Welcome to Minnetonka/Hopkins
These two suburban communities are located just eight miles west of Minneapolis and are coveted for their natural surroundings—lots of trees, wetlands, prairies, and lakes.
Considered a premier location because of its easy access to downtown and the fabulous public playground known as Lake Minnetonka, the Minnetonka community offers an eclectic mix of homes and housing styles.
Hopkins is slow-paced and quiet, and now very accessible with the light rail running right through it. Green space is abundant here, and there are around 50 restaurants and cafés to choose from. Single detached homes and large apartment buildings dominate Hopkins real estate, and the city primarily consists of two and three-bedroom homes.
What to Love
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The quiet, slow-paced atmosphere
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Premier but affordable location
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Beautiful natural surroundings within close proximity to the city
People & Lifestyle
Minnetonka maintains a population of 53,000, while the smaller Hopkins suburb features only about 18,000 residents. Both communities are family-friendly and attract middle/working-class inhabitants.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
There are plenty of casual and fine dining options in this area. Minnetonka Drive In has been serving hungry diners since 1961, offering a classic menu of burgers, chili dogs, and fried chicken. BLVD Kitchen & Bar puts a twist on traditional American pub fare. Serving upscale cuisine, guests can enjoy everything from flatbreads to burgers, pork chops to lobster mac and cheese. Plus, their special brunch and cocktail menus are hard to beat.
In Hopkins, Thirty Bales, named after the legend of Paul Bunyan’s Blue Ox, who is rumored to have eaten 30 bales of hay a day, serves a traditional Midwest menu of locally-sourced steaks and chops. Pub 819, a rustic-chic gastropub offering an extensive craft beer and whiskey list, serves up a range of eclectic bar food.
Things to Do
In Minnetonka, residents gather at the Ridgedale Center Mall and enjoy the 95 acres of Big Willow Park. Guests can tour the Charles H. Burwell House, owned by the city of Minnetonka and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and attend a range of Victorian-themed seasonal events.
In Hopkins, more than 40,000 people flock to Shady Oak Beach each summer, and year-round activities are offered at the city-owned Overpass Skate Park, which provides skateboarders, bikers, and inline skaters aged 10 or older with a safe, fun, and challenging place to improve their skills.
Fourteen supervised outdoor ice rinks are in use throughout Hopkins and Minnetonka. Each site is staffed with rink attendants from mid-December through mid-February, depending on weather conditions.
Schools
Minnetonka and Hopkins are both home to a number of excellent schools.
The Minnetonka School District serves more than 10,000 students and is among the most sought-after districts for open enrollment, with nearly 3,600 nonresident students applying. Minnetonka offers K-12 Chinese and Spanish Immersion, K-5 computer coding, and many award-winning arts and music programs.
Hopkins School District is strong both academically and athletically, having won numerous awards and championships. Hopkins School District offers a K-6 Mandarin Chinese immersion program, while the boys’ basketball program has secured multiple state titles.
