Home to around 29,000 people, Prior Lake is a vibrant community anchored by two recreational lakes. With a quaint downtown and parks stocked with amenities, the city offers a variety of opportunities to bring neighbors together through all seasons. "People here love the small-town atmosphere with what is actually the third-largest recreational lake in the Twin Cities – it's good for boating and jet skiing and has multiple public beaches," says Berkshire Hathaway broker Jeff Young. As part of the top-ranked school district in the county, Prior Lake is also a destination for families with children.
Sand Point Beach overlooking Lower Prior Lake.
Pickleball is very popular with residents of all ages at Spring Lake park in Prior Lake.
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Fishing docks at Lakefront Park
Prior Lake's 51 parks offer over 1,000 acres of intentional green spaces with diverse amenities to explore. Park hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it easier to fit a Pickleball game or walk by the water into a busy day. The park with the longest list of amenities is Lakefront Park, with trails that lead to the waterfront, tennis and Pickleball courts, ice rinks, a huge sledding hill, a playground, fishing docks, kayak rentals, an amphitheater, and much more. Lakefront Parks Waltz Beach is said to be a quiet place to spend the day on soft sand, watching the waves lap toward shore. Locals can store their boats at the Knotty Oar Marina on Eagle Creek Avenue.
An angler fishing in the Marina.
A boat coming in to the bay in a lake home neighborhood.
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New homes in Springview Meadows
"Homes are typically going to be anywhere from $450,000 to $650,000," Young says. An entry-level price point for an inland home that needs love and care could be as low as $280,000. New communities, like Springview Meadows, offer farmhouse-style homes with quartz countertops, spacious bedroom suites and three-car garages starting in the $500,000s. An inland 1,800 square foot two-story traditional built in the mid 2000s could cost around $630,000. A highly modern, over 4,000 square foot new construction overlooking Prior Lake may cost over $2 million.
A group of newly constructed homes in The Springview Meadows housing development in Prior Lake.
New houses under construction in Prior Lake.
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Lakefront Music Fest and DecemBRRR Dazzle
There are events for every season in Prior Lake. Two prominent ones are Lakefront Music Fest in July, and DecemBRRR Dazzle. Both are held at Lakefront Park. "Lakefront Music Fest is a two-night festival that brings in about 20,000 people per night from all over the region," Young says. Lynyrd Skynyrd headlined the event in 2023. At DecemBRRR Dazzle, Santa is on hand for photos, there's a giant bonfire for smores and ice carving demonstrations, and the event always ends with fireworks.
Boutiques and bistros in downtown Prior Lakes
In downtown Prior Lake, Perron's Sul Lago is an Italian Bistro known for its elegant atmosphere and steak, pasta and seafood options. Prior Lake Farmers Market has indoor and outdoor vending options to stay open during cold months. Next to Form Massage and Bodywork, Olive Moon sells women's apparel. At Charlie's on Prior, off Green Heights Trail Southwest, locals dine on tacos while overlooking the lake. State Highway 13 runs through Prior Lake and is lined with essentials, including a Target, 3 miles north. There's a Hy-Vee grocery store just a mile from that on Egan Drive.
You'll find seemingly endless pastries at Edelweiss Bakery in Prior Lake.
Perron's Sul Lago Bistro offers upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Prior Lake.
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Top-rated schools in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district
Prior Lake is served by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools. “We have seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and Bridges Area Learning Center,” says Liz Zimmerman, the communications and social media specialist for Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. “We also have a Spanish immersion elementary school called La ola del lago at Grainwood.” One pipeline students travel is Westwood Elementary School, Hidden Oaks Middle School and Prior Lake High School. The elementary and high school both earn an A minus from Niche while the middle school scores an A rating. Lake High School is part of an E-STEM district where students receive instruction focused on inquiry and real-world problem-solving.
La ola del lago at Grainwood is a highly rated K-5 Spanish immersion school in Prior Lake.
Westwood Elementary is ranked second best public elementary school in Scott County.
