Greenwood, MN

Set along Saint Albans Bay on Lake Minnetonka, Greenwood is a small, quiet community of around 700 residents located right next to Excelsior and roughly 20 minutes west of Minneapolis. About half the homes here sit directly on the water, giving the city a relaxed lakeside feel framed by winding shoreline roads and a bridge shared with Excelsior. Highway 7 borders the town, offering an easy route into the Twin Cities while keeping the residential streets calm and low on traffic.

Families in Greenwood belong to the highly rated Minnetonka School District, with younger kids attending nearby Excelsior Elementary. Because the city itself is almost entirely residential, locals head into neighboring Excelsior and Minnetonka for groceries, dining, and everyday errands. Regional trails run along the edge of town for walking and cycling, and lake living is a year-round draw, with boating throughout the summer and ice fishing or snowshoeing once the bay freezes over.