Southern Minnesota City Lands on 2024 ‘Best in America’ List

Money magazine's annual list of the best places to live in America includes a southern Minnesota neighbor for 2024.

The article on Money.com lists the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2024. This year's list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life.

During the selection process, Money.com compared each city, town and neighborhood on their list of contenders against a handful of metrics, including (but not limited to):

• The health of the local job market
• The average housing costs borne by homeowners and renters
• The percentage of residents in poverty
• The quality of public schools

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Money.com also considered more grey areas for 2024 like:

• Suburbs with a soul
• Hidden gems
• New boomtowns
• Not just college towns
• Culture hubs

And finally in 2024, Money.com did not list the 50 Best Places to Live in any order. Cities & towns are either among the 50 best places or not.

A charming town near the Twin Cities with affordable homes and room for adventure.

The 2024 survey says...

Northfield, Minnesota

Money Magazine says of Northfield: 

Less than an hour's drive from the Twin Cities, Northfield is the perfect place to settle down if you’re in the market for a picturesque small town with access to a major metro. It’s home to Carleton College and St. Olaf College — two highly-ranked universities that recently made it to Money’s list of best colleges — and it’s chock-full of city parks, golf courses and scenic trails. For many residents, a typical summer day consists of a kayak trip along the Cannon River, which flows directly through town, or a lazy bike ride around Northfield’s historic downtown. In the cold Minnesota winter, cross-country skiing through Carleton’s Cowling Arboretum and the many meandering paths kept clean by Northfield’s three snowmobile clubs keep locals plenty busy.

Northfield Stats:

• Population: 20,294
• Median Home Listing Price: $420,000
• Unemployment Rate: 2.50%