Every suburb around the Twin Cities has its own personality. Here is an honest look at nine of the ones we move families into most, so you can figure out which one actually fits before you sign a lease or make an offer.
People ask us this question almost as often as they ask about pricing. You know you want out of your current spot, and you know you are staying somewhere in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but the suburbs all start to blur together after the third Zillow tab. We have moved families into most of them, so here is what each one is actually like to live in, not just what the real estate listing says.
Lakeville is one of the fastest growing cities in Minnesota, and it feels that way when you drive through it. New developments keep going up near I-35, but there are also older, established neighborhoods around Lake Marion if you want more mature trees and a slower pace. It is a good fit if you want new construction options without giving up easy freeway access to Minneapolis. On our end, Lakeville moves range from newer apartments like Wildwood and Lakeville Pointe to homes around Lake Marion and Orchard Lake.
Read more about moving to Lakeville →Farmington is where CPM started in 2022, so we are a little biased, but it earns the recommendation on its own merits. It is quieter than its neighbors, with a genuine small town feel that is harder to find the closer you get to the cities. If you want more house for your money and do not mind a slightly longer commute, it is worth a serious look. A lot of our Farmington moves are into newer neighborhoods like Meadowview Preserve and Sapphire Lakes.
Read more about moving to Farmington →Woodbury consistently ranks as one of the most sought after communities in the east metro, and the schools are a big reason why. It has grown a lot over the last decade without losing the sense of having actual neighborhoods rather than just subdivisions. Expect higher demand and faster moving seasons here than in some of the smaller cities on this list. It is also our home base now, so we know neighborhoods like Colby Lake and Evergreen well.
Read more about moving to Woodbury →Edina is one of the more prestigious addresses in the Twin Cities, and the housing stock reflects it. This is where you go if you want established, upscale neighborhoods close to Minneapolis rather than a newer development further out. It comes with a price tag to match, but the location and the schools are hard to beat. Moves here run from condo buildings like 71 France to older Morningside homes with tight stairways.
Read more about moving to Edina →Minnetonka is a big, established suburb with real range in it. You will find quiet residential streets a few minutes from lakefront properties, which means the answer to "what is it like to live there" really depends on which part of Minnetonka you are talking about. It is a solid choice if you want options without committing to one narrow type of neighborhood, from apartments near Ridgedale to lake homes near Gray's Bay.
Read more about moving to Minnetonka →Wayzata is one of the most desirable addresses on Lake Minnetonka, and it draws people specifically for the water. Homes here tend to be higher value, and the expectations for how a move should go are higher too. If lakeside living is the whole point of your move, this is usually the city people mean when they say that. Most of our Wayzata moves are White Glove, with art, antiques, and pianos packed and protected.
Read more about moving to Wayzata →Maple Grove is one of the busiest moving markets we work in, and it is easy to see why once you are there. The schools are excellent, the neighborhoods are well kept, and there is enough new development that you can still find recently built homes. It is a good fit for families who want an established suburb that still feels like it is growing, whether that is an apartment near Arbor Lakes or a new build near Elm Creek.
Read more about moving to Maple Grove →Rosemount has been growing quickly, and a lot of that growth is newer neighborhoods built for families. The schools have a strong reputation, and it is pulling people in from across the metro who want that combination of new construction and a community feel. If you are moving with kids, it is worth putting on your list. We do a lot of closing-day moves into new construction in Amber Fields and Talamore.
Read more about moving to Rosemount →Eden Prairie is a top tier southwest metro community, with a mix of upscale neighborhoods, thriving local businesses, and consistently strong schools. It is a bit more built out than some of the newer suburbs, which means more established landscaping and fewer surprises about what the neighborhood will look like in ten years. Expect HOA move rules in a lot of its condo and townhome communities.
Read more about moving to Eden Prairie →These nine are just the start. We also move families in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Bloomington, Shakopee, Chaska, Prior Lake, Savage, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Roseville, and both Minneapolis and Saint Paul. See every area we serve.
None of these are wrong answers. The best suburb is the one that fits your commute, your school priorities, and your budget, not the one with the best marketing. If you are torn between two or three, tell us your priorities and we can at least tell you what moving into each one is actually like on our end.
Wherever you land in the Twin Cities, we'll get you there. Flat-rate or hourly, no hidden fees. MN DOT #385610