What it's like to live in New Hope
New Hope is a small city in Minnesota with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Hope deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How New Hope compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Hope
Based on New Hope's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,670
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,400 a year
- 52% of New Hope renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,700
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,335/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,335 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $337,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $337,000 · 52% 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▼ 73% below US
88 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 1818/100k · New Hope Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% 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 & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to 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 (16 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Hope's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,335/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near New Hope
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Robbinsdale →
3 mi away · pop. 14,234
Rent $1,758/mo · Income $88,252
Compare with New Hope →Moving to Golden Valley →
4 mi away · pop. 21,725
Rent $1,785/mo · Income $108,772
Compare with New Hope →Not sure New Hope is the one?
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