White Bear Lake 77 Exceptional
White Bear Lake Livability #124 ranked city in Minnesota#2,842 ranked city in the USARanks better than 90% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in White Bear Lake

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in White Bear Lake?

Located in the state of Minnesota, White Bear Lake is a mid-sized city with a population of 26,260 people. In White Bear Lake, there are 3,251 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (90% White). Given that fact, White Bear Lake could be considered less diverse than other cities. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in White Bear Lake, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 24 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in White Bear Lake could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Minnesota if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, commute, health & safety, education, you can easily compare the best places to live in White Bear Lake and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare White Bear Lake to Minnesota and the national average.

White Bear Lake, MN receives 78/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #81 in Minnesota and #2,131 in the USA. This is a terrific score, as White Bear Lake ranks well in multiple categories! White Bear Lake has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that White Bear Lake ranks well for crime (A+), education (B), employment (A-) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in White Bear Lake. The following was graded with a discouraging score: amenities (F).

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. White Bear Lake gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 87 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their White Bear Lake apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that White Bear Lake meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in White Bear Lake. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in White Bear Lake are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in White Bear Lake come in at $438,198, which is 29.2% higher than the Minnesota average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In White Bear Lake, the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 13.5% higher than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around White Bear Lake

See all the best places to live around White Bear Lake

How Do You Rate The Livability In White Bear Lake?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare White Bear Lake, MN Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      White Bear Lake transportation information

      Statistic White Bear Lake Minnesota National
      Average one way commute24min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.5%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.9%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.5%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.0%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home8.3%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The White Bear Lake, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.