
Bloomington is also a hub for corporate headquarters among the largest cities in Minnesota. Dairy Queen, Dayforce, and HealthPartners have their corporate headquarters in Bloomington. Commuters can enjoy the close access to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP Airport) and major roads, including Interstates 35W and 494 and US Route 169. The convenient access to public transportation makes Bloomington one of the top largest cities in Minnesota for commuters and frequent travelers.
Brooklyn Park is one of the largest Minnesota cities by population along the Mississippi River. It's also one of the largest cities in Minnesota that still has large patches of undeveloped land. It has nearly 2,000 acres of parkland with 120 miles of walking trails. Every home in Brooklyn Park is within walking distance of at least one park, with many homes within walking distance of a Minnesota river. Brooklyn Park is a Tree City USA, meaning the city has an official tree department and a public tree care ordinance.
Brooklyn Park contains a number of top community and technical colleges, especially for the biggest cities in Minnesota. North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) has over 70 academic programs for certificates and associate's degrees. Hennepin Technical College (Hennepin Tech) has programs in the culinary arts, fire protection, public works, and other areas.
Woodbury was historically one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota. According to the Census Bureau, between 1950 and 1990, the population increased by nearly 20 times. While the population growth has slowed somewhat in recent decades, Woodbury continues to expand. It's now one of the largest cities in Minnesota and in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Like other of the largest cities in Minnesota, Woodbury is well known for its parks and recreational activities. The city contains over 170 miles of trails, most of which connect Woodbury neighborhoods and Woodbury parks together. Woodbury contains roughly 3,500 acres of parkland, including the Tamarack Nature Preserve, which is home to marsh plants, birds, and creatures not found in other Minnesota cities and parks.
Consumer Affairs ranks Plymouth in the top 10 best places to live in the Midwest, higher than all other Minnesota major cities. Consumer Affairs ranks the community in the top 10 places in the Midwest for education and in the top 20 for safety. Plymouth has fewer major attractions than some of the largest cities in Minnesota, making it good for people looking for a quiet place to live.
Wayzata High School is in Plymouth. Over 3,700 students attend classes at Wayzata High School, making it the largest high school in the state. US News ranks Wayzata High School in the top 10 high schools in Minnesota and in the top 400 high schools in the country. The school has won many recent championships in athletics, quiz bowl, and mathematics.
Lakeville is the largest city in Dakota County. The city was largely small until the 1960s, when industrialization turned Lakeville into a boomtown. It's still one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota, even among the biggest cities in Minnesota. You can visit many top attractions in Lakeville, including the Crystal Lake Golf Course. The course contains 18 holes with well-manicured greens, sand bunkers, and water obstacles.
When the Lakeville weather is bad, you can go inside to a few different attractions. Emagine Lakeville is one of the top movie theaters among the largest cities in Minnesota, including downtown Minneapolis. You can also visit Lakeville restaurants like Gary’s Supper Club and Teresa's Mexican Restaurant.
Lakeville has the highest median household income of the largest cities in Minnesota. Its median household income is nearly 1.75 times higher than the state median. However, it does not have the highest median income of any community in Minnesota. Minnetonka Beach has a median household income of over $250,000. Lakeville is also the safest of the largest cities in Minnesota, with an overall crime rate of less than one-third the state rate.
Blaine is well known for its connections to sports. It's one of the best Minnesota major cities for athletes, including amateur athletes. The National Sports Center in Blaine is the largest amateur sports facility in the world. The center covers 600 acres and is home to over 100 different programs, with special events throughout the year. TPC Twin Cities is home to the 3M Open, a PGA Tour event.
Blaine has a quaint and family-friendly atmosphere. It's a quiet place to live, so it's good for retirees and businesspeople who want a nice place to go to after work. Blaine has a number of neighborhoods you can move to, each with a strong sense of community and convenient access to amenities. Club West is a compact neighborhood close to the National Sports Center and TPC Twin Cities.
You can use this map to find the largest cities in Minnesota, including things to do located in each city.
According to the Minnesota state government, there are 854 cities in Minnesota. This figure does not include towns or Census-designated places.
Minneapolis is the biggest city in Minnesota, with a population of 425,142.
5,737,915 people currently live in Minnesota. The largest cities in Minnesota account for a substantial portion of the population.
Dayton is currently the fastest-growing city in Minnesota, though it's not currently one of the largest cities in Minnesota. According to the US Census, the population of Dayton grew by 39.8% between 2020 and 2023.
The largest cities in Minnesota are phenomenal! Minneapolis and St. Paul get a lot of attention for their top colleges, museums, and historic neighborhoods. But you can go to other Minnesota major cities like Rochester and Duluth and enjoy unique attractions like the Mayo Clinic.
You can get top Minnesota movers to help you relocate to any of these largest cities in Minnesota. The Move Crew has 10 years of experience in the moving industry. Call 612-361-6787 for a free quote now.
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