Quality of Life

Minnesota Among the Most Livable States

Minnesota has topped Morgan Quitno's list of "most livable states" for more than a decade. This year's fourth-place ranking recognizes the region's affordable housing, safe streets, a strong education system and excellent health care. The State Policy Reports echoes that finding, rating Minnesota near the top of its “Camelot Index” for the last 12 years.

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Metro MSP Region Takes Top Lifestyle Honors

The Metro MSP region consistently takes top national honors for livability. Forbes singled it out as "the most affordable place to live well" in America in 2007 – based on affordable housing, high quality of life, and access to choice arts, leisure and entertainment offerings. Expansion Magazine ranked it among the "eight best places to live and work" in the country. Kiplinger’s named it among the most family-friendly cities in the U.S. – giving it top marks for a "clean, progressive metro area that’s studded with architectural gems, and laced with lakes, rivers and parks."

In fact, the 11-county region is routinely recognized as one of the most literate, cultural, green, clean, healthy, family-friendly, cool, livable metro areas in the country. On almost every barometer of community vitality, Metro MSP shoots to the top.  

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Sports Mecca

• The region is a mecca for professional sports – including Minnesota Twins baseball, Minnesota Vikings football, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx (women) basketball, Minnesota Wild hockey, and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers’ division I teams.

• The climate-controlled Metrodome is the only sports facility in the country to have hosted a Superbowl, World Series, Baseball All-Star Game and NCAA Final Four Basketball championship.

• The region is considered the “14th Best Sports City” in the county, according to The Sporting News, 2006.

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Recreational Playground

• The 11-county region has a whopping 1,651 lakes. The state, with almost 12,000 lakes, has over 90,000 miles of shoreline. That’s more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.

• The Metro MSP region boasts one of most extensive regional and city park systems in the country. Seven state parks are located within its perimeter: William O’Brien, Fort Snelling, Afton, Minnesota Valley Trail, Lake Maria, and Interstate and Wild River on the St. Croix River.

• Minnesota has more golfers pre capita than any other state.

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• The one-of-a-kind theater scene boasts more theater seats per capital than any city outside of New York. The bold new Guthrie Theater, designed by Jean Nouvel, has garnered numerous architectural awards from around the world.

• Four other cultural icons – the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, Weisman Art Museum, and Minneapolis Central Library – each undertook major additions in the last few years.

• The music scene – from classical to hip-hop – thrives in the region. The Twin Cities is one of two places in America that supports two full-time, professional orchestras: The Minnesota Orchestra and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. (The other city is New York.)

• The Twin Cities is the third largest dance market in the nation.

• Minnesota foundations give 16% of their grant dollars to arts, culture and humanities – well above the national average. (2007 Foundation Giving Trends, The Foundation Center)

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International Shopping Destination

• With no sales tax on clothing, Minnesota is an international draw for shopping.

• The Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the nation. It also attracts the most visitors of any tourist destination in the state.

• Travel + Leisure ranked the region the “fourth best shopping destination” in the country – behind New York, Chicago and San Francisco. (2004)

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National Leader in Higher-Ed

• The region has a remarkable concentration of colleges and universities – 33 in all. Many partner with industry to train the next generation of workers. 

• The University of Minnesota has the fourth largest enrollment in the U.S. (66,100 across five campuses) and a national reputation for breakthrough research. It offers more than 370 degree programs.

• Minnesota consistently ranks near the top nationally in the share of grant dollars committed to education. (2007 Giving in Minnesota, Minnesota Council on Foundations)

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Remarkably Healthy Population

• The Metro MSP region is routinely recognized as one of healthiest places to live in the U.S. It is named “most athletic city” by Men’s Fitness and “America’s heart-healthiest city” by Men’s Journal. 

• Minnesota ranks number two in United Health Foundation’s “healthiest state” ranking. One reason is that it has the lowest rate of coronary heart disease in the nation, according to the American Heart Association.

• Minneapolis is America’s “13th best city for men” based on health, quality of life and fitness statistics, says Men’s Health. Runners World agrees, naming it among the top 25 running cities. It’s also the third best city in which to have a baby, according to FitPregnancy.

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Low Cost of Living

• The region holds the title of “most affordable place to live well” in America – based in part on affordable housing costs.  The median home price in 2007 was $225,000. (Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors)

• Reasonable housing costs earn the region high rankings in other national quality-of-life comparisons. It is consistently named one of the smartest, most family-friendly, low-stress places to live in the U.S.

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Culture of Philanthropy

• Minnesotans believe in giving back. More than 40% of the adults volunteer their time – the highest percentage in the U.S.

• The New York Times calls the Twin Cities “the emerald city of giving,” noting that philanthropy is “part of the culture of the Twin Cities corporate life.”  

• 214 Twin Cities companies are members of the Keystone Club. Each commits 2-5% of pretax income each year to philanthropy. 

For more lifestyle information on the Metro MSP region, visit www.mspmoretolife.com. Click here to read NWA WorldTraveler’s “Spotlight on Minneapolis and Saint Paul,” (pdf) published in November 2007.

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