Life in Minnesota

University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities Campus

Minneapolis ranks among the most livable cities in the U.S., offering sophisticated metropolitan amenities, Midwestern affordability, and work-life balance. According to a 2025 study, Minneapolis is one of the world’s happiest cities and ranks as one of the United States’ healthiest.

Prosperous and affordable

Fifteen Fortune 500 companies are based here, including Target, UnitedHealth Group, and 3M. Our job market is resilient in sectors like healthcare, technology, and green manufacturing; and residents enjoy strong purchasing power. Salaries are nationally competitive while median home prices are substantially lower than those in major cities on either coast.

Balance with nature

The “City of Lakes” has one of the best park systems in the nation. Residents celebrate the outdoors in every season using beautifully-maintained trails and green spaces. We’re also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., with a “bicycle freeway” (the Midtown Greenway) spanning the metro.

Serious about fun

Minneapolis also supports a world-class theater culture (second only to New York City in terms of number of theater seats per capita), iconic music venues like First Avenue, and six professional sports teams. Our award-winning food scene includes a growing Southeast Asian influence and specialized Indigenous cuisine.

A supportive physician community

The University of Minnesota Medical School contributes to this environment by educating and employing skilled, compassionate, and socially-responsible physicians; and by providing preeminent primary care medicine, exemplary specialty care and innovative research. We serve and continuously learn from diverse populations in rural and urban Minnesota on two campuses.