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There are many reasons why moving to Minnetonka, Minnesota is worth it. The city has a stable economy with its job market on the rise, excellent schools, low crime rates, safe neighborhoods, and entertainment for the whole family. Minnetonka also fosters a welcoming and culturally diverse environment suitable for raising children. Its proximity to the city of Minneapolis makes it convenient to enjoy the big city life. The town lies just 15 miles outside of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. Minnetonka offers multiple transportation services that readily bring residents to and from Minneapolis, making it easy to spend the day downtown. Whatever your motive is for moving to Minnetonka, consider utilizing moving services or portable storage containers to help make the transition hassle-free.

Long before the first settlers came to the land presently known as Minnetonka, Native American tribes occupied the area. Lake Minnetonka provided exceptional fishing, and the dense woods and prairies offered good hunting. In 1851, an agreement among the Native Americans and European settlers was signed that allowed for the settlement west of Fort Snelling. One year later, in 1852, the first settlement was established where the present-day Minnetonka Mills stands. Early settlers came primarily from New England, the British Isles, the Czech Republic, and northern Europe.

As the population continued to increase, the township of Minnetonka decided it was time to be incorporated as a village in 1956. Another contributing factor to this decision was the annexation of four newly developed residential areas within Minnetonka. This development reduced the area of Minnetonka from 36 to 28 square miles. Since Minnetonka was only a township at the time, it could not stop the land from being annexed. However, had it been a village, Minnetonka could’ve prevented the annexation. To preserve their property in the future, the township decided to transition to a village.

In the 1960s, the village started to see significant civic changes. Highways and transportation services began to improve, which allowed easier access for new residents, thus further increasing the population. Fire and police stations were established as well as significant commercial developments. By 1968, the village of Minnetonka officially became a city. More changes were seen throughout the 1970s with septic tanks being replaced with a town sewer system and water lines. Today, the city is home to many major corporate headquarters as well as small local businesses.

As of 2020, Minnetonka’s population reached 54,861, which makes it the 18th largest city in Minnesota. The community has been growing at a rate of 0.83% annually and has increased by 10.3% in the last ten years. The city spans 28 miles, which gives Minnetonka a population density of 2,039 people per square mile. The population is 87.6% Caucasian, 5.2% black or African American, 4.3% Asian, 2.3% is two or more races, and 0.5% falls under the category of other. 60.3% of Minnetonka’s population was born in the state of Minnesota. 89.8% of their community are native-born Americans, whereas 10.2% are foreign-born. Of the 10.2%, 4.14% are non-United States citizens. The median age in Minnetonka is 45 years old, and for every 100 females, there are 92.4 males. The average family size in this Minneapolis suburb is 2.86, whereas the average household size is 2.26.

The city is also linguistically diverse, with over 11% of the population speaking a language other than English. The most popular non-English language spoken in Minnetonka is in the category of Indo-European. However, 88.6% of Minnetonka’s residents are only fluent in English.

Minnetonka’s climate is similar to most Minnesotan cities in the sense that they experience frigid and snowy winters along with hot summers. January is the city’s coldest month with an average nighttime low temperature of just six degrees. Annually, there are 152 days where the nighttime low temperature drops below freezing and 25 days when it drops below zero degrees. Even with these statistics, Minnetonka is still considered to have one of Minnesota’s warmer winter climates. Minnetonka is notorious for receiving an abundance of snow. When moving to Minnetonka, you can expect nearly 53 inches of snowfall per year. December has historically been the snowiest month with an average snowfall of 12.8 inches. This city is one of Minnesota’s snowiest, with seven months out of the year receiving a significant amount of snowfall. In Minnetonka, it could start snowing as early as October and last throughout April, so be sure to keep your snow gear handy.

