Scandia, MN

Set in the scenic St. Croix River Valley about 25 miles northeast of Saint Paul, Scandia offers a quiet, spread-out rural lifestyle within easy reach of the Twin Cities. With around 4,000 residents across a spacious landscape of woods, open fields, and lakes like Hay Lake, the area feels peaceful and uncrowded. Living here puts outdoor recreation right at your doorstep, with William O’Brien State Park next door and quick routes along Highways 95 and 97 to neighboring towns like Stillwater and Taylors Falls.

ATTRMcGhiever / CC BY-SA 4.0

Scandia takes pride in being Minnesota's first Swedish settlement, a history that dates back to the 1850s and still shapes the local culture today. Sites like the Gammelgården Museum preserve original immigrant cabins and host community heritage celebrations throughout the year. For people looking to move here, the town offers a blend of historical charm, generous lot sizes, and a close-knit country community.