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Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Minnesota

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Finding the best places to live in Minnesota doesn’t have to be a challenge! Discover Minnesota’s top locations for quality of life, average income, services, and number of jobs available in this article. Also known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, Minnesota presents a diversified economy and has been elected one of the 10 best states to live in for many consecutive years and by multiple reliable sources.

Minnesota truly has something to offer everyone, starting with nature lovers. It is one of the few states in the country where you can spot a moose, as well as other animals like monarch butterflies, bobcats, black bears, elks, otters, and beavers. If you are a sports fan, you’ll find it interesting to know that Minnesota has produced about 60 more NHL players than the next closest state, gaining its title of the “State of Hockey“. If you’re up for some fun, visit the Minnesota state fair, which entertains millions of visitors per year and is considered one the 10 biggest fairs in the U.S.

Minnesota’s median household income is $73,382 per year, its average housing value is $235,700 and its homeownership rate of 74.1% is 13.3% above the national average. Minnesota’s largest and most known employers include Target, General Mills, Land O'Lakes, BestBuy, 3M, and United Health Group.

According to the industry employment projections for Minnesota those with the highest predicted growth are:

  • arts, entertainment, and recreation (35%)
  • accommodation and food service (20.8%)
  • health care and social assistance (12.6%)
  • other services except public administration (11.5%)
  • professional and technical services (10.8%)
  • administrative and waste services (7.8%)

The top five occupations in demand in Minnesota are:

  • registered nurses
  • salespeople
  • fast food and counter workers
  • home health and personal care aides
  • nursing assistants

Do you need more good reasons to find a job in one of the best places to live in Minnesota? Here are a few more interesting facts about Minnesota to consider:

Now that you know the perks of this great state, let’s look at the best places to live in Minnesota, along with their most profitable industries, popular jobs, and more:

Minneapolis

If you want to live within a 10-minute walk of a park, Minneapolis is one of the few U.S. cities where you have a 98% chance of this. It’s the largest city in the state, the second best Midwest city for startups, and 15% of it is used for parks and recreation. Minneapolis, together with Saint Paul and the surrounding area, are known as the Twin Cities and represent one of the top Midwestern areas with the largest economy.

Minneapolis is also among the best 30 cities to raise a family in, and is the best city for young professionals in the country. Minneapolis is home to several major company headquarters, including multiple Fortune 500 organizations. Job opportunities in this city vary across many different industries, from healthcare and tourism, to sales, production, transportation and more. The median house value in Minneapolis is $268,100 and the average household income of its residents is $66,068 per year.

Browse all Minneapolis, MN jobs on Monster.

Saint Paul

Often abbreviated as St. Paul, this is the capital and second most populated city in Minnesota and the other (quieter) half of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Saint Paul is known as the “City of Neighborhoods”, like Minneapolis has a great Parkscore and ranks second best among the nation’s city parks. The city hosts yearly events like the Irish Fair of Minnesota, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the Minnesota State Fair, and the Rondo Days, which is the largest African American festival in the state.

The art and entertainment sector here draw more than seven million visitors every year, making it not only one of best places to live in Minnesota but also one of the most visited by tourists. Large industries in Saint Paul include healthcare and social assistance, government, manufacturing, finance, and retail trade. The median house value in Saint Paul is $217,100 and the average household income of its residents is $59,717 per year.

Browse all Saint Paul, MN jobs on Monster.

Eden Prairie

Located just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Eden Prairie is one of the best places to live in Minnesota both if you want to work here or easily commute to bigger cities. There are over 2,800 businesses located in Eden Prairie, including dozens of accommodation facilities, award-winning restaurants and a big mall with theatres, arcade zones, VR experiences, sports zone and more.

Businesses that have chosen this city to establish their headquarters include trucking company C.H. Robinson, digital health technology company Optum and hearing-aid maker Starkey Hearing Technologies. The median house value in Eden Prairie is $374,700 and the average household income of its residents is $115,227 per year.

Browse all Eden Prairie, MN jobs on Monster.

Rochester

Rochester is the third largest city in the state and home of the renowned Mayo Clinic which, along with IBM and the government, is one of the largest employers here. Besides being one of the best places to live in Minnesota, Rochester is also the fourth best city to buy a house, the 25th best to raise a family and is ranked 33rd for where to live in the whole country.

