Minnesota’s average rent is a hot topic because the state is such a desirable place to live. Its cities offer top-notch artistic and cultural attractions, vibrant neighborhoods and intriguing restaurants in close proximity to nature. A wealth of public green spaces make Minnesota’s many lakes, forests and prairies a part of the neighborhood.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is the largest population center in the state, so it’s no surprise that average rents are rising here. But you’ll also find in-demand Minnesota communities with an enviable quality of life on the shore of Lake Superior and along the Mississippi River.
Here’s a look at 10 of the hottest rental markets in Minnesota.
10. Oakdale
Source: Minnehaha Manor
- Average rent price increase: 11.43 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,073
Situated just north of I-94, Oakdale is a close-knit, family-friendly community of around 28,000 that’s part of the North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale school district. Residents enjoy the peace of small city life and easy access to urban attractions via 694, which runs north and south through the community.
There are dozens of parks, picnic spots and recreational centers within the Oakdale city limits. Wooded hiking and cycling trails weave through 220-acre Oakdale Nature Preserve. You’ll also find tennis courts, basketball courts and a gallery on the grounds. It’s located inside Oakdale Discovery Center, so residents can get a little culture while they experience nature.
9. Golden Valley
Source: Valley Village Apartments
- Average rent price increase: 11.49 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,655
This first-ring suburb sits just west of Minneapolis, north of 394. Golden Valley is a hilly, neighborhood-oriented place that blooms with lilacs in the spring and farmers markets during the summer. It boasts two golf courses and two nature preserves maintained by General Mills, which has its headquarters in town.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park is the largest park in the Minneapolis park system, but much of its acreage is actually in Golden Valley. It’s a popular spot for cycling, fishing, cross-country skiing and volleyball. Stock up on vinyl at Down in the Valley (one of the oldest record stores in the region) or try your luck at Game Show Battle Rooms.
8. Duluth
- Average rent price increase: 12.03 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,225
Charming lighthouses, steep, hilly streets and cool lake breezes make Duluth feel more like a town on the Atlantic coast instead of a city in northern Minnesota. Lake Superior is the heart of this harbor city and the Aerial Lift Bridge is its most enduring symbol.
Locals join the tourists along The Lakewalk, a 7.5-mile network of paved trails that give Duluth’s outdoorsy residents easy access to parks, beaches and views of the ships on the water. Lakefront dining and shopping in downtown Duluth is just a short walk away. The bustling Lincoln Park Craft District is a creative incubator for artists, brewers, chefs and craftspeople who proudly make local products.
7. New Brighton
Source: Windsor South Apartments
- Average rent price increase: 1.23 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,023
This northeastern suburb is equally close to both Minneapolis and St. Paul. New Brighton sits just west of the 694 and 35W intersection, which makes it easy for residents to move freely around the city and to neighboring suburbs.
New Brighton has a very good selection of dining options, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican and Middle Eastern options. Long Lake Regional Park draws visitors with a boat launch and swimming beach in the summer and the dramatically lit Ice Castles in the winter. Residents can play a round at Brightwood Hills Golf Course, stroll the walking trails in Creekview Park or bring the kids to Eagles Nest Indoor Playground.
6. Anoka
Source: Woodland Park
- Average rent price increase: 13.11 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,020
Anoka sprung up at the confluence of the Rum and Mississippi rivers. There are several parks and trails along the riverbanks in Anoka, perfect for walks along the water. Anglers fish above the Mississippi Dam and locals take their boats out below the dam.
Spend a few pleasant hours ambling through this northern Minneapolis suburb’s charming historic downtown district. Pop into a local café for breakfast, try local craft beer or an ice cream cone, then catch a play or concert at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage. Or play 18 holes at Green Haven Golf Course. It’s right in the neighborhood, as well.
5. Richfield
Source: Concierge Apartments
- Average rent price increase: 13.83 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,159
Richfield is an inner-ring suburb bordered by Minneapolis to the north and Bloomington (home of The Mall of America) to the south. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is just to the east, making Richfield popular with frequent travelers and people who like being close to the action.
Don’t miss Veterans Park. It contains an outdoor pool, the city’s picnic pavilion, mini-golf, a malt shop and The Richfield Ice Arena, home of the NAHL Minnesota Magicians hockey team. Rent a kayak or paddleboat in Taft Park or try hiking, bird watching or cross-country skiing at Wood Lake Nature Center.
4. Plymouth
Source: Vicksburg Village
- Average rent price increase: 14.24
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,572
Located just 15 miles west of downtown Minneapolis, Plymouth gives residents easy access to urban attractions and all of the benefits of comfortable suburban living. It’s easily accessible from 494. There are several picturesque places to visit within the Plymouth city limits.
Stroll through the gardens, fountains and trails, then explore the labyrinth in Millennium Garden. Clifton E. French Regional Park offers swimming, fishing and boating on Lake Medicine during warm weather and sledding and cross-country skiing during winter months. Parkers Lake Park features a beach, sand volleyball, walking trails, a playground and ice skating, all right along the water.
3. Apple Valley
Source: Springs at Cobblestone Lake
- Average rent price increase: 15.79 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,675
Cheerful Apple Valley is a southern Twin Cities suburb. The northwest corner of the city borders 35E. The Minnesota Zoo, which features animals from rainforests, the Pacific Coast of Russia, the Himalayas, the Mongolian steppe and oceans around the world, is a major draw for tourists and residents alike.
Apple Valley residents enjoy family-friendly neighborhoods, more than 60 restaurants and coffee shops, the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center’s waterslides and lazy river, and easy access to nearby Mall of America and Twin Cities Premium Outlets. Chocolates and caramels from Abdallah Candies (founded in Minneapolis in 1909 and later moved to Apple Valley) are popular treats.
2. St. Cloud
Source: Alicia Underlee Nelson
- Average rent price increase: 18.07 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price $960
This central Minnesota college town (home of St. Cloud State University) is full of unexpected outdoor spaces. St. Cloud locals go fishing both on and along the Mississippi River, kayak and canoe to the Beaver Islands and cycle the Mississippi River Trail bikeway. Find the prettiest river views in town inside Munsinger Clemens Gardens. These free public gardens burst with shade trees, picnic spots, park benches and colorful flowers.
Across the river, downtown boasts quirky shops and many restaurants. Try creative, vegetarian-friendly entrees and pretty desserts at Jules’ Bistro and hearty, meat-centered pub grub at Olde Brick House. Beaver Island Brewing Co. crafts beer with a local twist.
1. Eden Prairie
Source: ReNew Eden Prairie
- Average rent price increase: 26.69 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,689
Residents consistently give Eden Prairie high marks in the city’s biennial Quality of Life Survey. They enjoy 17 lakes, 200 miles of trails and sidewalks, 1,000 acres of parkland and more than a half dozen ice skating rinks. (This is hockey country, after all.)
Eden Prairie is located on the south side of the Twin Cities metro. The city is known for its shopping opportunities at Eden Prairie Center and for its large and lively restaurant scene. The lake, beach and 18-hole disc golf course make Bryant Lake Regional Park a popular spot for outdoor recreation. Staring Lake Park contains a sledding hill, tennis and basketball courts and an observatory with a telescope.
Methodology
To obtain these results, we tallied Minnesota communities that had sufficient inventory available on both Apartment Guide and Rent.. Then, we compared the average rolling weighted rent price from March 2020 to March 2019 to determine the Minnesota cities with the highest rent percentage increase. We use a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
The data in this article is for illustrative purposes only. The rent illustrations shown here don’t constitute financial advice or any kind of pricing guarantee for renters.
