About White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake is the more urban-flavored of the major lake communities: population around 25,000 with a genuinely walkable downtown, a 2,400-acre lake, and a social scene that keeps the community buzzing year-round.
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 White Bear Lake distinct from its neighbors.
New here? Start with the umbrella guide, Living in Twin Cities Lake Communities, for the honest comparison of Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and Grant.
White Bear Lake at a Glance
Population
24,883 (2020 U.S. Census)
Schools
White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624)
The lake
2,428 acres, up to 83 feet deep, 13.6 miles shoreline (DNR)
Public boat launches
2: Ramsey County Beach (free) and Matoska Park (city permit)
To downtown St. Paul
About 10 miles, 15-20 minutes
To downtown Minneapolis
About 14 miles straight-line, roughly 18 by road, about 25 minutes
Median sale price
About $357,000-$375,000 (2026 market data)
Typical housing styles
Early-1900s lake cottages, Victorians, Prairie homes, newer lakefront customs
Population: 2020 U.S. Census. Lake data: Minnesota DNR. Prices: approximate 2026 market data from public sources such as Redfin and Movoto; prices change and vary by property.
White Bear Lake by the Numbers
24,883
Residents, 2020 Census
2,428
Lake acres (DNR)
83 ft
Lake max depth (DNR)
13.6 mi
Shoreline (DNR)
The lake itself spans roughly 2,428 acres with up to 83 feet of depth and about 13.6 miles of shoreline, making it one of the largest lakes within the metro's borders. Numbers from Minnesota DNR lake survey data and the 2020 U.S. Census.
What is White Bear Lake like?
Living here means having a genuine downtown on the water. Banner Avenue runs a few blocks from the shore, giving you restaurants, coffee, shops, and seasonal street festivals within walking distance of the lake itself. On summer evenings the downtown boardwalk and beach fill with people watching sailboats come in, and in winter the community moves indoors to rinks, pubs, and the downtown's cozy restaurants. It is the most village-like lake town in the metro, with the trade-off that water access and downtown convenience come at a price premium over neighboring communities.
How deep is White Bear Lake?
White Bear Lake reaches about 83 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 2,428 surface acres with about 13.6 miles of shoreline, per Minnesota DNR survey data. The wide, shallow bays warm early in spring and freeze solid in winter, which is why they anchor both the fishing and the ice fishing calendars.
Can you boat on White Bear Lake?
Yes, and it is one of the most-used recreation lakes in the metro. Powerboats, pontoons, sailboats, kayaks, and paddleboards all share the water, sailing culture runs deep here, and the summer calendar includes the Ski Otters water ski shows. The usual Minnesota rules apply: life jackets, wake responsibility near shore, and clean, drain, dry for invasive species prevention.
Where are the public boat launches?
Two public launches serve the lake. The free Ramsey County Beach ramps sit just off Highway 96 with about 37 car and trailer spaces, and the Matoska Park launch on the city's east side requires an annual city permit and offers about 15 spaces. A third facility, White Bear Docking, is private and charges a launch fee. Directions, seasons, and parking details are all in the White Bear Lake boat launches guide.
What is fishing like?
White Bear Lake is one of the more productive fishing lakes in the metro. Walleye, northern pike, and largemouth and smallmouth bass headline the catch, with crappie, bluegill, and perch holding in the shallow bays. Ice fishing is a winter institution here, especially out on the wide bays. The full seasonal picture is in our White Bear Lake fishing guide.
What are the homes like?
The housing stock tells the town's history: early-1900s lake cottages and Victorians near downtown, Prairie-style and Craftsman homes in the older neighborhoods, and newer modern, coastal-inspired builds along the shore. The median sale price ran about $357,000 to $375,000 in 2026 data from Redfin and Movoto, with lakefront well above that. A dated breakdown lives on the White Bear Lake real estate market page.
How Close Is White Bear Lake to Minneapolis and St. Paul?
Close enough to commute easily, which is unusual for a lake town. White Bear Lake sits about 14 straight-line miles from downtown Minneapolis (roughly 18 by road, about 25 minutes) and about 10 miles from downtown St. Paul (roughly 13 by road, 15 to 20 minutes). These are day-to-day commutes people actually make, which is a big reason the community attracts professionals who want the lake lifestyle and the metro paycheck.
Pros and Cons of Living in White Bear Lake
What works well
- A walkable downtown on the water that feels like a village
- Big-lake recreation: boating, sailing, fishing, and ice fishing
- A strong year-round social scene and event calendar
- Real commutes to both St. Paul and Minneapolis
- Schools, parks, and the lake all within minutes of each other
What to weigh honestly
- Prices run higher near the water, and lakefront carries a premium
- Summer weekends bring crowds, full launches, and downtown parking pressure
- Older housing stock in the historic neighborhoods often needs work
- Winter brings lake maintenance, plowing, and heating costs
"What surprises newcomers is how livable the downtown is. You can take a meeting in Minneapolis, be out on the lake by early afternoon, and still walk to dinner along the downtown that night. Very few places in the metro give you that daily rhythm."
