Minneapolis at a Glance
The birthplace of Prince. The launchpad of Bob Dylan. The home of the Honeycrisp, hot dishes and pho. The land of walleye and waterfalls, of Minnesota nice and wild rice. The purveyor of retail marvels at the Mall of America and the brewer of Unverified Miracles from craft co-ops like Fair State. The headwaters of the Mississippi, the headquarters of industry. The City of Lakes, the Mill City, the cherry on top of the Midwestern sundae — and the home of the famous Spoonbridge with Cherry. Minneapolis is a city that truly contains multitudes.
But when your state drink is milk and your state muffin is the blueberry, you face a steep challenge in rising above a bland reputation. But Minneapolis has achieved this, not by disavowing these wholesome traits but by embracing and building on them.
As the younger, larger (and, dare we say, cooler) of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis has grown by more than 11% since 2010, outpacing its sibling St. Paul — the Minnesota state capital — and making itself the North Star State’s largest city. With Minneapolis’ population of 425,000 and a metro area population of over 3.7 million, the majority of Minnesota’s residents live within the capital region.
One reason for the popularity is the diverse job market. Commercial giants in manufacturing, retail, finance and healthcare along with non-profits like the University of Minnesota attract and maintain a ready workforce in the region. Another draw is its cultural amenities. An amazing food scene, great architecture, terrific museums and incredible spots to get outdoors — all these experiences make enduring the brutal winters worth it. Especially if you have a snow bike.
It’s important to plan and prepare for your move. Read the moving guide below to get a sense of what it’s like living in Minneapolis and the Upper Midwest. We’ll give you an insider’s look at the job market, the cost of living, popular neighborhoods and hangouts, public transportation and more. Get a moving quote now for Minneapolis.
Cost of Living in Minneapolis
The weather in this northern metropolis may be chilly but the cool amenities keep the cost of living far above average. Minneapolitans will spend more than the average U.S. resident on most common household expenses, including housing, food, healthcare, personal insurance/pensions and miscellaneous items. And let’s not forget child-care costs in Minnesota are some of the highest in the country, and parents should budget at least $14,000/year for center-based care and over $9,000/year for home-based care.
Real estate in Minneapolis is one of the biggest pinch points. The median home value in the city is $328,700 — far above the national average of $281,900 — and topping even Chicago prices by $20,000. Minneapolis is a far cry from other Minnesota cities, like St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester, where median prices can be as low as $189,600. Only Bloomington closely rivals Minneapolis, but its rate of homeownership is more than 12 points higher than the Mill City and income levels in Bloom-town beat Minneapolis by more than $10K. Rent in Minneapolis is also a strain, averaging $1,267 between 2018 and 2022, perhaps another contributing factor to the high poverty rate in the Twin Cities.
Finding Employment in Minneapolis
The flip side to the City of Lake’s high cost of living is its job market. Unemployment rates are at historic lows in Minneapolis, holding steady at just 2.6% from April 2023 to April 2024. Good news for the city’s 2 million nonfarm workers. Besides the government, three industries dominate the Minneapolis workforce: education and health services; trade, transportation and utilities; and professional and business services. But the manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and financial activities sectors also have a robust presence in the market.
Education and health services are bolstered by the presence of several local colleges, including the University of Minnesota, Augsburg University, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Macalester. And then there’s the commercial sector. UnitedHealthcare is just one of the 15 companies to earn a spot on the 2023 Forbes 500 list, which also includes dairy giant Land O’Lakes, global retailer Target, U.S. Bancorp and food manufacturer General Mills — you have Mill City to thank for your Lucky Charms.
Those who love outdoor mayhem, particularly of the snow-based variety, will be thrilled to know that their new home city is also the headquarters of Polaris, which specializes in the manufacture of deep-snow dirt bikes like the Riot and 4-wheel ATVs for off-roading in the warm seasons. This company produces such high-octane products, that you might need a helmet just to ride a desk at corporate.
Neighborhoods of Minneapolis
Many people say that Minneapolis is a big city with small-town vibes, but there are so many layers to its cultural appeal that we think of it more as an opera cake or a slice of baklava or, on Vikings game days, an extreme 7-layer dip. The best way to experience them is to just dig in.
Downtown Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis is bordered by the I-94 – I-35 corridor to the south and the Mighty Miss to the north. Positioned between these two thoroughfares gives the city easy access to nature and commerce, but the beauty of the riverfront certifies Minneapolis as a stunning river city. There are amazing lofts in the historic Mill District, luxury riverfront penthouses and new apartments that approximate industrial chic without the not-so-charming detractions of actual historic infrastructure, like rickety elevators and windows that have been painted open. The downtown core is the business district, the arts district and the sports district. So, you can go to work, your favorite restaurant, a ball game and the theatre, all within walking distance of your house. And, unlike many downtown areas, Minneapolis’ city center is a thriving place for residents and visitors, even in winter, thanks to the Skyway.
