Moving to Minnesota statistics (2024 data)

How many people move to Minnesota?

Approximately 100,277 people moved to Minnesota in 2023, while 108,966 moved out. This represents a loss of 8,689 residents. Between 2021 and 2022, Minnesota ranked 10th for net negative migration in the U.S.

Though Minnesota’s population has increased slightly within the past decade, it’s not among the most popular states to move to right now. According to a recent ConsumerAffairs study based on a sample of 143,506 ConsumerAffairs.com users who expressed an interest in moving between January 2023 and March 2024, Minnesota ranked as the 40th most desired state to relocate to.

Top 5 cities that people moved to in Minnesota

According to data compiled by numerous sources and weighted factors, such as quality of life and affordability, Minnesota ranks as the fourth best U.S. state to move to in 2024. This is juxtaposed to the overall lack of desire the state holds for potential movers, as it ranked 40th among the states those considering relocating had eyed between 2023 and 2024. In fact, despite a low average cost of living, Minnesota has struggled to attract migrants for years.

Of those moving to the North Star State, the majority are relocating to suburban areas just outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul (the Twin Cities). Major cities like these regularly attract movers for vast and unique job opportunities. Lakeville attracted the most new residents, adding 6,746 (9.7% growth) between 2020 and 2023. Over the same period, Woodbury and Blaine also added 4,432 and 3,558 new residents, respectively.

The top five cities people moved to in Minnesota between 2020 and 2023 were as follows:

Why do people move to Minnesota?

While there is an overall lack of people moving to Minnesota, potentially due to the brutal January average temperature of 12 degrees, opportunity is the primary reason people are moving to the Twin Cities specifically. Minneapolis and St. Paul offer job opportunities across a wide variety of industries, all with a median household income 11.5% higher than the national average.

The largest industries in the state are education and health services, trade, transportation, and utilities, and government. Collectively, these industries employ over 52% of nonfarm workers. The fastest-growing industry in the state is education and health services, increasing by 6.6% between July 2023 and July 2024.

Minnesota housing statistics

With a median rent price of $1,505.37 and a median home sale price of $359,900, Minnesota renters and homeowners can expect to pay 14.4% less than the national median for housing.

However, at 1.11%, Minnesota has relatively high property taxes, ranking as the 19th highest in the nation. The tax rate here is roughly double that of Colorado, Louisiana and Wyoming. The state with a tax rate most similar to Minnesota is Massachusetts (1.14%).

In 2021, the average property owner in Dakota County (Lakeville, MN) paid $3,180 in annual property taxes. In general, the average property tax paid in Minnesota varies greatly by county, with residents in Carver County paying an average of $3,891 annually in 2021, while those in Traverse County paid substantially less with an average of $899.

Cost-of-living statistics in Minnesota

Minnesota’s cost-of-living index is 94.1, making it less expensive than the national average. Gas prices in the state are just slightly less ($3.22) than the national average of $3.26. This is the case despite a lack of oil and gas production. In fact, Minnesota is also a very clean state to live in, recycling the second-most amount of waste behind Maine. This, along with other green initiatives, ranks the North Star State as the 12th most green state in the country.

On top of having a lower-than-average cost-of-living index, Minnesota also boasts an impressive median household income of $84,009. That means the average Minnesota household earns 11.5% more than the national median of $75,358. At 2.9%, unemployment is also less than the national average (4.2%).

Overall, the combination of Minnesota’s low cost of living and high median household income makes it an ideal destination for movers.

Who lives in Minnesota?

An estimated 5,737,915 people live in Minnesota as of 2023, making it the 22nd largest state in terms of population. This represents a population increase of 23,615 people compared to 2022.

Minnesota’s population is nearly evenly split male (50.1%) and female (49.9%). In 2023, nearly 2.88 million Minnesota residents were male, and about 2.86 million were female.

On average, Minnesota’s population is also slightly older (39.1 years old) than the U.S. average of 38.9 years. Interestingly, the largest age demographics in the state are people between 35 to 39 years old and those ages 55 to 59, accounting for 6.9% and 6.8% of the population, respectively.

The vast majority of Minnesota residents are white, with residents in this demographic accounting for 82.3% of the population (4.72 million people). This is followed by Black, Hispanic and Asian residents, who account for 7.9%, 6.5% and 5.5% of the population, respectively.

Tips for moving to Minnesota

Not sure how to start your move to Minnesota? Consider these step-by-step moving tips:

1. Understand the cost of living

Minnesota’s cost-of-living index and median home sale price are below the national average, but prices will also vary by region. Cities like Minneapolis or Rochester have a higher cost of living, while rural areas offer cheaper housing and utilities. Before moving, research property taxes, housing prices and average utility bills in the area you're considering. You can use resources like Minnesota.gov to help you budget accordingly.

2. Explore the job market

With a robust economy centered around education, health care, manufacturing and more, Minnesota offers diverse career opportunities. The Twin Cities are home to 15 Fortune 500 company headquarters, while Rochester’s Mayo Clinic offers unmatched health care opportunities. In rural regions, agriculture, manufacturing and outdoor recreation are all viable industries as well. You can explore job listings through the Minnesota DEED website to gauge opportunities in your field.

3. Prepare for the cold winters

Famous for frigid cold winters, where arctic air from the north regularly pushes temperatures below 0 degrees during winter, it’s vital to prepare before your move. We recommend investing in quality winter clothing, such as insulated jackets, boots and gloves, as well as tools like shovels and ice scrapers. Additionally, when searching for your new home, ensure it has efficient heating. You can stay up to date on local Minnesota weather here.

4. Research transportation options

Minnesota is one of only 14 states with no toll roads, making travel via personal vehicle inexpensive and easy. Though, in lieu of investing in snow tires and chains, residents of Minnesota’s major cities can consider its extensive public transportation options. The Twin Cities utilize a metro transit system, including buses and light rail. You can learn more about commuting options by visiting the MnDOT website.

5. Be aware of natural hazards

While fear of earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes will be a thing of the past for most new Minnesota residents, the state does face its own natural hazards. Severe winter storms, hail and flooding are all common threats, with tornadoes being the primary threat to the southern half of the state. Before moving, signing up for weather alerts through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety can keep you informed and prepared.

6. Visit the lakes

Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, not exploring at least one or two of them will leave you missing out. Whether you enjoy hiking, fishing, camping or boating, these freshwater wonders provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Explore the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website to find parks, trails and other outdoor activities near you.

7. Understand mover quotes and tipping

When moving to Minnesota, carefully review and compare moving company quotes. Be sure to account for potential additional fees depending on where you’re relocating to. Tipping movers is customary; a tip of 10% to 20% of the total cost is standard based on the quality of service.