Minnetonka gets less rain than the national average but more rain than the Minnesota state average. Annually, you can expect around 32 inches of rainfall per year, making Minnetonka one of the wettest cities throughout the state of Minnesota. June tends to be the wettest month with an average rainfall of 4.4 inches, and February tends to be the driest month with an average rainfall of 0.8 inches. In Minnetonka, the wettest season is Autumn, which receives 39% of the city’s yearly precipitation. Only 9% of Minnetonka’s annual precipitation occurs in the Spring, making it the city’s driest season.

Aside from the cold temperatures, snow, and rain, Minnetonka is quite comfortable in the summer. July is the city’s hottest month with an average high temperature of 83 degrees. This is higher than the typical Minnesota city, giving Minnetonka one of Minnesota’s warmer summer climates. On average, there are nearly eight days where the high temperature exceeds 90 degrees. When comparing this with other Minnesotan cities, it is about average. Historically, the most pleasant months are June, July, and August, which average high temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees.

With such variable weather patterns, residents could benefit from storing their seasonal items in climate-controlled storage containers.

Minnetonka’s cost of living index falls at 115 whereas the United States has a baseline cost of living index falling at 100. This means that it is generally more expensive to live in Minnetonka when compared to the average United States city. The poverty rate in this city falls at 4.74%. The median price of a home in this area is $340,000. Housing in this city plays one of the most significant roles in determining its cost of living index. The average annual household income is $129,614 in Minnetonka. In general, the cost of housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities is more expensive in this city when compared with the average Minnesota city as well as the average United States city. However, the cost of healthcare is less costly in Minnetonka than it is in the typical Minnesota and United States cities.

Minnetonka has a sales tax rate of 7.5%, which is only 0.2% greater than the United States average of 7.3%. The income tax rate is 7.1%, which significantly exceeds that of the average United States city whose income tax rate is only 4.6%.

Minnetonka has experienced a job market increase of 1.8% in the past year. The city has a predicted future job growth of 38.4%, which exceeds the national average prediction of 33.5% by 4.9%. With these statistics, Minnetonka is an ideal city to find employment. Their unemployment rate is only 2.3%, which is less than the average United States city, whose unemployment rate falls around 3.9%. Some of the city’s largest industries include professional, scientific, and technical services, retail trade, and healthcare and social assistance. Among the city’s highest paying industries are mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting. Minnetonka has a labor force participation rate of 68.68% and an employment rate of 66.4%.

Being just miles away from Minneapolis, the neighborhoods of Minnetonka provide residents with a suburban lifestyle while integrating an urban vibe. Minnetonka fosters a safe and inviting community that is great for raising children. Throughout the city, you will find five community parks and 44 neighborhood parks. The city’s first park, Gro Tonka, was established in 1959 and remains as part of the community today. Each of Minnetonka’s parks is well maintained as they receive routine inspections, repairs, and landscaping. Aside from the various parks, Minnetonka also has 90 miles of hiking/biking trails and sidewalk. Of those 90 miles, 81 are kept well maintained all year round. Dogs are also welcome to enjoy the trails as long as they are kept on a leash.

Minnetonka fosters a very safe and inviting community that is suitable for raising a family. The city’s crime rates are 39% lower than the national average, with the violent crime rate being 86% lower than the average United States city. Minnetonka is considered to be 57% safer than other cities throughout the state of Minnesota and 70% safer than cities across the United States. However, in recent years, crime has increased by 2%. Despite this, the chances of a city resident being involved in violent crime are only 1 in 1,914. To put this into perspective, you have less than a 0.06% chance of being a victim of violent crime in Minnetonka.

The Minnetonka Public School District 276 is made up of nine public schools. There is a total of six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The public schools spend about $15,978 per student, which exceeds the United States average by almost $3,600. These schools have an average student to teacher ratio of 16:1. The Minnetonka School District is highly rated among the community. 99% of parents rate the education provided by these schools as good or excellent. 94% of parents agree that the Minnetonka community receives excellent value in their investment in the local public school district.