South Minneapolis and Uptown
In South Minneapolis, you’ll find some of the artsiest areas, thanks in no small part to places like the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Funky coffee shops nearby, like the Boiler Room, and even funkier record shops, like Electric Fetus, give this area its signature flair. Bookworms will want to hit up Magers and Quinn on Hennepin to stockpile beach reads for the lakes in Uptown. The Chain of Lakes Regional Park in this coveted, waterfront district is one of the biggest draws. You can paddle or pedal between many of the parks in the district, ice skate in the wintertime, and shop at all the fun boutiques like Les Sól in between outings. Housing around the Chain of Lakes can be pricy, especially if you want a view, but you’ll find a wide range of options here. Turn-of-the-last century bungalows and duplexes, single-family clapboards and shiny new condos are all available in this eclectic area.
Dinkytown and Northeast Minneapolis
The University of Minnesota ensures a healthy draw to the opposite side of the Mississippi, where 50,000 Gophers (of the academic variety) burrow into Dinkytown. But beyond the lively Big-10 scene, many diverse neighborhoods await in Northeast Minneapolis, from the brick storefronts in the Riverfront District to the quirks and perks of the Arts District. There are great parks and greenspaces along the river, like Boom Island, and restaurants like Broken Clock Brewing and Diane’s Place — a Hmong brunch spot — make it easy to kick back and enjoy the views. One of our favorite places is Young Joni, whose delightful menu tempts with international and hometown flavors. There’s branzino grilled with lemongrass and Thai chili and lamb meatballs with feta and olives, but their pizzas travel the world over. Korean BBQ? Check. Basque pizza with chorizo, piquilloes and preserved lemons? Check. A Perfect Pickle Pie with ranch dressing, potato chips and smoked onions? Natch! Housing in Northeast Minneapolis is far more affordable than in other districts, so if you’re looking for a single-family in a cool area, this may be a good spot to check out. Prairie-style bungalows, three-story farmhouses (some needing a little TLC) and mid-century ramblers lend architectural interest to these welcoming neighborhoods.
Note: If you’re planning to move to Minneapolis, it’s important to thoroughly research the neighborhoods and areas in the city you might be interested in living. Before you decide where you are going to reside, make sure you understand the neighborhood’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information.
Things to Do and See in Minneapolis
Great Outdoors
This city may be known for its stick-to-your-ribs cooking, and Minneapolitans are certainly stout of soul, but there’s just something in the air – or maybe it’s the lake water – that makes Minneapolis’ citizens healthier, happier and less stressed than the rest of America. From the height of summer to the depths of winter, there are tons of fun outdoor activities to keep you in good spirits and good shape.
Speaking of which, one of your first stops in your new city should be the Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Rent a bike, a kayak or a paddle board, and you’re set for a day of fun. We don’t want to ruin one of the city’s great secrets, but the Hidden Beach is just too nice not to share with our closest friends. Of course, the crowds you’ll sometimes find in this lakeside hideaway belie its longtime moniker, so clearly someone spilled the beans before we did. Now known as Cedar Lake East Beach, this tucked-away spot is one of 12 beaches in the Minneapolis park system, but it’s the only one we know of that used to be the province of nudists.
Minneapolis parks aren’t just for lake-dwellers, either. The city is ranked among the nation’s best for its park systems, and amongst the 180 public greenspaces in the city, flower lovers will find a dozen formal gardens, golfers will find plenty of places to spoil a good walk and birders will be dazzled by barred owls and yellow-rumped warblers at the T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary. The region is also known for its many mesmerizing waterfalls, and none are more spectacular than the Minnehaha Falls, where you’ll sometimes have to wait in line behind prom-goers and brides-and-grooms-to-be to snap a perfect pic.
But what do you do during a Minnesota winter? Well, don’t expect anybody to be hibernating, except for groundhogs and wood frogs. Mountain bikers will be out on snowy, wooded trails, off-roading it in conditions that make Southerners’ hearts stop beating. Fishermen will be out on the lakes, chilling and drilling for crappies, northern pike and walleye. And everyone else will be skiing, skating and tubing before hitting the hot chocolate and apple cider hard. For an upscale escape, immerse yourself in the Twin Cities thermaculture scene, and book a private, Nordic sauna experience at the Four Seasons. Mobile saunas pop up when the temperatures drop, too, so you don’t need to have been bottle-fed exclusively on Voss to get a genuine Scandinavian experience in the city.
Kid and Family-Friendly Activities
One of the reasons Minneapolis has become so popular is that it’s both cool and kid friendly. The Mall of America (MOA) may not be our favorite place (at least we’re not willing to admit it), but it’s almost certainly going to be one of your kids’. They can make their own Crayons, ride till they drop at Nickelodeon Universe and experience a 5D virtual reality shark attack. We still haven’t recovered from that encounter with prehistoric sea monsters, so weigh your child’s tolerance for aquatic terror carefully. Afterward, get your maritime revenge at Kura Sushi or Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls.
