What it's like to live in Hopkins
Hopkins is a small city in Minnesota with county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hopkins deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Hopkins compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hopkins
Based on Hopkins's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,936
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,720 a year
- 47% of Hopkins renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,560
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,468/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,468 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $375,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $375,600 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hennepin County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hennepin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 21% below US
260 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1185/100k · Hopkins Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 27% above US
46% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 46% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (15 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hopkins's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,468/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Hopkins
All Minnesota guides →Moving to St. Louis Park →
3 mi away · pop. 49,594
Rent $1,644/mo · Income $101,648
Compare with Hopkins →Moving to Golden Valley →
5 mi away · pop. 21,725
Rent $1,785/mo · Income $108,772
Compare with Hopkins →Not sure Hopkins is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.