Imagine a state where you can get from big cities to big nature in less than a half hour. A state that’s top-ranked in economic opportunity and one of the best places to raise a family. A state with world-class healthcare, James Beard award-winning chefs, and teams in seven major sports leagues. A state built on access, where new experiences and endless opportunity are available to all.
Welcome to Minnesota, one of America's least stressed states.
Minnesota is consistently ranked as one of the happiest, healthiest, and most prosperous states in the U.S. With a top-notch healthcare system (including the #1 ranked Mayo Clinic), the fourth-highest Fortune 500 companies per capita, stunning natural landscapes, and a vibrant arts and culture scene, Minnesota offers access and opportunity. Minnesotans pride ourselves on our values of inclusion, optimism, and civic engagement, with one of the nation’s highest rates of volunteerism and voter participation.
What else makes Minnesota a great state in which to live? Scroll on…
William of Blattner Energy at a work site
/ Paul Vincent
"I've lived in Central Minnesota for years. It's the perfect fit for us. Anything and everything I need is there."
Big Cities, Quiet Towns…We’ve Got it and Then Some
Kat & Josh carry their kayaks near Medicine Lake in Plymouth
/ Credit: Paul Vincent
Mill Ruins Park, downtown Minneapolis
/ Credit: Lane Pelovsky, Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
St. Paul Farmer’s Market, downtown St. Paul
Biking along the Root River State Bike Trail, Lanesboro
/ Credit: Paul Vincent
View of downtown Rochester, home to the Mayo Clinic
/ Credit: Paul Vincent
Hiking at Red Head Mountain in Minnesota’s Iron Range, Chisholm
/ Credit: Rendulich Photography
Grand Marais harbor along Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior
/ Credit: Buffalo Media Group
Minnesota is highly ranked as a top livable state, making enhanced well-being more accessible for all. You can find vibrant, culturally diverse big city life in Minneapolis-St. Paul, one of the nation’s most affordable metro areas. Or, maybe you want to spend your days outside of work hiking and biking the rolling hills of Bluff Country in southeastern Minnesota. If it's epic Lake Superior views, craggy cliffsides, and small-town spirit, Duluth and theNorth Shoreare for you.
"Moving to Minneapolis was the best move we’ve ever made"
A Headquarters Economy
TL;DR: There’s a reason people move to Minnesota for a job, thinking they’ll come for a couple of years, and end up staying for decades...
Minnesota punches well above its weight when it comes to industry. The state boasts the fourth-most Fortune 500 companies per capita across a diversity of sectors, spanning healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture. As of 2025, the Fortune 500 list included 17 industry leaders, including Target, Best Buy, General Mills and 3M—that’s what we call a “headquarters economy.”
Couple this concentration of diverse companies with a fast-growing startup ecosystem and a world-class education system, and you’ll find a lifetime of career opportunities right here in the Star of the North.
In the Star of the North, you’ll find a high median income compared to the cost of living, low poverty rates, and world-class healthcare, which contribute to improved children’s outcomes. In addition, the state’s nation-leading education programs to support kids in school help make Minnesota the #2 state for families.
Minnesota is ranked the #1 state for healthcare and the #2 least stressed state. We’re home to the country’s top-rated hospital, The Mayo Clinic, and a bounty of healthcare resources for every stage of life. Plus, Minnesota-based companies have been advancing medical technologies for the greater good for generations.
Population: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota has a population of over 5.7 million people, 3.7 million of whom reside in the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
Ethnicity: The state is home to a mix of ethnicities, including the largest population of Norwegians and Swedes outside of Scandinavia, the largest urban concentration of Hmong in the U.S., and a growing Somali and East African community. Other ethnic groups in Minnesota include Europeans, African Americans, Asians and Hispanics.
Age Distribution: Minnesota has a relatively balanced age distribution, with 22% of residents being under the age of 18 and 17% being over the age of 65.
Education: Minnesota places a strong emphasis on education from early childhood to higher education. Minnesota ranks fourth in the nation in the percentage of its population (aged 25 to 64) with a high school degree or higher.
Income: The median household income (HHI) in Minnesota is just over $85,100 a year. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, the median HHI is $98,000 a year.
Minnesota has a diverse mix of housing options and one of the highest rates of homeownership in the U.S., with over 74% of residents living in a home they own. Median housing costs with a mortgage are about $1,879 a month, and median rent is about $1,264 a month (October 2024). Costs can vary depending on location, with the Minneapolis-St.Paul metro area being generally more expensive than the state as a whole. Zillow recently ranked Minneapolis as the #3 best city for first-time homebuyers.
Minnesota is a four-season state with winters similar to those of other northern metro areas, like Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin. Average winter highs range from 24 to 29 degrees, and Minnesota has one of the nation’s most efficient plowing systems to keep the winter roads safe. The winters here may be cold, but Minnesotans also know how to embrace them, reveling in winter sports like ice skating and Nordic or downhill skiing. Frozen lakes become playgrounds for ice fishing enthusiasts, and winter festivals, including the enchanting Saint Paul Winter Carnival, add joy to the season.
The Minnesota mantra? There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
Minnesota prides itself on having a strong arts and culture community, with the highest per capita public arts funding nationwide. The Minnesota arts community is vast, and Minneapolis alone hosts three major museums, including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (free admission), the internationally recognized Walker Art Center (free Thursday evenings) and the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Center.
The theater scene is nationally recognized, and three Minnesota theaters have won the prestigious TONY Award for regional theater. Minnesota is also known for its music scene—home of Bob Dylan, Prince and the famous rock venue First Avenue, as well as two world-class classical music organizations, the Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Think way bigger than hot dish. Minnesota’s culinary landscape spans from James Beard winners like Bûcheron, Owamni, and Restaurant Alma to global cuisine from Scandinavian to Hmong, and yes, the iconic Jucy Lucy burger. With a nationally-recognizedcraft beer scene and strong focus on local, sustainable farmers, there’s a reason Food & Wine magazine said there were “more best bites in the Twin Cities than anywhere else our restaurant editor ate this year.”
The cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have strong public transportation through Metro Transit, but most residents choose to use and maintain their own vehicles. About 6.5% of the population reports not having a car. Minneapolis is ranked as one of the strongest cities for biking in the U.S., and many residents choose to bike to and from work, even in the winter months.
There are tons of hospitals and clinics to choose from across the state. Some of the biggest players are the University of Minnesota Fairview system, Abbott Northwestern, North Memorial Health, HealthPartners & Park Nicollet, Hennepin Healthcare, and Allina Health. The Minnesota Hospital Association has a handy directory of over 140 statewide hospital locations, while Bridge to Benefits hosts a low-cost healthcare directory for physical, mental and dental needs. There are also several community clinics like Minnesota Community Care and the Native American Community Clinic that offer care in underserved areas.
Minnesota is ranked as the #2 state for families, offering a strong public education system, access to top-notch healthcare, affordable pathways to homeownership and abundant outdoor activities. Families can explore the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota Children’s Museum and endless parks and playgrounds (including some that are specifically accessible).
Minnesota also places a high focus on cultural enrichment: the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis is the only children’s theater in the nation to win a TONY award, and the Minnesota Orchestra offers free classical concerts to all kids under 18.
Yes, Minnesota has professional sports teams in every major league, including the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Minnesota United FC (MLS) and Minnesota Frost (PWHL).
Just so you know...
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