These Are The 10 Worst Minneapolis Suburbs For 2018

Not everyone is cut out for city life. Some people would prefer to live in the cities and towns that surround Minneapolis.

So the question arises, do the suburbs maintain a semblance of the larger-than-life appeal of their more famous neighbor?

Today, we’ll use science and data to determine which Minneapolis ‘burbs need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Minneapolis area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the suburbs to live up to Minneapolis proper, although Deephaven certainly tries.

Of course, not all suburbs of Minneapolis are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. So without further ado…

We examined the 110 biggest suburbs of Minneapolis to find out the worst places to live. And while you won’t necessarily find them on the worst places to live in Minnesota lists, these ten places are a little too far downwind of Minneapolis in terms of quality of life.

Here are the 10 worst suburbs around Minneapolis for 2018:

1. Watertown (Photos)
2. Brooklyn Center
3. Columbia Heights (Photos)
4. St. Paul (Photos)
5. Anoka (Photos)
6. Fridley (Photos)
7. South St. Paul (Photos)
8. Newport
9. West St. Paul (Photos)
10. Richfield (Photos)

Read on to see how we determined the places around Minneapolis that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.

Or, if you’re thinking of moving to elsewhere in Minnesota check out the best places in Minnesota overall or the worst.

And remember, there are some good places to live around Minneapolis too.

Editor’s Note: If you see a slight difference between the worst in state rankings and this suburb ranking, it’s because of the methodology. We needed a way to include more places, so we eliminated crime and commute times as criteria for this analysis.

Determining The Worst Suburbs Around Minneapolis for 2018

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what cities have the least amount of those things.

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent American Community Survey data, this is the criteria we used:

• High unemployment rate
• Low median household incomes
• Low population density (no things to do)
• Low home values
• A lot of high school drop outs
• High poverty
• High rate of uninsured families

FYI: We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Minneapolis.

Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 110 suburbs to evaluate around Minneapolis.

We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 110 in each category, where 1 was the ‘worst’.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality of life index.

And finally, we crowned the city with the worst quality of life index the ‘Worst Suburb near Minneapolis.’ We’re lookin’ at you, Watertown.

Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the worst of the worst. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from worst to best.

1. Watertown

Population: 4,298
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
Median Home Price: $166,000
Median Income: $56,591
We’ll get the ball rolling with Watertown, the absolute worst place to live around Minneapolis according to the data.

And in the world of worst rankings, Watertown beat the competition pretty handily thanks to scoring in the bottom 15% in three major categories. Income is the 16th worst in the Minneapolis area, and to make matters worse, the city ranks 8th worst when it comes to home values.

But hey, at least it’s cheap to live there. But there’s a reason for that… it’s Watertown.

You won’t feel bad about not having a great income for the area, there aren’t a bunch of places to spend your money anyway.

2. Brooklyn Center

Population: 30,785
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
Median Home Price: $140,000
Median Income: $46,400
Welcome to Brooklyn Center. Home to KMart, Big Lots, and a lot of gas stations.

This city is 7.7 miles to Minneapolis. Income levels here are the 3rd lowest in the metro area, where families bring in about $46,400 a year, which doesn’t go a long ways even on a shoestring budget.

But on the bright side, there are a lot of fast food joints in the area.

3. Columbia Heights

Population: 19,689
Unemployment Rate: 8.7%
Median Home Price: $155,300
Median Income: $48,791
Back up the highway we go for the third worst Minneapolis suburb you can live in. You might have expected to see Columbia Heights on here. While the cost of living is low, your entertainment and work options are limited. And that’s an understatement.

In terms of numbers, it’s in the worst 15% for insurance, and the adult high school drop out rate is poor compared to other Minneapolis suburbs.

But at least there are nice parks to bring the kids during the day.

4. St. Paul

Population: 297,160
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%
Median Home Price: $178,400
Median Income: $50,820
If you live in St. Paul, most likely you struggle to make ends meet every month. It ranks as the 8th lowest Minneapolis suburb when it comes to residents making money.

Not only that, but this is the 4th worst unemployed suburb you can live in if you choose to live near Minneapolis. Remember, we looked at 110 cities for this study.

St. Paul is about 8.1 miles to downtown.

5. Anoka

Population: 17,325
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%
Median Home Price: $167,800
Median Income: $48,850
Anoka has the distinction of being a Minneapolis suburb. Which means that’s about all it has going for it.

All snarkiness aside, Anoka has the 11th lowest home values in the metro Minneapolis area, where the median price is $167,800. To put that into perspective, in Deephaven, the median income is $149,507, which is the best in the area.

Anoka has an unemployment rate of 6.2% which ranks 12th worst.

