“A great place to grow,” is the slogan for St. Michael, Minnesota, which is a nod to the city’s farming past and a reference to the area’s steady expansion during recent years. The population of St. Michael grew 47% between 2010 and 2020, and there continues to be an influx of new construction in the city. Located 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 37 miles southeast of St. Cloud, local Realtor Liina Roth of EXP Realty says St. Michael’s proximity to both the Twin Cities and the northern lake towns – where many residents have second homes – is one of this small city’s biggest draws. “You can enjoy the Twin Cities area, but also have golf courses and bigger housing lots for kids to run around. There are townhouses for people who want more close-knit neighborhoods, and it’s not too far from all the lakes, especially Lake Minnetonka. It’s the best of all worlds,” she says. This makes it popular for a variety of folks, from young professionals looking for a starter home to families looking for a bigger yard and a good school district. One of the largest employers in St. Michael is the JB Group, which has its 48,000-square-foot headquarters here. The cold supply chain provider mostly distributes frozen meats and provides about 700 jobs to the local workforce.
With an abundance of land, St. Michael has many new housing developments around the city.
Expansive floor plans with large lots are hallmarks of new construction homes in St. Michael.
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Established ramblers and spacious Craftsman homes in St. Michael
There’s a wide range of housing options in St. Michael, as demand has continuously evolved in sync with the city’s growth. The market here is very active, and resident and Realtor Ashley Crisostomo of Compass Realty says that she saw more than 30 listings within the first two weeks of 2025. “It’s a very desirable area, it’s a growing community,” she says. Crisostomo goes on to explain that St. Michael’s inventory is typically around two-thirds new construction options. “It’s becoming a more developed area – fewer farms and more neighborhoods. It’s changing to meet the growing demand of people who want to live there” she adds. The more established homes in St. Michael tend to be modest ramblers, split-levels and Colonial Revivals. Newer builds typically feature similar styles but tend to be more spacious and modern. There are also some townhouses in the city. Because of the mix of older and new construction, there’s a large price range in St. Michael. Homes can be listed from as low as $295,000 to over $1 million, depending on size, age and location. A townhouse might cost around $250,000, while an established five-bedroom single-family home may go for around $475,000. However, a comparably sized home with more acreage may go for double that. The average home price hovers around $465,000, a little higher than the national average of $420,400.
In more rural parts of St. Michael, classic ranch-style homes can be found.
New traditional craftsman-style homes beautify the streets of St. Michael.
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St. Michael-Albertville Independent School District 885 is the county’s best
St. Michael’s school district is one of the biggest reasons people move to the area. A part of St. Michael-Albertville Independent School District 885, this district receives an A-rating from Niche as well as the top slot as the best school district in the county. The district has one prekindergarten through kindergarten school, three elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school and an alternative academy. SAT scores are, on average, about 300 points higher than the national average, while ACT scores are about seven points higher. The district also has a 93% graduation rate, which is higher than the national average of 87%. There is also a private Catholic school in St. Michael.
St. Michael Elementary School ranks as the best public elementary school in Wright County.
St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East is ranked best public middle school in Wright County.
St. Michael-Albertville High School ranks as second best public high school in Wright County.
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Two golf courses, a BMX track and more for St. Michael residents
People also head to St Michael for the Cedar Creek and Fox Hollow golf courses, which are both big draws for locals and visitors alike. St. Michael is also home to the Crow River BMX track, open to all ages and skill levels. The track also holds local, state, regional and national BMX competitions. And while Minnesota may be known for its long, snowy winters, residents of St. Michael do celebrate the summer each year with the Daze & Knights Festival (the local school mascot is the knight). Hosted by the Lions Club, the festival features community garage sales, a 5K, a pickleball tournament, live music, and a fireworks display, all in Town Center Park.
St. Michael is conveniently located along Interstate 94.
St. Michael's commercial corridor has many shopping and dining options.
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Town Center Park, trails and a splash pad
Outdoor recreation is one of the things Marc Weigel, community development director for the city of St. Michael, likes most about the city. “We have a great parks and trail system with a lot of excellent trails that link schools and neighborhoods together,” he says. There are about 15 parks here, with Town Center Park taking centerstage. Located in the middle of the city, Town Center Park is right next door to City Hall, close to restaurants and was recently upgraded to include a splash pad and pickleball courts. Plus, it hosts evening concerts when the weather is nice. “There’s constant activity,” says Weigel. “Kids play even in the winter.” For water sports enthusiasts, St. Michael is less than 30 miles from Lake Minnetonka and has quick access to many other lakes too.
Freshly-brewed coffee and sweet treats await visitors of Dunn Brothers Coffee in St. Michael.
With it's cozy, chic ambiance, Main Street Farmer Eatery is a popular spot for American fare.
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Farm-to-table restaurant Home Grown is popular with locals
St. Michael isn’t exactly a commercial hub, but it has a handful of local restaurants to try, including two farm-to-table restaurants HomeGrown and Main Street Farmer Eatery. “I’ve visited HomeGrown a few times,” Crisostomo says. “It’s a really nice atmosphere and more upscale, which I think the community was looking for. The food was phenomenal.” There are also more casual places too, like dive bar Ditto, which is located in the first brick building ever built in St. Michael in 1878. For shopping, nearby Maple Grove is a bigger suburb known for The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, a large outdoor shopping center.
The ever-popular sport of pickleball can be played at Town Center Park in St. Michael.
Beebe Lake Regional Park has a fishing pier for anglers to try their luck.
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Highways lead residents to St. Cloud and Minneapolis
Despite being a small suburb, St. Michael has three main transit routes nearby – Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 52 and Minnesota State Highway 241, with I-94 taking commuters straight to Minneapolis. The St. Cloud Regional Airport is about 34 miles away and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is 44 miles away. However, flights in and out of St. Cloud are limited, mostly going to Arizona and Florida. Otherwise, St. Michael is a car-dependent suburb, with sidewalks and recreational trails. There are two hospitals about 13 miles away, Maple Grover Hospital and Buffalo Hospital, plus St. Michael is less than two hours from the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Town Center Park is St. Michael's crown jewel of recreation.
Town Center Park in St. Michael has plenty of greenspace for activities.
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Higher flood risk along Crow River but low crime
While most areas of St. Michael are not at elevated risk of flooding, there are zones with a higher risk along the Crow River and some of the area’s small lakes during times of higher rainfall. The crime in St. Michael is exceptionally low. It receives a CAP Crime Score rating of 1, which is well below the national average of 4, and the city is served by the Wright County Sheriff's Office.
The Crow River meanders along the southern border of St. Michael.
Fishing, kayaking, and scenic views are provided by the Crow River in St. Michael.
I’ve been in the real estate business since 2011. My previous experiences with petroleum retail sites gave me a great education in working with commercial real estate. It has become my passion in real estate. I am, however, certainly not out of touch with Residential Real Estate. As a team member of ResComPros, we emphasize the ability to work with Residential, Commercial, and the Professional aspects of real estate. I toy with technology, or should I say, it toys with me. I’ve become the office guru for new technology and am constantly searching for new applications to keep us on top of the industry. We have a great team of realtors with many talents and specialties. We also have an amazing marketing/support team. On a personal note, I am married to Sandy, who is on our marketing team. We have two grown children and are very proud of the adults they have become. We have been nuts about Keeshonds for over 40 years and have had seven in that time. Our latest two are named Martin and Lewis and are well loved! I love to BBQ and experiment with smoking meat. We’ve had great success and love testing the results. I am a HUGE Twins fan, and my bestie Chuck and I share season tickets. Sandy and I have attended many games together and love it when family and friends can join us at the games
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