The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 165 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Minnesota. #1 is North Oaks, MN.

1. 25Luverne, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 81% of Minnesota towns

   4,946 people · Rock County · median home $208,000 · income $64,366 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

2. 24Lake City, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns

   5,252 people · Wabasha County · median home $238,700 · income $72,244 · Jan low 4°F · 34 in snow

3. 23La Crescent, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns

   5,276 people · Houston County · median home $272,400 · income $85,368 · Jan low 12°F · 38 in snow

4. 22Marion, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 84% of Minnesota towns

   4,027 people · Olmsted County · median home $416,100 · income $116,797 · Jan low 7°F · 52 in snow

5. 21Zumbrota, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 85% of Minnesota towns

   3,726 people · Goodhue County · median home $249,300 · income $78,156 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

6. 20Cascade, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   2,837 people · Olmsted County · median home $506,800 · income $150,000 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

7. 19Caledonia, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   2,847 people · Houston County · median home $157,900 · income $76,477 · Jan low 8°F · 45 in snow

8. 18Deephaven, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns

   3,899 people · Hennepin County · median home $935,900 · income $197,679 · Jan low 6°F · 55 in snow

9. 17Cohasset, Minnesota

   Better for retirees than 88% of Minnesota towns

   2,689 people · Itasca County · median home $330,500 · income $92,692 · Jan low -3°F · 60 in snow

10. 16Corcoran, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns

    6,185 people · Hennepin County · median home $569,400 · income $133,423 · Jan low 7°F · 45 in snow

11. 15Montevideo, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns

    5,398 people · Chippewa County · median home $141,000 · income $68,596 · Jan low 2°F · 46 in snow

12. 14Shorewood, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns

    7,783 people · Hennepin County · median home $703,200 · income $171,063 · Jan low 6°F · 55 in snow

13. 13Breezy Point, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns

    2,574 people · Crow Wing County · median home $340,800 · income $85,938 · Jan low -1°F · 39 in snow

14. 12Ely, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns

    3,268 people · St. Louis County · median home $157,300 · income $43,901 · Jan low -7°F · 65 in snow

15. 11Collegeville, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    3,344 people · Stearns County · median home $468,600 · income $115,909 · Jan low 4°F · 57 in snow

16. 10Benson, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    3,480 people · Swift County · median home $156,000 · income $52,821 · Jan low 1°F · 43 in snow

17. 9Grant, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns

    3,966 people · Washington County · median home $683,400 · income $150,875 · Jan low 5°F · 47 in snow

18. 8Northern, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns

    4,535 people · Beltrami County · median home $320,200 · income $99,848 · Jan low -4°F · 49 in snow

19. 7Independence, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns

    3,755 people · Hennepin County · median home $663,400 · income $186,597 · Jan low 3°F · 45 in snow

20. 6Glenwood, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns

    2,657 people · Pope County · median home $179,400 · income $42,188 · Jan low 2°F · 46 in snow

21. 5Afton, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns

    2,955 people · Washington County · median home $679,300 · income $133,305 · Jan low 6°F · 47 in snow

22. 4Scandia, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns

    3,984 people · Washington County · median home $475,800 · income $101,953 · Jan low 3°F · 52 in snow

23. 3May, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns

    2,670 people · Washington County · median home $685,700 · income $137,321 · Jan low 5°F · 48 in snow

24. 2Wayzata, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns

    4,434 people · Hennepin County · median home $1,153,400 · income $131,614 · Jan low 7°F · 54 in snow

25. 1North Oaks, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns

    5,272 people · Ramsey County · median home $821,200 · income $231,742 · Jan low 8°F · 40 in snow

Price vs ranking

More Minnesota rankings

• The 14 Quietest Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
• The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Minnesota

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio