Vadnais Lake At Dusk, 1899
Vadnais Heights’s story
Vadnais Heights in pictures
Census counts: 2,459 in 1960, 12,912 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1899 and 6 maps from 1902 on.
Explore the history →
Photo: Gabriel Vanslette · CC BY 3.0
Population
13,052
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$370K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
39.6
years
Jobs based here
8,856
Balanced
TownGrade
A
#94 of 271 in MN
Is Vadnais Heights a good place to live?
Vadnais Heights's standout: 27% of its land is conserved. Overall it grades A, 94th among Minnesota's 271 graded towns. The median household earns $99K and residents are healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. 27% of the land in Vadnais Heights is conserved, against 4.6% in Minnesota’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Only 35 of Minnesota’s 574 towns score lower on history. Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park, at 1,227 acres with 1.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Vadnais Heights stand out
Where Vadnais Heights beats most towns.
Get outside
3 miles of trails in Vadnais Heights
27.3% of the town is conserved land, across 14 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Vadnais Heights grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Vadnais Heights is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →HealthM Health Fairview St. John's Hospital 2.6 miles awayA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 26% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 2.8% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trailsA+Open →History4 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life4.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−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 market22 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.6–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 72 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Vadnais Heights. Close and well known come first.
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
10 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
8 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
12 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
9 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz Field
7 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 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · 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
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Vadnais Heights: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Vadnais Heights, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVadnais Heights water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpVHG, Inc.Trash haulerTown site
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 hereRamsey County ElectionsRamsey County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017
ZIP codes55127, 55109, 5511055127 86% · 55109 9% · 55110 3%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 Vadnais Heights.
HealthA−
For health, Vadnais Heights earns an A−
35% of adults feel lonely in Vadnais Heights, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 30% and U.S. towns at 33%. 19% of adults get no exercise outside work in Vadnais Heights. Vadnais Heights beats the Minnesota average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Vadnais Heights | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 30% | 33% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 23% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
6 better23 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Vadnais Heights | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 7.5% |
| Fewer adults who get no exercise | 18.6% | 22.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.6% | 8.5% |
M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital
2.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
67th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB+
Vadnais Heights’ public schools outperform 71% of Minnesota districts
Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
71%of MN districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vadnais Heights ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 405 | B |
| AFSA High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 246 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Vadnais Heights has set aside nearly a quarter of its land for conservation
3.1 miles of trail in 14 parks and preserves.
#151for trails in MN
27.3%
conserved · 1,428 of 5,222 acres
3.1 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park | 1.6 mi | 1,227 |
| 2. Heritage Park | 0.6 mi | 30 |
| 3. Bridgewood Park | 0.3 mi | 33 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Vadnais Heights faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 74% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Vadnais Heights since 1978.
26risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 1978
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Vadnais Heights
The U Of Mn St Paul weather station, 7 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 6.6°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 93% of Minnesota places with climate records; July afternoons average 81.9°.
Vadnais Heights has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The January low in Vadnais Heights is 7°F.
40″snow a winter
| Vadnais Heights | 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 20
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Vadnais Heights draws in 8,554 commuters
Most working residents leave Vadnais Heights for work: only 5% work in town. 23% of Vadnais Heights workers work from home. Jobs based in Vadnais Heights grew to 8,856 in 2023, 1,022 more than in 2013.
5%work in town
| Vadnais Heights | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 23% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $99,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 9.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Vadnais Heights5%
St. Paul17%
Minneapolis13%
Roseville4%
White Bear Lake4%
9 mi
median commute distance
8,856
jobs based in Vadnais Heights
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 48% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
An age mix much like Minnesota’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Minnesota average. 46% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
39.6median age · MN 38.8
| Vadnais Heights | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 46% | 33% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 17% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 23% | 22% |
Vadnais HeightsMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school19%
Some college21%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s30%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 42.6, men 37.5.
| Vadnais Heights | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.5% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.5% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.6% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.6% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.1% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.9% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.7% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.2% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.4% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 29.9% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in Vadnais Heights are worth about $370K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Vadnais Heights home is worth about $370,000, up 1.7% in a year, 6% above the Minnesota typical home. Vadnais Heights’ median rent is $1,455 a month.
$370KZillow home value
| Vadnais Heights | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,455 a month | $1,192 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 80% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Vadnais Heights$370K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
22
days on market
101.7%
sale-to-list price
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
23
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Vadnais Heights
19pages on Vadnais Heights
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
21 within 15 miles of the center of Vadnais Heights
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · White Bear Lake4.3 mi$6,214 in-state tuitionBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Saint Paul4.6 mi$44,226 tuitionMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Paul7 mi$9,840 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Vadnais Heights residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
Famous people from Vadnais Heights
4 notable people were born in Vadnais Heights.
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About Vadnais Heights
City in Minnesota, United States
Vadnais Heights ( VAD-niz) is a city in Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,912 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 8.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 906 ft
- Area code
- 651
Vadnais Heights’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Vadnais Heights.
Gem LakeWhite Bear TownshipShoreviewWhite Bear LakeMaplewoodLittle CanadaNorth OaksVadnais Heights
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vadnais Heights | #94 | A | C+ | — | B+ | A− |
| Gem Lake | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| White Bear Township | #68 | A | C+ | — | B+ | A |
| Shoreview | #42 | A | C | — | A− | A+ |
| White Bear Lake | #122 | A− | C | B− | B+ | A |
| Maplewood | #236 | C+ | C+ | D | C | A− |
| Little Canada | #145 | B+ | C+ | — | B− | A− |
| North Oaks | #138 | A− | D− | — | A− | A |
Vadnais Heights, White Bear Township, Shoreview, Little Canada and North Oaks report no FBI crime data of their own. Gem Lake isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Vadnais Heights with a neighbor →
Questions about Vadnais Heights
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Vadnais Heights, MN a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Vadnais Heights grades A overall, better than 85% of U.S. towns and #94 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A− for health and B+ for schools.
Is Vadnais Heights, MN expensive?
That is 3.7 years of the area's median household income ($99,833 across the Minneapolis-St. 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 C+.