Woodbury is one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota. It is the seventh-most populous city in the state by Wikipedia’s count (the city itself describes it as the eighth), with 75,102 residents in the 2020 census and close to 80,000 today by the city’s own estimate. It sits about eight miles east of St. Paul along Interstate 94 and offers newer neighborhoods, a very large park system and a full range of shopping and dining. Here is what we tell clients about life here.
The Setting
Woodbury spans roughly 35 square miles of Washington County, bordered by Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Maplewood and Afton, among others. I-94 forms its northern boundary and Highways 120 and 95 mark its western and eastern edges. Much of the housing is newer than in the inner-ring suburbs, and the city is made up of many distinct neighborhoods, from homes around small lakes to townhome communities and larger lots. The city reports that 94% of residents surveyed in 2022 rated their quality of life as good or excellent.
Parks, Dining and Community
Outdoor space is Woodbury’s strongest selling point. The city counts about 63 parks across roughly 3,500 acres, with 170 or more miles of trails and eight small lakes, most with public parks and pathways. Standouts include Tamarack Nature Preserve, a wetland of over 100 acres with floating boardwalks, Carver Lake Park and Beach, Ojibway Park, and Central Park, home to an indoor park next to the library. The M Health Fairview Sports Center anchors youth and adult athletics, and Eagle Valley is a public golf course.
For shopping and dining, the Tamarack Village, Woodbury Village and Woodbury Lakes centers are the main hubs. Woodbury Days, a festival held at Ojibway Park the last weekend of August, is the signature community event. History fans can visit the Charles Spangenberg Farmstead, a surviving 19th-century farm on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Woodbury Housing Market Right Now
Different sources measure Woodbury slightly differently, so we share both:
- Median sale price (Redfin, August 2026): $499,000, up 5.1% year over year
- Median sale price (Movoto, September 2026): $509,900
- Median days on market (Movoto, September 2026): 43, up from 35 a year earlier
- Homes sold (Movoto, September 2026): 452, up from 380 a year earlier
- Active listings (Redfin, October 2026): about 298 homes for sale
Prices are holding up and are rising modestly, and sales volume is up roughly 19% from last year. But homes are taking longer to sell, about a week and a half more on average than a year ago. That combination is typical of a market that is healthy but more balanced than in recent years: well-priced, well-presented homes sell, while overpriced listings sit. We did not find reliable city-level sale-to-list or price-drop numbers for Woodbury this month, so we look at those on a listing-by-listing basis for our clients.
Schools
Most of Woodbury is in South Washington County Schools (District 833), which Niche grades A- overall with an A- for academics. It enrolls about 19,578 students district-wide, and the 2024-25 state test proficiency was 54% in reading and 52% in math, which is lower than some neighboring districts, so it is worth comparing at the school level. Woodbury has two high schools (Woodbury High School and East Ridge High School), two middle schools and several elementaries. A portion of the city is served by Stillwater Area Schools (one elementary in the northeast) and North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale. Charter and private options include Math and Science Academy, Woodbury Leadership Academy, St. Ambrose and New Life Academy. Your school assignment depends on your exact address, so we always confirm it.
Taxes and Costs
For 2026, the City of Woodbury estimates the city portion of the tax bill on a median-value home ($441,100) at about $1,475, up from $1,360. The city says that city taxes are about 26% of the total bill for homeowners in the South Washington School District. Actual bills depend on your home’s assessed value and taxing districts, so we pull the numbers for any address. The city’s 2026 levy rose 9.7%, which is above its 15-year average of 4.9%, so we advise clients to look at recent tax trends as well as the current bill.
The Commute
Woodbury is about eight miles east of St. Paul. I-94 is the main route to both downtowns, and I-494 runs nearby for travel to the south and west. Like all commutes on I-94, rush hour can slow things down, so we encourage you to drive your own route at your own time before you buy. Major employers in the city include M Health Fairview, 3M, Assurant, HealthPartners and Target.com.
Is Woodbury Right for You?
Woodbury fits buyers who want newer homes, a huge trail and park network, lots of shopping and dining nearby, and a quick trip to St. Paul. It works for families, for people who want a wide variety of housing types and for those who prefer a suburb with amenities close by.
It is less ideal if you want a small-town feel, a lake-lot cottage atmosphere or the lowest taxes in the county. With a population near 80,000, it is a big suburb, and prices at roughly $500,000 are not entry-level.
Let’s Talk About Your Move
Woodbury is a market where preparation and local knowledge matter. We can help you compare neighborhoods, school boundaries and the true cost of ownership.
Thinking about Woodbury? 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 (August 2026) and Movoto (September 2026); school data from Niche (2024-25 test results); tax information from the City of Woodbury 2026 budget; population from the 2020 U.S. Census and city estimates. Figures change frequently and are provided for general information only.
Explore More Communities We Serve
Comparing towns? Our other local guides cover the St. Croix Valley, the east metro and the North Metro in the same honest, data-first way:
- Living in Hudson, WI
- Living in Stillwater, MN
- Living in North Branch, MN
- Living in Somerset, WI
- Living in New Richmond, WI
- Living in Roberts, WI
- Living in River Falls, WI
- Living in Houlton, WI
- Living in Bayport, MN
- Living in Afton, MN
- Living in Lake Elmo, MN
- Living in Grant, MN
- Living in Dellwood, MN
- Living in Mahtomedi, MN
- Living in Cottage Grove, MN
- Living in Lakeland, MN
Or start with our home search and valuation tools.