Hidden Oaks Middle School's teachers received a grade of A from Niche.com.
Prior Lake High School is ranked best public high school in Scott County.
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St. Francis Regional Medical Center is 7 miles northwest
This is a car-dependent area but there are a few bus stops downtown served by the Co Rd 21 that will take locals to downtown Minneapolis. M Health Fairview Clinic offers primary care services on Willowood Street. St. Francis Regional Medical Center is 7 miles northwest with an emergency room. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International is 13 miles north via State Highway 13.
St. Francis Regional Medical Center is just a short drive from Prior Lake.
St. Francis Regional Medical Center offers quality health care a few minutes from Prior Lake.
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Written By
Christian Slater
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Rowell
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Dane Schindler,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Prior Lake, MN sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in Prior Lake, MN over the last 12 months is $475,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This isn’t just a house. It’s a front-row seat to lake life.Set on two-thirds of an acre with 66 feet of sandy shoreline on Upper Prior Lake, this fully renovated walkout rambler is made for effortless living. New windows, siding, roof, mechanicals, insulation, electrical, plumbing, hvac, and all the finishing touches!The open kitchen is the heart of the home, designed with
Welcome to this stunning, like-new, custom-built walkout two-story home. Located in the highly sought-after The Wilds Golf Club community. Built in 2020 with premium finishes and impeccable attention to detail, this exceptional residence offers the perfect blend of luxury, functionality, and comfort.From the moment you arrive, the curb appeal captivates with a dramatic elevation featuring
This remarkable home boasts a prime location on 200 feet of flat, level lakeshore on a quiet bay on Lower Prior. Mature trees, gorgeous water views and a pool make this home more like an oasis. With recent full kitchen and bath remodels, spacious rooms, new windows, and 2 fireplaces, this home offers unmatched comfort and style. The outdoor area features an impressive in-ground pool with a new
Welcome to this stunning, like-new, custom-built walkout two-story home. Located in the highly sought-after The Wilds Golf Club community. Built in 2020 with premium finishes and impeccable attention to detail, this exceptional residence offers the perfect blend of luxury, functionality, and comfort.From the moment you arrive, the curb appeal captivates with a dramatic elevation featuring
Welcome to this exquisite custom built home nestled on a beautiful 1+ acre lot on Lower Prior Lake. Set back and overlooking the lake, this well-manicured estate offers a professionally landscaped yard with perennial gardens, mature trees, panoramic views, just under 100 feet of lakeshore, 3 car attached garage and a separate detached garage with finished walk up space, and sighted perfectly
This remarkable home boasts a prime location on 200 feet of flat, level lakeshore on a quiet bay on Lower Prior. Mature trees, gorgeous water views and a pool make this home more like an oasis. With recent full kitchen and bath remodels, spacious rooms, new windows, and 2 fireplaces, this home offers unmatched comfort and style. The outdoor area features an impressive in-ground pool with a new
Welcome to Jeffers at Waterfront Apartments, a place where comfort meets convenience. Our apartments in Prior Lake offer one, two, or three--bedroom layouts equipped with essential amenities like quartz countertops, wood plank style flooring, and stainless-steel kitchen appliances. Residents of our pet friendly community also enjoy exclusive access to communal perks like package receiving,
Fantastic 2 bedroom, 2 car garage townhome with main level living with vaulted ceilings and a cozy gas fireplace. Ground level patio with plenty of room for your grill and outdoor seating. Spacious primary suite with walk-in closet and large bathroom with seperate jacuzzi tub and shower. Open concept design with living, dining, and kitchen flowing seamlessly, ideal for daily living and
The Grainwood Apartments brings the feel of a cozy lake place to the heart of Prior Lake! Conveniently located near parks, shopping and restaurants, The Grainwood Apartments offers the freedoms of contemporary maintenance-free living combined with amenities such as granite counters, a built-in washer/dryer in every home, and underground heated parking. Are you ready for convenient living? The
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