If you love walking and biking, you’ll find it interesting to know that Rochester offers over 85 miles of paved trail that provides access to 100 city parks and attractions. Industries offering the most jobs in town include education, healthcare, government, hospitality, trade, transportation, and utilities. The median house value in Rochester is $219,400 and the average household income of its residents is $76,034 per year.

Browse all Rochester, MN jobs on Monster.

Woodbury

Minnesota's eighth most populous city, Woodbury is a growing community located east of Saint Paul. In the last decade single family and apartment units in the city have more than doubled from less than 400 to over 900 to accommodate new residents. Jobs in this city, considered one of the best places to live in Minnesota, have been steadily increasing in the last decade as well, and over 1700 businesses have made Woodbury their home today.

The largest employment sectors in Woodbury are education and healthcare services, leisure and hospitality, and trade, transportation, and utilities. Many are also employed in finance and professional and business services. The median house value in Rochester is $336,600 and the average household income of its residents is $108,055 per year.

Browse all Woodbury, MN jobs on Monster.

Bloomington

Another town that deserves to be included in our list of best places to live in Minnesota is Bloomington, known for the Mall of America, the largest mall in the whole country. This includes over 500 stores and entertainment attractions, like Nickelodeon Universe, which is the largest indoor theme park in the country, Sea Life Aquarium and one of the largest LEGO models in the world (34 feet tall, 2.8 million bricks). Beside The Mall of America employs approximately 13,000 people, while other large employers in the city include HealthPartners, Seagate Technology, Toro Company, and Hewlett Packard. The median house value in Bloomington is $265,700 and the average household income of its residents is $78,224 per year.

Browse all Bloomington, MN jobs on Monster.

Duluth

Duluth is among the best places to live in Minnesota in the northeastern quadrant. It’s the 16thmost livable small city and 10thbest city for remote work in America. Duluth’s hot spots include the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, Lake Superior, and Spirit Mountain, which has the second largest vertical ski drop in the Midwest. Residents and tourists enjoy activities all year long at both of these stunning locations.

Duluth’s economic key industries are healthcare, aviation, technology, manufacturing, and transportation. Nationally recognized companies that have chosen this as their home include CW Technology, Sansio, Saturn Systems, AimClear, Citon Computer and ARI. The median house value in Duluth is $167,300 and the average household income of its residents is $54,084 per year.

Browse all Duluth, MN jobs on Monster.

Mankato

In the last decade Mankato has made itself known as second best small college town, 16th best small place for businesses and careers, and among America’s best hockey towns. One of the pros of living in this town is its low cost of living. Compared to the national average, Mankato’s housing expenses are 20% lower, its transportation costs 15% less and its utility prices are 5% cheaper.

This is one of the best cities to live in Minnesota if you want to work in education or healthcare. Greater Mankato region’s major employers include Taylor Corporation, Mayo Clinic Health System, Minnesota State University and Mankato Clinic. The median house value in Mankato is $188,900 and the average household income of its residents is $52,411 per year.

Browse all Mankato, MN jobs on Monster.

Saint Cloud

Saint Cloud is the best city for STEM jobs in Minnesota, the fourth best for gig delivery workers in the nation and home of the third largest public college in Minnesota. It is one of the best cities to live in Minnesota, proven by awards and recognitions for its affordable rental prices and for being a budget-friendly city for homeowners. The city’s strongest sectors are healthcare, which employs almost 20% of residents, manufacturing, retail, and business and financial services.

Some of Saint Cloud’s major employers include CentraCare Health Systems, the State of Minnesota, St. Cloud VA Health Care System, St. Cloud Area School District #742, and Fulfillment Distribution Center. The median house value in Saint Cloud is $158,500 and the average household income of its residents is $50,335 per year.

Browse all Saint Cloud, MN jobs on Monster.

Easily Discover Interesting Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Don’t miss your chance to find the right job for you in the best locations to live in Minnesota and join Monster today. You’ll have the chance to upload multiple versions of your resume on your profile to attract recruiters hiring for different industries and job positions. Moreover, activating the custom notification system you’ll always know when new jobs are available for you to apply. Don’t wait, creating an account is free and will get you closer to work in one of the best cities to live in Minnesota.