The recent trend in the U.S. has had Americans moving out of the biggest metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago; instead opting for a calmer, safer, and more satisfying life for their families in small to medium communities.

The Midwest or the 'Flyover States' as people who just don't get it refer to the region are loaded with small to medium sized towns and cities that fit the bill for those families looking for a better way of life.

Another thing Midwesterners like to debate is what states are actually part of the Midwest. I mean, Midwest seems like it would be west of here. The Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska -- but that's just me.

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For the purpose of this report, Consumer Affairs is defining the Midwest as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The number crunchers at Consumer Affairs analyzed the region's 100 largest cities using five key factors: safety, affordability, economy, education and quality of life to determine what they think are the 100 best places in the Midwest.

For 2025, twelve Minnesota cities made the list, with one of them cracking the top-ten. Here's a look at the ten cities that topped the list:

Aerial View of Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota during Summer
Jacob Boomsma/ThinkStock
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2025 Top-Ten Best Places to Live in the Midwest

  1. Carmel, Indiana
  2. Naperville, Illinois
  3. Arlington Heights, Illinois
  4. Appleton, Wisconsin
  5. Waukesha, Wisconsin
  6. Bloomington, Illinois
  7. Plymouth, Minnesota
  8. Troy, Michigan
  9. Ankeny, Iowa
  10. West Des Monies, Iowa

The Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Bold North, the Gopher State, the North Star State; whatever you call corner of the world -- we've earned 12 spots on the '100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest' list for 2025.

Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota at night time
AndreyKrav/ThinkStock
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Best Minnesota Cities in the Midwest for 2025

  • #7 - Plymouth, Minnesota
  • #26 - Lakeville, Minnesota
  • #30 - Woodbury, Minnesota
  • #37 - Rochester, Minnesota
  • #46 - Maple Grove, Minnesota
  • #52 - Blaine, Minnesota
  • #64 - Bloomington, Minnesota
  • #67 - Duluth, Minnesota
  • #69 - Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
  • #73 - Saint Cloud, Minnesota
  • #83 - Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • #96 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

As one Minnesota put it while she was clicking the heels of her ruby slippers together, "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

21 Unwritten Rules Every Minnesotan Should Know

Minnesota has its own special code of conduct, an unwritten guide to surviving (and thriving) in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. These rules are essential to blending in and avoiding social exile. Master them, and you’re one step closer to true Minnesotan status.

Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now

20 Cheapest Places to Live in Minnesota for 2024

Minnesota Now has compiled a list of the most budget-friendly places to call home in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for 2024. The list is based solely on the sum of seven basic and necessary expenses for a family of four (two parents, two kids): housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes -- as provided in the latest EPI dataset.

Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now