Mahtomedi sits on the eastern shore of White Bear Lake in Washington County, about 20 minutes northeast of St. Paul. It is a small city of roughly 8,100 residents (8,138 in the 2020 census) with a strong school district, a lake-town feel and a housing market that tends to move quickly. In this guide we walk through what everyday life looks like here, what the numbers say right now, and who Mahtomedi fits best.
The Setting
Mahtomedi was platted in 1883, and its name comes from Dakota words for White Bear Lake. The city covers a bit under six square miles between St. Paul and Stillwater, and it feels more like a lake community than a typical suburb. Streets wind past older cottages-turned-year-round-homes, wooded lots and newer builds, and the median age of 44.5 reflects a settled, established community.
Most of the housing is single-family. Our clients often tell us what they want is a place that feels a little removed from the busy suburbs while still being close to everything.
Lakes, Trails and Small-Town Rhythm
White Bear Lake is the centerpiece, and boating, fishing, paddling and winter lake activities are a big part of life here. Downtown Mahtomedi is small, and the larger dining and shopping options of White Bear Lake and Stillwater are both a short drive away.
For walking and biking, the paved Gateway State Trail runs about 18 miles from St. Paul toward Pine Point Regional Park near Stillwater, and its later sections pass near Mahtomedi. The trail follows a former rail grade, so it is level and easy for families. Century College, half of which sits in Mahtomedi, adds a campus presence to the community.
The Mahtomedi Housing Market Right Now
Here is where the market stood in August 2026, per Redfin:
- Median sale price: $539,643, up 4.8% from a year earlier
- Median days on market: 20, unchanged from last year
- Sale-to-list price ratio: 100.4%
- Homes sold above list price: 36.6%, down 14.6 points from last year
- Homes with price drops: 34.9%, up 6.6 points
- Homes sold: 42, up 7.8%
In plain English, Mahtomedi remains a competitive market. Homes that are priced well still go under contract in about three weeks and typically sell right around asking. But the pace of bidding wars has cooled: far fewer homes are selling over list than a year ago, and more sellers are cutting prices. For buyers, that means a little more room to negotiate on homes that have been sitting. For sellers, pricing it correctly at the start matters more than it did last year. With only a few dozen sales a month, a handful of transactions can swing these numbers, so we always look at individual comparable sales rather than relying on one month’s average.
Schools
Mahtomedi Public Schools is a major draw. Niche gives the district an overall grade of A, with an A+ for academics, and reports enrollment of about 3,285 students, a 97% graduation rate and 2024-25 state test proficiency of 69% in reading and 71% in math. Students attend Wildwood Elementary (K-2), Oscar Henry Anderson Elementary (3-5), Mahtomedi Middle School and Mahtomedi High School. St. Jude of the Lake offers a private Catholic option for preschool through eighth grade.
One honest note: the district’s student-teacher ratio of 19:1 is above the national figure of 16:1 on Niche. Also, the district serves several nearby communities, so we always confirm that a specific address is in the district.
Taxes and Costs
Ownwell estimates a median effective property tax rate of about 1.10% for Mahtomedi, with a median bill of roughly $4,776 for ZIP 55115 (a ZIP that can include areas beyond the city). Actual taxes depend on your home’s assessed value, your school district and any local levies, so treat these as a starting point. Lakefront and lake-view homes can carry meaningfully higher values and bills. We can pull the actual tax history on any home you are considering.
The Commute
Mahtomedi is about 20 minutes northeast of St. Paul. Interstate 694 runs to the west, and Highways 12 and 244 serve the city, so you can reach either downtown with a straightforward drive. Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley are also close. As in any metro suburb, rush hour changes the math, so we recommend test-driving your actual commute at the times you would travel.
Is Mahtomedi Right for You?
Mahtomedi tends to fit buyers who prioritize top-rated schools, lake access and a more established, wooded neighborhood feel. It also suits people who want a quieter alternative to the larger suburbs while keeping St. Paul within easy reach.
It may not be the best fit if you are looking for entry-level pricing: at a median above $539,000, this is one of the pricier markets in the east metro. It is also a small city with a small downtown, so if you want walkable big-city dining and nightlife every night, you will be driving to find it.
Let’s Talk About Your Move
Whether you are buying your first lake-area home, moving up, or thinking about selling in a market that still rewards good preparation, we are here to give you honest numbers and local perspective. We work with clients across Washington County and the St. Croix Valley every day.
Thinking about Mahtomedi? Get in touch with the Carchedi Group to start the conversation, or find out what your current home is worth if a move is on the table.
Market data from Redfin as of August 2026; school data from Niche (2024-25 test results); tax estimates from Ownwell; population from the 2020 U.S. Census. Figures change frequently and are provided for general information only, not as a guarantee of future results.
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