6. Fridley

Population: 27,447
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Median Home Price: $166,600
Median Income: $55,006
Fridley has 27,447 residents that probably know it’s a pretty crummy place to live when you look at the data. (Or, if you’ve ever been there, you don’t need to look at the data.)

Incomes are towards the bottom and the poverty rate sits at 12.3%.

7. South St. Paul

Population: 20,281
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
Median Home Price: $160,800
Median Income: $54,777
Ah, South St. Paul. You rank as the 7th worst place to live around Minneapolis.

It’s the place with the 10th most out of work residents in the Minneapolis metro area (6.3%).

8. Newport

Population: 3,459
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Median Home Price: $180,100
Median Income: $61,339
Newport is a city about 14.5 miles from Minneapolis, but Minneapolis probably wishes it was further away. It ranks as the 8th worst burb for 2018.

You’d be hard pressed to find a worse place to live. Newport has the 8th most uninsured people, 22nd worst incomes, and has the 50th highest unemployment rate (4.1%) in the entire Minneapolis metro area.

Homes only cost $180,100 for a reason. That’s cheap for Minneapolis standards.

9. West St. Paul

Population: 19,779
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%
Median Home Price: $175,100
Median Income: $51,066
If you absolutely have to live near Minneapolis, then West St. Paul might be a place for you to consider as it’s only the 9th worst Minneapolis suburb.

About 8.6% of residents are out of work.

10. Richfield

Population: 35,912
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Median Home Price: $188,100
Median Income: $54,642
Rounding out the ten worst Minneapolis suburbs to call home is Richfield.

Located 6.2 miles outside the city, Richfields is a real pit when you look at the data. Its residents have the 18th highest unemployment rate (5.5%), and poverty is far above the area average.

The areas around Minneapolis where the dream is more of a nightmare for 2018

Well there you have it — the worst of the ‘burbs surrounding Minneapolis with Watertown casting itself ahead of the pack.

As we mentioned earlier, the suburbs around Minneapolis aren’t all bad. Deephaven takes the cake as the best place to live around Minneapolis.

For more Minnesota reading , check out:

• These Are The 10 Poorest Cities In Minnesota
• These Are The 10 Safest Places In Minnesota
• These Are The 10 Dumbest Cities In Minnesota