Melissa A Johnson, Minnesota & Wisconsin Realtor
See also: Living in Twin Cities Lake Communities · Forest Lake · Mahtomedi · Grant · Stillwater · Hudson, WI
White Bear Lake FAQ
Honest, straight answers to the questions people ask most while researching a move to White Bear Lake. No spin, just what living here is actually like.
Is White Bear Lake a good place to live?
For many people, yes, and for others it depends, so here is the honest picture. White Bear Lake is a full-service lakeside town: a big 2,400-acre lake with beaches and boat launches, a genuinely walkable downtown, strong schools, and more retail and dining than neighboring villages. The tradeoffs are busy summer weekends at the popular lake access points, winter lake conditions that vary from year to year, and home prices that run above some metro suburbs, with a median sale price about $357,000 to $375,000 in mid-2026 (approximate, Redfin/Zillow). Whether it fits really depends on what you value: the lake-first town rhythm is the draw here, and that is not what everyone is after.
How long is the commute from White Bear Lake?
About 20 to 25 minutes to downtown St. Paul and roughly 35 to 40 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in typical traffic, and those times vary with the time of day. The usual route runs down Hwy 61 to I-694 and I-94, and both downtowns are practical daily drives. These are commutes people here actually make, which is a big reason the town attracts professionals who want lake living and a metro paycheck.
What are the schools like?
White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624) serves the city and the surrounding lake communities, and the district is a common reason families choose the area. It is a metro-area district with a full slate of schools from elementary through high school, drawing students from White Bear Lake and nearby towns. Boundaries and programs shift year to year, so the current details live in our White Bear Lake schools guide.
What is there to do on the lake?
Plenty, year-round: boating and sailing in summer, fishing from open water right through the ice, swimming at the public beaches, parks along the shore, and events that keep the calendar full. On warm evenings the downtown and beaches fill with people, and in winter the wide bays turn into ice fishing and skating country. Launch directions, fishing notes, and the full calendar are covered in our White Bear Lake lake guide, plus the boat launches and events pages.
How does White Bear Lake compare to Mahtomedi or Stillwater?
Short version: White Bear Lake is the larger town, with more retail, restaurants, and amenities wrapped around the big lake. Mahtomedi is the smaller village, with a quieter, residential feel on the lake's southeast shore. Stillwater is the historic river town, with tourism and the biggest downtown. Each has a distinct personality, so it helps to visit all three; see our Mahtomedi and Stillwater guides for the full picture.
Are property taxes high in White Bear Lake?
Ramsey County sets the property tax levy, and what you pay varies with your home's value and your school district, so the amount differs from property to property. A modest home in an older neighborhood and a newer lakeside address can carry very different tax bills. There is no single answer, so the number depends entirely on the specific property.
White Bear Lake 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.
White Bear Lake
- Vibe
- Larger town with more retail, restaurants, and amenities wrapped around the metro's big lake.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 20 to 25 minutes.
- Median home price
- About $357,000 to $375,000 (approximate, mid-2026)
Mahtomedi
- Vibe
- Small lakeside village on White Bear Lake's southeast shore with a close-knit, residential feel.
- Commute to St. Paul
- About 20 minutes.
- Median home price
- Roughly $543,000 (approximate, mid-2026, small sample area)
Stillwater
- Vibe
- Historic river town with tourism, bluff-top views, 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)
Lake Elmo
- Vibe
- Quiet, semirural township with acre lots, parks, and room to spread out.
- Commute to St. Paul
- A manageable metro commute.
- Median home price
- Roughly $500,000 (approximate, mid-2026)
Median prices are approximate mid-2026 figures from Redfin and Zillow. Mahtomedi and Lake Elmo close comparatively few sales in any given window, so their medians are based on small samples; the White Bear Lake figure comes from this guide's 2026 market data. Treat all four figures as a general range, not a precise number.
Cost of Living, Schools & Commute
Cost of living
Everyday costs in White Bear Lake run near metro averages, approximate, with housing the biggest variable. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, from older cottages near downtown to newer builds along the shore, so the White Bear Lake neighborhoods guide helps narrow the range.
Commute
About 20 to 25 minutes to downtown St. Paul via Hwy 61, I-694, and I-94, and roughly 35 to 40 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in typical traffic. Times stretch at rush hour and depend on where in town you are headed.
Schools
White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624) serves the city and the surrounding communities, and the district is a common reason families choose the area. Attendance boundaries and the current picture live in the White Bear Lake schools guide.
Browse White Bear Lake Homes for Sale
Pemberton Realty's MLS search covers current White Bear Lake-area listings, straight from the Northstar MLS.
Thinking about White Bear Lake?
Whether you are looking for a home, selling, or just curious: reach out. We know this community inside and out.