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Minnesota State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#8 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Looking to move to a new, vibrant place to find more educational and professional opportunities? Then, Minnesota state (or MN, Minnesota’s abbreviation) is an excellent choice for families and people who live alone. But there are other benefits to living in this state apart from getting a nice job. Take a look at these rankings and decide whether living here is worth the try.

Updated: April 16, 2021
  • Area
    86,943 sq mi
  • Capital
    Saint Paul
  • Population
    5,639,632
  • Income
    $68,388
  • Home Value
    $283,127
  • Crime
    13,332
  • Unemployment
    4.7%
  • Education
    34.8%
  • Medicine
    7
  • Poverty
    9.2%
  • Environment
    37
  • Infrastructure
    4.10%

Minnesota is in the 12th position among the largest states in the whole of the union, though it’s not one of the most populous. Almost half of these inhabitants live in the largest cities known as Twin. Other significant urban areas include Moorhead, Rochester, and Duluth, which has the Minnesota state fair. 

While the state capital is Saint Paul, this is not the biggest or the most thriving city in the area (as it’s common in the USA). Instead, Minneapolis is the urban center with the most population and job opportunities. The first inhabitants arrived here back in the 11th century and have not left the territory ever since. 

In the 19th century, this area thrived because of the abundance of natural resources such as wood and timber. It became a state on May 11, 1858. Plus, it contributed to the industrialization of the country and the construction of new railroads.

Another factor that made it a big city is immigration. At the time, they received many Europeans from Germany and Central Europe who came looking for a better life. This area remains the center of these cultures. Today, it also receives population from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, according to the census of 2019. 

Unlike what happened in the past, Minnesota has a diverse economy no longer based on traditional farming or agriculture. Instead, they are focusing more on finance and services as a whole. The standard of living is in the top 10 of the country, with a highly educated Minnesota population. 

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

To develop an accurate list of the best states to live in, we used official documents with reliable information. These sources include the latest FBI reports, the new census, documents produced by the Health Department, and others. So, we analyzed them to come up with the essential metrics to decide whether the states were a good choice or not. Some of these indicators are health, education, and crime. 

Minnesota Rankings

  • Population
    #22
    Population
    Data: 5,639,632

    The population density is not that high when compared to the rest of the country. It has approximately 71 inhabitants per square mile, while Connecticut has ten times more (700 people per square mile). The most inhabited cities are Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, and Bloomington.

  • Median Income
    #49
    Income in $
    Data: $68,388

    The income per home rate is among the worst in the country. This does not happen because the salaries are low (local energy resources are great). The issue is high taxes, such as the individual income tax at 9.85%. The property tax refund is also hard to ask for. The tax itself is at 1.11%.

  • Home Value
    #21
    Home Value
    Data: $283,127

    In terms of the home value index, MN is in the middle of the table. Those with an average salary may have a hard time saving for their first home. The cheapest places where to buy an apartment or a detached house include Hibbing, Montevideo, and Kasson.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #16
    Unemployment
    Data: 4.7%

    The Minnesota unemployment rate is acceptable. For example, it’s only half the rate of states like Hawaii or California, which are around 9.5%. The Twin Cities are the ones with the highest metrics, including Ramsey County, which was deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Poverty
    #4
    Poverty
    Data: 9.2%

    Almost 10% of the population are poor in the province, but this is fairly good considering the situation of the country at the time. For instance, Mississippi is at the 19% metric while Louisiana has 18%. There was a sharp increase in the number of people with low income due to COVID-19.

  • Education
    #10
    Education
    Data: 34.8%

    MN is among the top 10 of the best-educated provinces in the USA. They have excellent institutions, like Carleton College, St. Olaf, and the University of Minnesota, where most of the population is educated. Almost 35% of the citizens have at least a BA in some discipline, the most popular being business and finance.

  • Medicine
    #1
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 7

    This state has one of the best healthcare facilities in the country. Those places are the Community Care Clinics, for example. While some treatments are costly, most people can afford them or have good health insurance to cover them. Only 7% of the inhabitants have no policy to cover for their illnesses.

