Maple Grove vs Minnetonka: Which Twin Cities Suburb Is Right for You?
If you’re trying to decide where to live in the Twin Cities, two cities come up again and again: Maple Grove and Minnetonka.
Both are highly desirable, family-friendly suburbs — but they offer very different lifestyles.
In this breakdown, we’re putting Maple Grove vs Minnetonka head-to-head across five key categories:
Location
Things to do
Convenience
Schools
Housing & affordability
By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which city actually fits your lifestyle best.
Maple Grove vs Minnetonka: Quick Overview
Maple Grove
Northwest Twin Cities suburb
Population: just over 70,000
Newer, fast-growing city
Large commercial and shopping hubs
Minnetonka
Located directly west of Minneapolis
Population: around 53,000
Older, well-established suburb
Known for wooded neighborhoods and lakes
Both cities are family-focused, safe, and in high demand — but how they feel day-to-day is very different.
Category 1: Location & Commuting
When it comes to pure distance, Minnetonka has the advantage.
Minnetonka is about 15 minutes to downtown Minneapolis and 20 minutes to the airport.
Maple Grove is closer to 25 minutes to downtown and 35 minutes to the airport.
However, overall accessibility tells a different story.
Maple Grove is crisscrossed by multiple major highways, including I-94, I-494, Hwy 610, and Hwy 169. No matter where you live, you’re usually five minutes or less from a major freeway, making it easy to get anywhere in the metro.
Minnetonka’s access depends heavily on where you live. Many areas rely on Highway 7, which can bottleneck during rush hour — especially for residents closer to Lake Minnetonka.
Winner: Maple Grove
For people who drive all over the Twin Cities, flexibility matters — and Maple Grove delivers.
Category 2: Things to Do
This category is subjective, but both cities offer a lot.
Things to Do in Minnetonka
Extensive parks and biking trails
Purgatory Park, one of the largest parks in the city
Ridgedale Mall with 140+ stores
Proximity to Lake Minnetonka
Local breweries like Boom Island Brewing and Unmapped Brewing
Things to Do in Maple Grove
Centralized shopping and dining in the Arbor Lakes area
Over 260 combined stores, including The Shops at Arbor Lakes
City events like Maple Grove Days and the Chalk Art Festival
Elm Creek Park Reserve, offering biking, swimming, skiing, disc golf, and more
Both cities are family-oriented, with restaurants, parks, and community events. But Maple Grove’s biggest advantage is that everything is concentrated in one central area instead of being spread out.
Winner: Maple Grove (slight edge)
Category 3: Convenience
Convenience is where the difference becomes obvious.
Minnetonka’s shopping, dining, breweries, and grocery stores are spread across the city. Depending on where you live, you may need to cross town — or even leave the city — to run errands. The city is largely car-dependent with fewer redundant routes.
Maple Grove, on the other hand, has:
Multiple Targets and big-box stores
Numerous grocery options (Cub, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerlys, Whole Foods, Walmart)
Multiple routes to avoid traffic
Most essentials within 10 minutes or less
Winner: Maple Grove (by a wide margin)
Category 4: Schools
Schools are a major deciding factor for many buyers.
Maple Grove Schools
Maple Grove is part of the Osseo Area Schools district.
Overall grade: B+
Strong diversity and activities
Ranked among the top districts in Hennepin County
Minnetonka Schools
The Minnetonka Public Schools district is consistently ranked one of the best in Minnesota.
Overall grade: A+
Top-tier academics, teachers, and college prep
One of the biggest reasons Minnetonka is so sought after
Winner: Minnetonka (no contest)
Category 5: Housing & Affordability
This is one of the biggest differences between the two cities.
Minnetonka Housing
Homes from early 1900s to newer construction
Wide variety of styles: mid-century moderns, ramblers, split levels
Prices range from condos under $100K to luxury homes over $5M
Median home price (2025): just over $500,000
Limited new construction due to lack of available land
Minnetonka is ideal if you value character, mature trees, and unique neighborhoods.
Maple Grove Housing
Homes from the 1950s to brand-new construction
More townhomes and newer subdivisions
Prices roughly from $170K to $3M
Median home price: around $432,000
Ongoing growth and new developments
Maple Grove offers more affordability and more new construction options, but less architectural variety and fewer mature trees.
Winner: Maple Grove (due to affordability and availability)
Final Verdict: Maple Grove vs Minnetonka
After tallying the five categories:
Maple Grove wins: Location, Things to Do, Convenience, Housing
Minnetonka wins: Schools
Final Score: Maple Grove wins 3–2
That doesn’t mean Minnetonka isn’t an excellent city — it absolutely is. But if you value convenience, affordability, highway access, and future growth, Maple Grove tends to make more sense for most buyers.
And if you’re looking for top-tier schools and established neighborhoods with character, Minnetonka may be worth the higher price point.
Thinking About Moving to the Twin Cities?
If you’re deciding between Maple Grove, Minnetonka, or any other Twin Cities suburb, working with someone who knows these areas inside and out makes all the difference.
I’m Brandon Archie, and my team helps people buy and sell homes all over the Twin Cities. If you’re planning a move now or in the future, reach out and let’s build a plan that fits your lifestyle.