MINNESOTA — The cost of living varies widely across Minnesota, with new data from Niche highlighting a sharp divide between Twin Cities neighborhoods and smaller communities across the state.

The Niche rankings are based on a mix of housing costs, income levels, taxes, and everyday expenses like groceries and gas, using data from the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Tax Foundation.

Many of the highest-cost areas are concentrated in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby suburbs, while the most affordable places are largely found in rural and small-town Minnesota.

15 Most Expensive Places To Live In Minnesota

Niche places several Twin Cities neighborhoods and suburbs in its second-highest cost-of-living tier. No Minnesota locations ranked in the highest tier.

Among them:

• Macalester-Groveland (St. Paul)
• King Field (Minneapolis)
• St. Anthony Park (St. Paul)
• Downtown East (Minneapolis)
• East Harriet (Minneapolis)
• Summit Hill (St. Paul)
• Bryn Mawr (Minneapolis)
• North Loop (Minneapolis)
• King Field (Minneapolis)
• Edina
• Linden Hills (Minneapolis)
• Fulton (Minneapolis)
• Lowry Hill (Minneapolis)
• East Isles (Minneapolis)
• Lynnhurst (Minneapolis)

15 Most Affordable Places To Live In Minnesota

At the other end of the spectrum, Niche identified a number of towns with significantly lower costs of living.

These communities are spread across southern, western, and northern Minnesota and tend to have smaller populations and lower housing costs.

Among the most affordable places:

• Luverne
• International Falls
• Pipestone
• Caledonia
• Jackson
• Windom
• Redwood Falls
• Ely
• Breckenridge
• Blue Earth
• Lake Crystal
• Austin
• Sleepy Eye
• Mountain Iron
• Thief River Falls

The data underscores a familiar pattern in Minnesota: higher costs in the metro area and more affordable living in smaller towns, often with trade-offs in access to jobs, amenities, and services.

After a ruff start, the Sox are still a sad 6-9 but are only two games out of first place. Tonight, we ball behind Garrett Crochet to help close that gap in a wide-open AL East (and AL in general). Game’s at 7:40 p.m. and the Sox will face Bailey Ober, who’s had a tuff start to the season himself. Here are the lineups:

Given the venue, I’d like to add: Fuck ICE. Or maybe I’ll just let the Boss do it:

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The FBI is investigating a physical confrontation that occurred during an anti-ICE protest at the Whipple Federal Building in Minnesota over the weekend. Several protesters were arrested, with three facing assault charges and one charged with obstruction. A video posted on social media showed a protester, Savannah Hernandez, being knocked down during the incident.

Why it matters

The Whipple Federal Building has been a site of ongoing protests against ICE operations in Minnesota, and this latest incident highlights the tensions and potential for violence at these demonstrations. The FBI’s involvement suggests the incident is being taken seriously as a potential violation of civil rights or other federal laws.

The details

The confrontation occurred during a protest called ‘Bye Bye Bondi,’ referring to former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Whipple Building has been the headquarters for ICE operations in the area, and protests have continued at the site since federal officials increased their presence in Minnesota in December. Savannah Hernandez, a contributor for Turning Point USA, posted a video showing her being knocked down by protesters, some of whom were chanting that they were ‘ANTIFA.’

• The incident occurred on Saturday, April 12, 2026 during an anti-ICE protest.
• Four people were arrested at the end of the demonstration.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The FBI investigation is ongoing, and authorities will determine if any federal charges will be filed related to the incident.