  • Crime Rate
    #19
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 13,332

    This is not a terribly dangerous place to live, but it could be more peaceful. The murder rate may seem high, but it’s five times lower than in other more hazardous provinces like Missouri. Common crimes include rape, with 2,448 occurrences, and robbery – 3,149 cases.

  • Natural Environment
    #27
    Environment
    Air: 37

    Life here is of high quality even if the drinking water is not that good. Still, it can be either drunk from the tap or buy bottled water. In terms of air, there are only 37 violations by companies and industries, so it’s quite clean and non-polluted.

  • Infrastructure
    #15
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 4.10%

    The road conditions are nice. Only 4.10% of them are not in good shape, but the government dedicates a large budget every year for reparations. The deficient bridges are also not that many and these include the Stone Arch and the Aerial Lift bridges.

Minnesota Facts

  • The state is full of rivers and streams of water all over the territory. That’s why people call it “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
  • The North Shore of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes in North America, is situated in Lake County.
  • Dakota Sioux tribes inhabited this region. Dakota County got its name because of it.
  • The state has a lot of natural splendor, with waterfalls, hiking trails, mountains, and Minnesota state parks in most places.
  • The key cities with the most opportunities (in education and jobs) include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Rochester.
  • The major industries where people work are agriculture, retail, mining, and science. 
  • The name of the area derives from a Dakota Sioux tribe’s word, which means “cloudy water” because of the color of the rivers around here. 
  • The highest point is in Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet. 
  • There are 87 counties, with the most famous locations being the Mall of America and the North Shore Scenic Drive.
  • The colors of the state flag are blue with a gold border.
  • The most famous Minnesotans are Prince (the singer), Scott Fitzgerald (the writer), and Bob Dylan.

Minnesota in Photos

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Minnesota Map
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Minnesota Minneapolis Bridge
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Minnesota Minneapolis Downtown
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Minnesota Minneapolis
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Minnesota Minnehaha Falls
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Minnesota Nature
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Minnesota Split Rock
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Minnesota Amusement Park
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Minnesota Capitol Building
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Minnesota Lake

FAQ Section

  • What Time Zone Is Minnesota in?

    The region is in the time zone GMT-5. This makes a sharp contrast with other places and provinces such as New York (which is GMT-4) or San Francisco (GMT-7). Such a difference occurs because of geographical distance.

  • What Is the Minimum Wage in MN?

    When it comes to minimum salaries, the USA has a national policy to ensure everybody can make a living. In MN, this money was fixed at $9.86 per hour. It was set to increase in 2021, but this did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic crisis.

  • What Is Minnesota Known for?

    While this state is not as well-known as California or New York, it has many curious places to visit and exciting things to do. Here are a few examples.

    • There are beautiful lakes (Lake Superior among them) and forests to visit and have a good time while enjoying nature.
    • Visit cities with historical monuments such as the Twin Cities, which are home to many millionaire businesses.
    • The area has the largest mall in the whole of the USA, which is called the Mall of America in the city of Bloomington.

  • What to Do in Minnesota?

    The state offers both rural and urban activities to do, namely:

    • Take a look at the wonderful architecture of cities like Duluth, Saint Paul, or Bloomington.
    • Visit the oldest state park, Minnehaha, with trails and even a waterfall to have a nice day out in nature.
    • Wander around one of the many exhibitions around museums such as the Minneapolis Museum of Fine arts.
    • Walk into the Mall of America, the biggest in the country, where people can find hundreds of different shops, food courts, and even entertainment for the family.

  • How Much Is an MN Fishing License?

    People who wish to fish around the many lakes in the province will have to pay for a fishing license.

    This has different prices according to who wants to buy it:

    • A Non-Resident, Married Couple can buy a fishing license here, and it will cost them $55.00.
    • A Non-Resident Family needs $69.00.
    • For a person who is a resident, the license will cost $26 a year. A married couple has to pay $41.