Moving to Minnesota

Minnesota, otherwise known as ‘The North Star State’, is a wonderful state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to MN, we have organized a comprehensive list of some important facts and useful information to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the West North Central Region of the country, Minnesota is bordered by Iowa, Michigan (water border), North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. With a total land area of over 86,938.87 Square Miles, it comes in as the 12th largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of MN is 5,519,952 making it the 22nd most populated state in the union and the 18th least densely populated. The state capital, St. Paul, has a population of 276963. which is the 13th largest capital in the country.

Notable Minnesotans

Minnesota is home to numerous famous and some infamous people such as, LaVerne Maxene and Patti Andrews a prominent singers is from Minneapolis and Warren E Burger a memorable jurist is from Saint Paul. Others include people like William Demarest a actor and William Orville Douglas a jurist .

Climate

Minnesota is located in the interior of North America, resulting in large temperature variations across the state, where winters are cold in the south and frigid in the north and summers are mild to occasionally hot in the south and pleasantly cool in the north. The lack of mountains to the north or south allows for incursions of bitterly cold air masses from the Arctic as well as warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, further increasing the range of conditions that can affect the state. The summer is characterized by frequent warm air masses, either hot and dry continental air masses from the arid west and southwest or warm and moist air that pushes northward from the Gulf of Mexico. The summer is also punctuated by periodic intrusions of cooler air from Canada, providing breaks from summer heat. Temperature extremes have ranged from as low as -60°F (Feb. 2, 1996, Tower) to as high as 115°F (July 29, 1917, Beardsley). Minnesota’s wide range between highest and lowest temperatures is the third largest of non-mountainous states. Also, Minnesota is located on the eastern edge of the transition zone between the humid climate of the eastern United States and the semi-arid Great Plains, exemplified by large differences in average precipitation across the state. Snowstorms are a normal part of the winter and early spring climate, with average annual snowfall ranging from 40 to 60 inches over most of the state.

National Parks

Minnesota is home to 1 beautiful national park.

• Voyageurs

  This park protecting four lakes near the CanadaUS border is a site for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The park also preserves a history populated by Ojibwe Native Americans, French fur traders called voyageurs, and gold miners. Formed by glaciers, the region features tall bluffs, rock gardens, islands, bays, and several historic buildings.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important consideration when relocating to a new state. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it intensely affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Minnesota’s violent crime rate is 22 per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 229per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 248.7.

Minnesota ranks #40 in the US for violent crime and #31 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Minnesota’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C+

Minnesota spends on average $12278.00 per pupil, which is greater than the national average ($11,900). MN ranks #11 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While MN ranks #11 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 81.90%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Minnesota ranks #22 with over 45.60% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Minnesota is 9.85% which ranks 45th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. MN’s rate is $29.48 which ranks 28th in the US.

Currently, MN sales tax is $21.59 for which it comes in as 19th compared to other states.

Sports

Minnesota fans are not only devoted but also very tried-and-true to their local major league teams. Minnesota is home to the following teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota United FC, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Minnesota Wild .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Minnesota, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in MN.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Minnesota, visit their website at http://www.northstar.state.mn.us/