Int94wRoadSign-MM250, 2012
Lake Elmo’s story
174 years in pictures
Census counts: 218 in 1930, 11,335 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1946 on.
- 1852Lake Elmo is settled
Lake ElmoMN
A town of 14,376, settled in 1852.
8 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Gabriel Vanslette · CC BY 3.0
Population
14,376
2025 Census estimate · +26.9% since 2020
Typical home
$644K
+3.5% in a year
Household income
$154K
median
Median age
40.8
years
Jobs based here
3,109
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#117 of 271 in MN
Is Lake Elmo a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Lake Elmo grades A− overall, 117th of 271 graded towns in Minnesota. The median household earns $154K. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 93% of the country and its schools outperform 85% of the state's. The catch is cost: homes are expensive, about $644K for a typical one and 6.4 times the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household income. Lake Elmo’s median household income is $154,000, where Minnesota’s towns sit at $90,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. Only 16 of Minnesota’s 575 towns score higher on the outdoors. Lake Elmo Park Reserve, at 2,444 acres with 21.1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Lake Elmo stand out
Where Lake Elmo beats most towns.
A growing town
Lake Elmo has grown 78% since 2010
8,069 counted in 2010 and 11,335 in 2020; an estimated 14,376 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 26.9% since 2020, after 40.5% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Lake Elmo grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Lake Elmo is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for jobs and income (better than 97% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 11%), so the A− overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthM Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital 5.9 miles awayAOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 3.9% of households have no car; 0.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 82° summer afternoons, 40″ of snow–Open →Housing market24 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.8; 62% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 73 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lake Elmo. Close and well known come first.
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
10 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
15 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
18 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
13 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz Field
10 mi MuseumMinnesota State CapitolSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0 · Minnesota State Capitol: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Lake Elmo: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lake Elmo, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLake Elmo water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Lake Elmo’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWashington County Government CenterWashington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5504255042 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lake Elmo.
Lake Elmo has less tooth loss than most of Minnesota and gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of Minnesota; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Minnesota.
HousingCost of living grade D
Lake Elmo’s grade for cost of living is a D
At 6.4 years of the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household income, the typical home (about $644K) costs more against local pay than in 95% of Minnesota towns; that ratio is one input to its D for cost of living. 78.7% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.1% across Minnesota.
94% of Lake Elmo households own their home. The typical Lake Elmo home is worth about $644,000, up 3.5% in a year, 85% above the Minnesota typical home.
$644KZillow home value
Typical home value
Lake Elmo$644K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
24
days on market
100.5%
sale-to-list price
+3.5%
value change, 1 year
19
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA
Lake Elmo’s grade for schools is an A
Its A for schools comes with a D for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $644K.
Its public schools are run by the Stillwater Area Public Schools. One of its 3 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
85%of MN districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak-Land Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 946 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Conserved land covers 18% of Lake Elmo
44 miles of trail in 26 parks and preserves. The trail density in Lake Elmo is 1.8 miles per square mile.
#12for trails in MN
| Lake Elmo | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.8 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 18% | 4.6% | 4.3% |
18%
conserved · 2,770 of 15,374 acres
44 mi
of trails · 1.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lake Elmo Park Reserve | 21.1 mi | 2,444 |
| 2. Sunfish Lake Park | 11.8 mi | 280 |
| 3. Reid Park | 3.4 mi | 66 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA
Lake Elmo’s grade for health is an A
Its widest gap with Minnesota is tooth loss: 4.8% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 8.9% statewide. Against the 2,529 U.S. towns with household incomes like Lake Elmo’s, it is healthier than 64%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
25% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Lake Elmo. Lake Elmo beats the Minnesota average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 13% of adults report frequent mental distress in Lake Elmo.
93%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Lake Elmo | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
19 better13 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Lake Elmo | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.1% | 11.4% |
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
5.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
89th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Lake Elmo has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 1,654 in 2013 to 3,109. 36.6% of workers work from home, against 17.6% across Minnesota.
Most working residents leave Lake Elmo for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Lake Elmo grew to 3,109 in 2023, 1,455 more than in 2013. The top destinations are St.
4%work in town
| Lake Elmo | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.1% | 9.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Lake Elmo4%
St. Paul16%
Minneapolis13%
Woodbury5%
Edina4%
14 mi
median commute distance
3,109
jobs based in Lake Elmo
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 33% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Lake Elmo
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 22 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Lake Elmo.
28risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
22
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Lake Elmo has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The U Of Mn St Paul weather station, 13 miles away, records that 40 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 83% of Minnesota places with climate records. January nights average 6.8°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 96% of Minnesota places with climate records; July afternoons average 81.9°.
Lake Elmo has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Lake Elmo’s January low is 7°F.
40″snow a winter
| Lake Elmo | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 7°F | 6°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer60–80°
Fall39–57°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lake Elmo
19pages on Lake Elmo
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
15 within 15 miles of the center of Lake Elmo
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · White Bear Lake5.1 mi$6,214 in-state tuitionMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Paul8.3 mi$9,840 in-state tuitionSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · Saint Paul10.1 mi$6,326 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Lake Elmo residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
Get outside
44 miles of trails in Lake Elmo
18% of the town is conserved land, across 26 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Lake Elmo
City in Minnesota, United States
Lake Elmo is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,335 at the 2020 census. According to 2022 census estimates, the population is 13,449. Much of the area within the city limits is still farmland, giving the city a rural appearance. After the city lost a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council, a regional planning authority, the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2005 ordered that it had to compile a plan in accordance with the Council's regional development guide. Lake Elmo's population is rapidly growing. It is projected to be over 21,000 by 2040.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1852
- Area
- 24 sq mi
- Elevation
- 912 ft
- ZIP code
- 55042
- Area code
- 651
Lake Elmo’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Lake Elmo.
Oakdale next door grades lower for schools (C to Lake Elmo’s A) and higher for cost of living (C+ to D).
OakdaleStillwater TownshipWest Lakeland TownshipWoodburyBaytown TownshipGrantPine SpringsOak Park HeightsLake Elmo
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Elmo | #117 | A− | D | — | A | A |
| Oakdale | #186 | B | C+ | C+ | C | A− |
| Stillwater Township | — | — | C+ | — | A | A |
| West Lakeland Township | #60 | A | C | — | A | A |
| Woodbury | #92 | A | C− | B | A− | A+ |
| Baytown Township | — | — | C | — | A | A |
| Grant | #86 | A | D | — | A | A |
| Pine Springs | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Stillwater Township and Baytown Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Lake Elmo, Stillwater Township, West Lakeland Township, Baytown Township and Grant report no FBI crime data of their own. Pine Springs isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Lake Elmo with a neighbor →
Questions about Lake Elmo
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lake Elmo, MN a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Lake Elmo grades A− overall, better than 80% of U.S. towns and #117 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A for health and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Lake Elmo, MN expensive?
Yes. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.