Minnesota · best for young professionals · #11 of 50 states

Best Cities for Young Professionals in Minnesota

Minnesota ranks #11 of 50 for young professionals, with a young professionals score of 63.9. Minnetonka is its best city for young professionals at 68.3.

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#1 city in MN for young professionals

Minnetonka68.3

Young Professionals score out of 100

Minnesota, all states: #11 of 50
Population: 53,064

Open Minnetonka →

Unemployment

3.9%

BLS LAUS

Median income

$87,117

Census ACS

Pop. growth

+0.57%

Census estimates

Cost of living

98.6

BEA RPP · 100 = avg

Livability

37/100

Dining, arts, nightlife

Why Minnesota Works for Young Professionals

Minnesota ranks #11 out of 50 for young professionals, placing it in the upper tier for career-oriented relocators. The state's economy scores 53/100, with 3.9% unemployment and a median household income of $87,117. Modest population growth of 0.57% suggests a stable but not booming market.

For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. With a cost-of-living index of 98.6, expenses are near the national norm — what you earn is roughly what you keep. Growth metrics are moderate, so career advancement may depend more on specific industries than broad market expansion.

Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. Minnesota's livability score of 37/100 is modest, which may matter to young professionals who value nightlife, dining, and cultural events. Transportation infrastructure scores well (60/100), with options beyond car dependency.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals

# City	Grade	Young Professionals score	Overall	Economy	Growth	Walkability	Population
1Minnetonka	A+	68.3	71.8	76	65	51	53,064
2Edina	A+	67.6	72.2	81	56	53	53,262
3Plymouth	A+	67.1	71.5	84	46	48	79,220
4Lakeville	A+	66.9	70.9	86	59	35	74,354
5Woodbury	A+	66.7	68.4	80	61	43	78,305
6Maple Grove	A+	66.2	69.2	82	58	33	71,173
7Eden Prairie	A+	64.9	71.7	81	45	37	63,051
8St. Louis Park	A+	64.3	68.0	69	43	67	49,594
9Blaine	A	62.3	63.8	68	59	44	72,488
10Rochester	B+	61.6	62.4	64	53	37	122,330
11Eagan	A	61.2	65.7	71	40	49	68,000
12Bloomington	B+	60.9	62.8	63	50	55	88,665
13Apple Valley	A	59.7	64.0	65	41	59	55,679
14Duluth	B	58.4	58.6	53	45	61	87,093
15Brooklyn Park	B+	58.3	61.6	59	46	56	83,876
16Burnsville	B+	57.6	61.7	60	46	51	64,463
17St. Paul	B	57.3	57.9	54	42	71	307,284
18Coon Rapids	B+	56.6	59.7	59	45	48	63,468
19Minneapolis	C+	56.4	54.0	57	42	73	427,246
20St. Cloud	C	52.6	51.3	44	47	43	70,629

City young professionals scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.

Compare: States with Similar Young Professionals Rankings

Also See: Minnesota for Other Lifestyles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Minnesota a good state for young professionals?

Minnesota ranks #11 out of 50 for young professionals with a persona-weighted score of 63.9/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (77/100) and its weakest is Livability (37/100).

What is the best city for young professionals in Minnesota?

Minnetonka ranks #1 in Minnesota for young professionals with a score of 68.3/100, followed by Edina and Plymouth.

What factors are most important for young professionals in Minnesota?

Rankings weighted toward job market strength, economic growth, affordable living, transportation, and vibrant community life — the factors that attract ambitious young professionals.