Detailed List Of The Worst Minneapolis Suburbs

City	Rank	Population	Unemployment Rate	Median Home Price	Median Income
Watertown	1	4,298	6.3%	$166,000	$56,591
Brooklyn Center	2	30,785	6.3%	$140,000	$46,400
Columbia Heights	3	19,689	8.7%	$155,300	$48,791
St. Paul	4	297,160	7.8%	$178,400	$50,820
Anoka	5	17,325	6.2%	$167,800	$48,850
Fridley	6	27,447	5.8%	$166,600	$55,006
South St. Paul	7	20,281	6.3%	$160,800	$54,777
Newport	8	3,459	4.1%	$180,100	$61,339
West St. Paul	9	19,779	8.6%	$175,100	$51,066
Richfield	10	35,912	5.5%	$188,100	$54,642
Spring Lake Park	11	6,519	7.3%	$160,400	$57,993
Brooklyn Park	12	78,823	5.7%	$186,400	$65,695
North St. Paul	13	12,102	9.0%	$180,200	$57,156
Mounds View	14	12,708	5.5%	$168,600	$56,753
St. Paul Park	15	5,352	5.7%	$161,300	$68,586
Maplewood	16	39,678	6.2%	$188,400	$63,367
Inver Grove Heights	17	34,757	5.5%	$216,400	$69,893
Lauderdale	18	2,472	3.5%	$172,200	$44,345
Little Canada	19	10,202	5.1%	$203,600	$51,154
New Hope	20	20,819	4.6%	$194,900	$50,000
Robbinsdale	21	14,382	5.5%	$166,600	$60,388
Coon Rapids	22	62,159	5.4%	$171,200	$66,313
Crystal	23	22,777	4.1%	$159,600	$60,494
Hopkins	24	18,077	4.6%	$204,300	$51,466
Hastings	25	22,501	4.9%	$182,800	$62,155
Nowthen	26	4,562	4.0%	$265,900	$83,576
Burnsville	27	61,158	5.0%	$215,300	$66,225
Shakopee	28	39,656	5.3%	$221,500	$79,648
Osseo	29	2,612	5.1%	$164,300	$49,728
Bayport	30	3,604	7.0%	$198,600	$69,345
Rockford	31	4,229	3.2%	$179,400	$73,494
Bloomington	32	85,080	4.3%	$221,900	$67,473
Roseville	33	35,254	4.2%	$224,000	$63,022
St. Bonifacius	34	2,596	7.7%	$224,300	$85,489
Dayton	35	5,031	4.2%	$238,900	$78,477
New Brighton	36	22,233	4.7%	$223,400	$66,003
Forest Lake	37	19,208	4.2%	$234,700	$73,091
Excelsior	38	2,510	4.5%	$443,000	$45,915
East Bethel	39	11,618	4.2%	$210,300	$90,134
Oakdale	40	27,956	4.1%	$201,900	$67,991
Oak Grove	41	8,334	3.8%	$239,000	$85,446
Jordan	42	5,981	2.5%	$210,500	$66,818
Elk River	43	23,743	3.9%	$214,900	$83,585
Blaine	44	61,210	4.2%	$189,100	$79,915
White Bear Lake	45	24,992	3.9%	$192,800	$63,916
Oak Park Heights	46	4,790	0.9%	$225,800	$51,726
Cottage Grove	47	35,632	4.3%	$216,500	$85,516
Columbus	48	3,980	5.1%	$241,800	$77,727
Wyoming	49	7,785	5.0%	$201,300	$84,712
North Hudson	50	3,810	2.6%	$206,300	$63,125
Vadnais Heights	51	13,115	3.1%	$206,400	$72,673
St. Louis Park	52	47,486	4.1%	$236,900	$68,451
Mound	53	9,306	4.5%	$225,200	$78,920
Golden Valley	54	21,040	5.4%	$264,900	$81,919
Hudson	55	13,367	3.6%	$225,900	$65,182
Chaska	56	25,078	2.5%	$243,700	$76,673
Apple Valley	57	50,602	3.7%	$218,100	$83,450
Eagan	58	65,874	4.4%	$251,500	$82,855
Corcoran	59	5,572	4.0%	$305,100	$101,659
Scandia	60	4,029	4.5%	$323,000	$85,417
Falcon Heights	61	5,534	4.7%	$283,200	$75,167
Prescott	62	4,217	2.1%	$183,500	$74,875
Ham Lake	63	15,878	4.9%	$268,600	$93,900
Arden Hills	64	10,126	7.1%	$282,200	$91,875
Ramsey	65	25,329	3.6%	$210,200	$88,286
Circle Pines	66	4,947	1.8%	$174,500	$73,352
St. Anthony	67	8,790	3.2%	$232,300	$64,504
Centerville	68	3,907	2.8%	$221,600	$89,118
Rosemount	69	23,099	4.0%	$240,300	$92,939
Otsego	70	15,065	2.0%	$193,900	$89,556
Farmington	71	22,226	2.4%	$213,800	$86,447
Lake Elmo	72	8,445	3.1%	$375,800	$96,944
Hugo	73	14,223	2.4%	$236,200	$86,789
Prior Lake	74	24,997	3.7%	$286,100	$101,128
St. Michael	75	17,045	4.0%	$223,100	$97,000
Wayzata	76	4,296	3.3%	$485,700	$69,854
Savage	77	29,399	3.3%	$263,300	$97,584
Andover	78	31,906	3.7%	$241,800	$100,358
Independence	79	3,687	3.9%	$408,100	$101,569
Stillwater	80	19,142	3.4%	$248,400	$79,293
Minnetonka	81	51,651	4.1%	$301,400	$83,496
Delano	82	5,754	3.5%	$234,300	$78,114
Lino Lakes	83	20,758	4.0%	$263,800	$105,934
Lakeville	84	59,786	2.9%	$260,400	$98,864
Champlin	85	23,929	3.4%	$205,700	$84,042
Shoreview	86	26,161	2.8%	$238,100	$81,353
Mahtomedi	87	7,964	3.9%	$298,200	$95,679
Orono	88	7,772	4.9%	$593,000	$119,393
Minnetrista	89	6,963	2.2%	$422,400	$143,191
Albertville	90	7,286	3.1%	$189,600	$93,045
Greenfield	91	2,888	3.4%	$389,000	$106,523
Plymouth	92	75,105	3.0%	$310,900	$88,378
Mendota Heights	93	11,231	4.3%	$351,100	$100,903
Afton	94	2,951	3.6%	$411,200	$100,764
Woodbury	95	66,699	4.0%	$282,700	$101,922
Maple Grove	96	66,969	3.6%	$254,400	$96,410
Medina	97	5,633	2.2%	$586,600	$137,692
Eden Prairie	98	63,206	3.2%	$319,400	$101,094
Chanhassen	99	24,796	3.1%	$339,800	$115,449
Waconia	100	11,523	2.8%	$252,200	$87,394