25+ Pros And Cons Of Living In Minnesota (Explained)

Minnesota primary became a territory of the United States in 1849. Early colonizers used Saint Anthony Falls as a way to influence the sawmills in the area that would ultimately shape the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and control the local economy.

When the government-built Fort Snelling in the area, more families began to move into the area. It eventually became the 32nd state in May 1858.

One must ponder upon the pros and cons before making a living in Minnesota.

BENEFITS of Living in Minnesota	DRAWBACKS of Living in Minnesota
Strong job market.	Winters are too challenging in Minnesota.
Housing cost is less in Minnesota	Hospitality is not the first urge in the state.
Plenty of outdoor sports.	There are not many food options available.
Has great educational infrastructure.	High tax rates.
The state offers an excellent quality of life	Traffic is a significant problem in the state.
Loads of festival to celebrate in Minnesota	Poor transportation infrastructure.
Four distinct seasons to experience.	Lack of effective public transport.
A lot of cultural diversity.	High crime rate.

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Advantages of Living in Minnesota:

The state offers a job market that stays relatively strong.

There are several municipal areas in Minnesota where work is easy to find, but there are numerous career opportunities here as well. A total of 17 Fortune 500 companies have an existence in the area, with Best Buy 3M and UnitedHealth Group. The redundancy rate floats around 3% as of 2019, putting it accurately near the national average.

Housing costs are about average in Minnesota.

According to statistics published by Zillow, the median home value in Minnesota is about $225,000. The listing price if you’re concerned in a purchase is about $40k higher than that.

There are abundant outdoor activities to enjoy.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes offers numerous opportunities to get outdoor to start exploring. There are five national parks to visit in the state, over 70 state parks, and you can even access the western-most point of the Great Lakes if you head up north.

You’ll notice plenty of trails for hiking, cycling, and trail running. One can go climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter.

The educational structure in Minnesota is excellent.

There are over 200 colleges and universities currently functioning in the state of Minnesota. Over 15% of them make it onto the yearly list of the Best Colleges in the United States that U.S. News and World Report produces each year. The Twin Cities are often ranked as one of the most well-educated cities in the country.

This state bids an excellent quality of life.

Even if you were to forget the statistic that there are over 11,000 lakes to travel in Minnesota, that there are 90,000 miles of coastline, lots of trees, fresh air, and access to some of the country’s best mountaineering trails, it would be difficult to ignore all of the other paybacks that help families to make a way of life here that feels like a throwback to a diverse era.

There is a festival for everything in Minnesota.

One of the greatest Midwestern ethnicities in the United States is to celebrate almost anything related to the culture or tradition of your community. You will find that there are festivals to enjoy all year long through the state. Here are some examples.

The Ely Winter Festival held every February for 10 days.
Oktoberfest in New Ulm.
Moose Madness Family Festival in Grand Marais each October.

Four distinct seasons.

In addition to autumn’s loveliness, locals also love the fact that their state has four separate, very different seasons. Characteristics of respective time of year are well-defined (blazing hot summers, mild falls and springs, and frigid winters) and inhabitants appreciate the diversity of weather and the variations it brings to the landscape and stride of life at different times of the year.

Cultural diversity.

Minnesota has always had a lot of immigration, hospitable to people from many different countries and backgrounds. While many of the settlers were of European descent, there’s also a large population of Hmong-Americans.

Disadvantages of Living in Minnesota:

Extreme winters:

Just how cold do the Minnesotan winters get? Darn cold – there are temperatures on record of -35 °F, and while that’s not the standard, many days in winter can and do drop to below zero.

Hospitality isn’t the first urge of many Minnesotans.

The people who live in Minnesota tend to express their mind. If you have ever heard of the phrase “being honest to a fault”, then that perfectly describes the conversion experience that you’ll come across here.

If someone doesn’t like your political views, the new hair color you’re trying, or the shirt you wear, then you’re likely to receive sarcastic praise about what you are doing.

Some of the food options in Minnesota are items you’ll want to skip.

Minnesota might offer you access to some folkloric cuisine and fine-dining opportunities, but the residents of this state are more famous for their desire to fry anything. When it is time for the State Fair, then there is an insane desire to place all of those fried foods on a stick.

The tax rates in Minnesota are much higher than most other states in the region.

One of the reasons why Minnesota hasn’t had the same budget shortfalls as other states in the Midwest is because of their shockingly high tax rates.

Traffic can be a significant problem

If you live in the northern part of the state, then traffic is a non-issue for you. If you live or visit the Twin Cities, then the travel is better than what you’d experience in NYC or Los Angeles, but it is far from being free of congestion.

Road construction is a way of life in Minnesota.

Because there are four distinguishing seasons to enjoy when you start staying in Minnesota, there is an improved need to take care of the transportation infrastructure.

Lack of effective public transportation.

If you are living and employed in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul, then the public transportation system is an actual way to get around the city. When you decide that the suburbs are a better choice for your family, then it is nearly impossible to manage your conditions without a vehicle.

Minneapolis is one of the most unsafe cities in the United States.

The violent crime rate in Minneapolis stands at 1,063 reported incidents for every 100,000 people. That’s almost three times what the average rate is for the United States.

Conclusion:

One will find some unconventionality in the culture here. The pros and cons of living in Minnesota show that it is an honestly nice place to settle down, find a decent job, or start a family.

There is a way of life here that still speaks of custom, even with the presence of modern facilities, and that means your greatest challenge for most years is to withstand the winter.