About Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo is a semi-rural community with open spaces, hobby farms, and a growing foodie scene. It offers space to breathe with a manageable metro commute, plus access to Lake Elmo and the broader network of lakes in the area.
Whether you are researching a move to the area, curious about a specific neighborhood, or just want to know more about the community, this guide covers the essentials — schools, lifestyle, and what makes Lake Elmo distinct from its neighbors.
Lake Elmo by the Numbers
11,335
Population
2020 U.S. Census
~$610,000
Median home price
Redfin/Zillow market data, mid-2026; approximate
~$240
Price per sq ft
Redfin/Zillow market data, mid-2026; approximate
~40 days
Average days on market
Redfin market data, mid-2026; approximate
Lake Elmo is growing fast, with an estimated 14,000-plus residents by 2025. New-construction listings frequently run higher than the median, around $850,000. Market figures are approximate, and with small sample sizes the true figure can swing well above or below the typical range.
Over the past year, Stillwater homes averaged about 2% above asking price and Lake Elmo about 2% below; Mahtomedi and Grant close too few sales to quote a reliable sale-to-list figure. Approximate market data, mid-2026.
Lake Elmo FAQ
Honest, straight answers to the questions people ask most while researching a move to Lake Elmo. No spin, just what living here is actually like.
Is Lake Elmo a good place to live?
For many people, yes: Lake Elmo is a quiet, semi-rural community with large lots, open space, parks, and a popular lake at its center, plus easy highway access to St. Paul. The schools are a common draw too, with North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (ISD 622) serving part of Lake Elmo and Stillwater Area Public Schools serving another part. The honest tradeoffs are fewer shops and services within the city limits, bigger lots to maintain, and home prices on the higher side, with a median around $610,000 as of mid-2026 (approximate, Redfin/Zillow). Whether it fits really depends on what you value: the space and quiet are the point here, and that is not what everyone is after.
How long is the commute from Lake Elmo?
About 15 to 20 minutes to downtown St. Paul and roughly 30 to 35 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in typical traffic, via I-94 and Hwy 36. The times vary with the time of day, and rush hour stretches the drive, but both downtowns are practical daily commutes.
What are the schools like?
Much of Lake Elmo is served by Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834), with part of the city served by North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (ISD 622) and the Mahtomedi district touching the edges. Families moving here often cite the school districts as part of the draw, and attendance boundaries shift year to year, so the street you choose can matter. Our Lake Elmo schools guide lays out the districts and what to check.
What is there to do outdoors?
Lake Elmo Park Reserve anchors the outdoor scene: a swim pond, camping, and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. The lake itself has a public boat launch, and the paved Gateway State Trail passes right along the area's edge for walking and rolling. Our Lake Elmo lake guide covers the water, and the parks and trails page rounds up local favorites.
How does Lake Elmo compare to Stillwater or Mahtomedi?
Short version: Lake Elmo is the quieter, more spread-out community, with larger lots, open space, and a semi-rural character. Stillwater is the historic river town, with tourism and the biggest downtown of the three, while Mahtomedi is the small lakeside village with a close-knit feel. Each has a distinct personality, so it helps to visit all three before you decide. See our Stillwater and Mahtomedi guides for the full picture.
Is Lake Elmo growing?
Yes, on paper: Lake Elmo grew from 11,335 residents in the 2020 census to an estimated 14,000-plus by 2025, and new housing and infrastructure development is being planned and reviewed across the area. The biggest single project nearby is the new Lakeview Hospital campus going in at Highway 36 and Manning Avenue, where Lake Elmo, Stillwater, and Grant meet; our guide to that project looks at what is planned and what is already moving. What all of that growth means for the feel of the community over the long run is still an open question.
Lake Elmo vs. Neighboring Communities
How four communities in the same corner of the metro stack up on the things movers actually ask about: character, the drive to St. Paul, and what a home runs. Median prices are approximate mid-2026 figures from Redfin and Zillow; local sales volumes are small, so treat them as a range rather than a precise number.
Lake Elmo
- Vibe
- Quiet, semi-rural community with large lots, open space, parks, and a popular lake at its center.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 15 to 20 minutes via I-94 and Hwy 36.
- Median home price
- Roughly $610,000 (approximate, mid-2026)
Stillwater
- Vibe
- Historic river town with tourism and the biggest downtown of the four.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 25 minutes via Highway 36.
- Median home price
- Roughly $475,000 (approximate, mid-2026)
Mahtomedi
- Vibe
- Small lakeside village wrapped around Long Lake with a close-knit feel.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 20 minutes.
- Median home price
- Roughly $543,000 (approximate, mid-2026, small sample area)
Grant
- Vibe
- Rural township of acreages and hobby farms, quiet and spread out.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 25 to 35 minutes.
- Median home price
- Roughly $475,000 (Washington County overall, approximate, mid-2026; Grant closes too few sales for a reliable monthly figure)
Median prices are approximate mid-2026 figures from Redfin and Zillow. Grant closes too few sales for a reliable monthly median, so its figure is Washington County overall; treat all four as a general range, not a precise number.
Cost of Living, Schools & Commute
Cost of living
Everyday costs in Lake Elmo run close to metro averages, approximate, with housing the biggest variable. Home prices sit on the higher side, and larger lots mean more to maintain. Home styles and prices vary by neighborhood, so browse the Lake Elmo neighborhoods guide.
Commute
About 15 to 20 minutes to downtown St. Paul via I-94 and Hwy 36, and roughly 30 to 35 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in typical traffic. Times stretch at rush hour.
Schools
Much of Lake Elmo is served by Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834), with part of the city in North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (ISD 622) and the Mahtomedi district touching the edges. District details and attendance boundaries live in the Lake Elmo schools guide.
Browse Lake Elmo Homes for Sale
Pemberton Realty's MLS search covers current Lake Elmo-area listings, straight from the Northstar MLS.
Thinking about Lake Elmo?
Whether you are looking for a home, selling, or just curious — reach out. We know this community inside and out.