Bayport, MN

Set right along the St. Croix River just south of Stillwater, Bayport is a quiet, tight-knit community of about 4,000 residents. The town grew out of the valley's historic lumber boom and remains best known as the longtime home of Andersen Windows, which still anchors the local waterfront. Tree-lined residential streets and well-kept older homes give the town a relaxed river-valley feel, offering a peaceful home base that is still an easy commute to St. Paul and Minneapolis.

ATTRBradinator33 / CC BY 4.0

Daily life in Bayport revolves around the water and the outdoors. Lakeside Park serves as the town's favorite summer gathering spot, complete with a swimming beach, open green space, and boat launches onto the St. Croix. Local kids attend the well-regarded Stillwater Area Public Schools, and residents enjoy a handful of beloved neighborhood diners, bakeries, and marinas along the shore. With downtown Stillwater's busy restaurant and boutique scene just a five-minute drive up the road, living in Bayport means enjoying a classic small-town pace alongside plenty of nearby amenities.