How the Counties Stack Up

Our Twin Cities metropolitan area is comprised of seven counties and dissected by three major rivers—the Minnesota to the south; the Mississippi, which bisects our urban core; and the St. Croix to our east, the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Many factors play into where we choose to live— parks and lakes, high-performing schools, retail, restaurants, business districts, even the dreaded commute of pre-2020. Here’s how our Twin Cities metro stacks up.

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Anoka

  • Area: 423.01 sq. miles
  • Population: 356,921
  • Growth since 2010: 7.9%
  • Population Density: 844/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $232,400
  • Largest Cities: Blaine, Coon Rapids, Andover, Fridley, Ramsey
  • Locations of Note:  National Sports Center, Bunker Hills Regional Park, Springbrook Nature Center, Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Locke County Park, Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Lyric Arts Main Street Stage

Carver

  • Area: 354.33 sq. miles
  • Population: 105,089
  • Growth since 2010: 15.4%
  • Population Density: 297/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $313,200
  • Largest Cities: Chaska, Chanhassen, Waconia, Victoria, Carver
  • Locations of Note: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Paisley Park, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Carver Park Reserve, Schram Vineyards, Parley Lake Winery, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center

Dakota

  • Area: 562.17 sq. miles
  • Population: 429,021
  • Growth since 2010: 7.6%
  • Population Density: 763/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $266,000
  • Largest Cities: Eagan, Lakeville, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights
  • Locations of Note: Minnesota Zoo, Buck Hill, Caponi Art Park, Cascade Bay Waterpark, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Vikings Museum, Whitetail Woods Regional Park, Dakota City Heritage Village

Hennepin 

  • Area: 553.59 sq. miles
  • Population: 1,265,843
  • Growth since 2010: 9.8%
  • Population Density: 2,287/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $276,900
  • Largest Cities: Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, St. Louis Park, Richfield
  • Locations of Note: Mall of America, Chain of Lakes Regional Park, Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, Target Field, University of Minnesota, Minnehaha Regional Park, Elm Creek Park Reserve, U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Center, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Walker Art Center, Mia, Hennepin Theatre District, Guthrie Theater, Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park, Mississippi Gorge Regional Park, Weisman Art Museum, The Works Museum, Theodore Wirth Regional Park

Ramsey 

  • Area: 152.21 sq. miles
  • Population: 550,321
  • Growth since 2010: 8.2%
  • Population Density: 3,616/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $229,600
  • Largest Cities: St. Paul, Maplewood, Roseville, Shoreview, White Bear Lake
  • Locations of Note: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota State Fair, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Fort Snelling, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Capitol Building, Bell Museum, Minnesota History Center

Scott

  • Area: 356.48 sq. miles
  • Population: 149,013
  • Growth since 2010: 14.7%
  • Population Density: 418/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $299,700
  • Largest Cities: Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Belle Plaine, Jordan
  • Locations of Note: Valleyfair, Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Cleary Lake Regional Park, Elko Speedway, Renaissance Festival

Washingtion

  • Area: 384.28 sq. miles
  • Population: 262,440
  • Growth since 2010: 10.2%
  • Population Density: 683/sq. mi.
  • Median Housing Value: $289,400
  • Largest Cities: Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Forest Lake, Stillwater
  • Locations of Note:  Stillwater Lift Bridge, Afton Alps, William O’Brien State Park, St. Croix Scenic Byway, Washington County Historic Courthouse, St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail, Madison’s Place Playground, Carpenter Nature Center

Data source: Minnesota State Demographic Center and U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

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