City Comparison
Edina vs Lakeville
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lakeville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Edina
Lakeville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Edina is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
20% lower than in Lakeville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Edina's average rent is
27% lower than Lakeville's.
| Metric | Edina | Lakeville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $2,405 | -27% |
| Groceries | $420 | $420 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $185 | -5% |
| Transport | $110 | $125 | -12% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,695 | $3,375 | -20% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 108 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 5% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lakeville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Edina is estimated at
$65,000 vs $62,000 in Lakeville.
| Metric | Edina | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,600 idx | 72,222 idx |
| Household Income | $128,500 | $139,041 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Lakeville sees 2.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Edina | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.10°F | 46.60°F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | 78.50°F |
| Winter Low | 7.70°F | 7.60°F |
| Rainfall | 41.70 in | 42.70 in |
| Snowfall | 30.50 in | 32.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 | 257 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Edina scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Edina leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Edina | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 46.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lakeville is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Edina.
From a growth perspective, Lakeville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Edina has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Edina | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,285 | 79,270 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 2.10% |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 36.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Edina
Advantages
Edina Public Schools consistently rank among the top school districts in the state of Minnesota per Niche and state testing data.
Crime rates in Edina are significantly below the national average, making it one of the safest municipalities in the Midwest per FBI crime reports.
The city features over 1,500 acres of parkland and public spaces, including the premier Centennial Lakes Park per the Edina Parks and Recreation Department.
Strategic location offers a commute of under 20 minutes to downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Home to iconic regional shopping and dining destinations like 50th & France and Southdale Center per local municipal economic reports.
Drawbacks
Median home purchase prices and rental rates are considerably higher than the national and state averages per Zillow housing market data.
Property tax rates in Edina reflect high municipal service levels, adding to the overall cost of homeownership per Hennepin County tax records.
The local housing market is highly competitive with limited inventory for first-time homebuyers per recent real estate market summaries.
High reliance on automobiles for daily transit outside of immediate commercial nodes per regional transportation studies.
Strict municipal zoning and architectural codes can increase renovation and building costs for homeowners per Edina city planning documents.
Lakeville
Advantages
Median household income in Lakeville reaches approximately $139,041 per year per U.S. Census Bureau data.
The city boasts an exceptional safety profile with crime rates significantly below the national average.
Lakeville Area Schools (ISD 194) provide top-tier educational opportunities and high student achievement.
Abundant natural amenities include multiple lakes and over 60 parks with extensive recreational trails.
Strong local job growth and low unemployment rates support a stable and thriving local economy.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and home purchase prices exceed the national average, creating affordability hurdles.
High car dependency means limited public transit options for daily non-driving commuters.
Rental housing markets are competitive, with rising average rents across multi-family properties.
Winters feature prolonged sub-freezing temperatures and heavy seasonal snowfall management requirements.
Traffic congestion can peak during traditional rush hours along major thoroughfares like Interstate 35.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Edina
#238Minnesota, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
46.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
47.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
91
Business
78
Lakeville
#66Minnesota, USA
69.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,405
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
257/yr
Avg Temp
46.60°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
83
Business
76
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