Outside the big-box experience of the MOA, this city knows how to make imaginations come to life with only-in-Minneapolis attractions. The Walker Art Museum is a wow for aficionados and the uninitiated, alike. No one ever on planet Earth saw the Spoonbridge with Cherry and said “meh.” It’s just too charming. And that’s only one of the universal draws you’ll find in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker. The museum offers kids’ activities on the first Saturday of the month when admission is free.
The Minneapolis Children’s Museum is always a hit with the smaller set, and everyone will get into the shows at the Children’s Theatre Company, where books by Mo Willems and Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson come to life, and high-flying acts like the Zip Zap Circus produce OMG-grade delights.
On Saturdays, more than 100 vendors set up shop at the Mill City Farmer’s Market, and you’ll find everything from hot honey to hand-forged knives and homespun wool at this heirloom-forward spot. Live entertainment and food vendors make the chore of Saturday shopping a waited-for weekend diversion. Grab a gluten-free scone from Janna’s, a slice of basbousa from Manoush or a piece of lingonberry-peach pie from Vikings & Goddesses, and your weekend bingo card of fun will already feel complete.
When the depths of winter set in, you’ll still have a lot to look forward to in Minneapolis, thanks to the Great Northern Festival. This interactive and intellectual fest brings artists, performers, thinkers, chefs and the citizens of Minnesota into the cold for conversations around the Ice Bar, in the sauna and on the snowy trails for fun and conversation. Lightshows and kick sledding in the evening keep things fun well after dark, which sets in around 5 p.m. in January.
Sports
Of course, there’s no better way to rouse the troops than by rallying some city pride at Minneapolis’ pro-sports events. Even toddlers will be sporting Minnesota Vikings horns, despite some less-than-stellar performances in 2023.
The Timberwolves fared far better, finishing out the season in third place in the Western Conference, as did the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. 2024 is already off to an auspicious start for the Minnesota United FC and the Minnesota Twins, whose last World Series title was won way back in 1991.
Ice hockey is a serious sport for pros and amateurs in this Upper Midwestern state, and the Minnesota Wild has been tearing up the ice here since 2000. The PWHL team, which completed its inaugural season in 2023, made headlines when Minnesota took home the first-ever Walter Cup.
Getting Around in Minneapolis
Do you need a car to commute to Minneapolis? Can you ride a bike in the winter? Where do they put all the snow?
These are all valid and important questions to ask when you’re moving to Minneapolis. The mean travel time to work in the Mill City averages just under 23 minutes, which is about average for Midwestern cities (excluding traffic-laden Chicago), but several minutes faster than the average metro in the U.S.
While having a car in the city is practical, only half of Minneapolitans surveyed in 2018 stated that they most frequently relied on their car for travel. Other residents biked, walked or used public transportation to get around the city. And the city’s bike and scooter share program has remained popular since it launched in 2018. Minneapolis has committed to making the city greener and more sustainable, by implementing a Climate Action Plan and the Minneapolis 2040 plan, which also addresses inequities in housing, wages, environmental safety and access to amenities.
The plans include improvements to Minneapolis’ public transportation system, MetroTransit, which serves residents with local buses, bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail and commuter rail lines. The standard fare is $2.50 during rush hour and full-day passes are also available. Prices decrease in the off-hours and on weekends, and express and commuter services are more expensive. Downtown-only fares are less than a dollar.
But what about when the mercury drops? That’s when the Skyway system comes in handy. Even during the spring and fall rains, you’ll be grateful for this interconnected system of enclosed walkways, which can take you from transit stops through office buildings, hotels and even above smaller shops. And all those minutes you’ll save not redressing for the arctic air add up. You can binge the entire first season of Fargo in the time you won’t spend zipping and unzipping your parka.
Commuting in the snow can take some adjusting, but the city is excellent at plowing, and residents are required to clear their sidewalks so that pedestrians can get around. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with snow regulations so you don’t park in the wrong place and get fined – or worse, towed or plowed in – but you can sign up for snow emergency alerts so you’re always in the know. Having an all-wheel-drive vehicle helps, but you’ll also see people cycling in crazy weather – they do make winter tires for bikes, so if you’re determined to ride the rime, you’ll be in good company.
The thing that takes the most getting used to? Seeing people in shorts when it’s 30°F. C’mon, even Santa wears a full suit.
If access to great museums, restaurants and 10,000 lakes seems like the best move for your family, see how Mayflower can help get you there.
Get a moving quote now for Minneapolis.
Practical Tips for Moving to Minneapolis
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Tips for a Smooth Relocation Process
- Secure quotes and understand how moving quotes are calculated. Don’t get caught off-guard by hidden fees or unexpected charges.
- Choose a professional moving company. Working with a trusted team can save you time, stress and money by helping you avoid common, amateur mistakes.
- Start planning for other parts of your move as early as possible. Organizing documents, finding schools for your kids, closing on your new house and even planning farewell parties will be less overwhelming the sooner you begin.
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