Minnetonka High School is said to be the top public high school in the state of Minnesota. This school has a 97% graduation rate, which significantly surpasses the state average of 83%. Nearly 46% of the student body is enrolled in advanced placement courses, which offers higher education learning opportunities. It also puts students one step ahead of their peers to better prepare them for the future ahead. At Minnetonka High School, 78% of students are proficient in reading, and 70% are proficient in math. The school’s average ACT exam score is 27.7, which exceeds Minnesota’s state average of 21.3 and the United States average of 20.8. Not only is Minnetonka High School a great education facility, but its athletic program is among the best in the state. In fact, this school has been rated the number one public school for athletes out of 663 schools in Minnesota.

The Minnetonka Middle Schools East and West offer education from sixth to eighth grade. These schools, along with the public elementary schools, serve children in Minnetonka and the surrounding communities. These include Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Victoria, and Woodland. The schools in this district are known to hold a good reputation and provide students with the knowledge necessary to succeed in the future ahead.

When moving to Minnetonka, one attraction you can’t pass up is Lake Minnetonka. This 23 square mile body of water serves as Minnesota’s ninth-largest lake. It draws in tourists from all over the nation and is a popular spot among boaters, fishers, and sailors alike. Surrounding the lake, you will find a variety of restaurants, parks, shopping, and four active yacht clubs. Throughout the year, the city hosts a number of different fairs and festivals around the lake, which are great opportunities for family-fun. Lake Minnetonka is well-known for its magnificent real estate. The mansions that line the shores of the lake are some of the best in Minneapolis and are popular spectacles for sightseeing.

Not far from the city of Minnetonka, you will find Bunker Indoor Golf Center. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting, this place gives everyone the opportunity to practice on their 12 state-of-the-art widescreen simulators.  Since much of the year in Minnetonka is cold and snowy, Bunker Indoor Golf allows players to stay on top of their golf game all year round. Visitors have the chance to pick what course they want to play, including some of the world’s best and most challenging. Among these include Pebble Beach, St. Andrew’s, Torrey Pines, and more. If you are not looking to play a round, you can use the simulators to practice. Each screen is programmed with a driving range, chipping and putting green. The technology used by Bunker Indoor Golf Center is even trusted by golf professionals such as Tiger Woods and Jordan Speith.

Whether you have a taste for authentic Mediterranean cuisine, American homestyle cooking, or Italian, the restaurants of Minnetonka have you covered. With so many great places to choose from, this city has dining options to suit any and every appetite.

Bacio is the place to go when you can’t decide on what style of food you have a taste for. Their menu features authentic Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine that is made from scratch and always served fresh. Their menu also caters to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets. Bacio also supports local businesses by sourcing their ingredients from farms in the area.

For traditional Greek cuisine in Minnetonka, Christo’s is the place to go. Their menu includes all the Mediterranean favorites, including gyros, pastitsio, dolmades, and more. However, if you do not have a taste for Greek cooking, their menu also has select American options such as cheeseburgers, seafood, and chicken. Having won dozens of awards and received recognition on multiple accounts, Christo’s holds a highly reputable name. It has been named by City Pages, the best Greek restaurant in the twin cities area year after year, and Christo’s was Lake Minnetonka Magazine’s 2010 best place to try something new.

A local favorite is Ike’s Minnetonka Restaurant. This American style steakhouse offers guests a dining experience unlike any other in the city. Their menu features American favorites that will keep you coming back for more. They also cater to gluten-free and vegetarian diets. Be sure to stop in to try one of their mouthwatering burgers or enjoy their expansive wine menu during a happy hour. They even serve brunch on Sundays.

The city of Minnetonka has so much to offer for its residents. From the beautiful scenery to the great dining and entertainment options, Minnetonka has something to offer for everybody. Moving to Minnetonka, Minnesota is made easy with the help of local moving companies and portable storage containers for rent in the Minneapolis suburbs.