So, you’re curious about living in Minnesota? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Minnesota.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Minnesota matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Minnesota is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Minnesota
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Minnesota is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Minnesota:
- The state is incredibly low on crime rates-you can feel safe walking anywhere at night.
- The average commute time isn’t too long either–about 22 minutes each way for most people without kids or a long drive home from work, while those with kids spend about 40 minutes traveling back and forth every day.
- The overall cost of living is lower than many other states, but healthcare and groceries trend more expensive here.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Minnesota:
- Minnesota winters are some of the coldest in North America.
- Minnesota summers are typically hot and humid, but there’s plenty to do inside.
Read More: Is Minnesota a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Minnesota
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Minnesota? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Minnesota!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Minnesota.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Minnesota:
- Eden Prairie
- Minneapolis
- New Ulm
- Rochester
Read More: Best Places to Live in Minnesota
Checklist for Moving to Minnesota
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Minnesota. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Minnesota.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Minnesota:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Minnesota driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Minnesota
- Getting Minnesota car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Minnesota and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Minnesota.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Minnesota and your previous home state.
Visit your Minnesota Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Minnesota Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Minnesota.
Things to Know About Living in Minnesota
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Minnesota, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Minnesota
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Minnesota ranks 31st on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 101.6, meaning it’s a relatively average costing place to live.
Here is how Minnesota scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 105
- Housing: 90.4
- Utilities: 96.2
- Transportation: 102.8
- Health: 111.6
- Miscellaneous: 108.8
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Minnesota
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Minnesota from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Minnesota’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.88%, with an average local rate of .59% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 7.46%.
Check with the Minnesota tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Minnesota
If you own or plan to own real estate in Minnesota, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Minnesota ranks 32nd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.12%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Minnesota tax office for the most current tax rates.
Minnesota’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Minnesota is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Minnesota ranks 17th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Finance and insurance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Information
The top employer in Minnesota is Mayo Clinic.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Minnesota
Our Minnesota moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Minnesota is the Mall of America.
National Parks that you can visit in Minnesota include:
- Voyageurs National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Minnesota include:
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Pipestone National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Minnesota
Minnesota is the 32nd state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Canada, to its south is Iowa, to its east is Wisconsin, and to its west is North Dakota and South Dakota.
What is the capital of Minnesota?
The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul.
Saint Paul is located in Ramsey County with a population of 285,068.
What is the population of Minnesota?
The population of Minnesota based on 2020 US Census data is 5,706,494.
What is the largest city in Minnesota?
The largest city in Minnesota is Minneapolis.
Minneapolis has a population of 427,728, and it is located in Hennepin County.
What is the size of Minnesota?
Minnesota is 86,935 square miles, making it the 12th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Minnesota?
The state motto of Minnesota is: L’étoile du Nord / Quae sursum volo videre
What is the state bird of Minnesota?
The state bird of Minnesota is the Common loon.
What is the state flower of Minnesota?
The state flower of Minnesota is the Pink and white lady’s slipper.
What is the state tree of Minnesota?
The state tree of Minnesota is the Red Pine.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Minnesota?
The minimum wage in Minnesota is $8.21 to $10.08 per hour.
What is the median income in Minnesota?
The median annual household salary in Minnesota is $70,315.