Lakeland is a small city in the St. Croix River Valley in Washington County, just across the river from Hudson, Wisconsin. With 1,710 residents (2020 census) and a median age of 47.3, it is about as far from a big-suburb feel as you can get in the east metro. If you are drawn to the river, quiet streets and the St. Croix Valley lifestyle, Lakeland deserves a look. Here is what we tell our clients.
The Setting
Lakeland covers about 2.9 square miles, nearly a third of which is water. It was platted in 1849 and its post office opened in 1854, which makes it one of the older communities in the valley. Three historic homes in the city are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Captain John Oliver House (1849), the Mitchell Jackson Farmhouse (1850) and the John T. Cyphers House (1858). The city’s population has edged down slightly, from 1,796 in 2010, which is a sign of how settled and small the community is.
Trails, Water and Valley Living
The Afton to Lakeland Trail is the best-known local amenity: a flat, paved path of about 4 miles running between Lakeland, near Crocker Park at the northern end, and Afton city hall at the southern end. It passes through Lakeland Shores, Lake St. Croix Beach and St. Marys Point, sandwiched between the highway and the St. Croix River. The northern part runs alongside a busy highway, while the southern part is wooded and quieter. The northern end connects to the Hudson to Lakeland/Afton Trail across the river.
Beyond that, residents tend to look to the neighboring river towns for shopping, dining and events. Hudson, Stillwater and Afton are all close, and we cover them in our other guides.
The Lakeland Housing Market Right Now
Lakeland is small enough that we could not find city-level market stats from Redfin or other major sources. The closest reliable figure is for ZIP 55043, the Lakeland ZIP code, which may include some adjacent areas. As of September 2026, per Redfin:
- Median sale price (ZIP 55043): $445,869, up 10.8% year over year
- Median days on market: 37, down 1 day
- Sale-to-list price ratio: 100.0%
- Homes sold above list price: 22.2%
- Homes sold: 9, down 23.5%
- Price drops: not reported
Please read these cautiously. Nine sales in a month is a very small sample, so one or two high-end river properties can swing the median sharply. What we can say is that homes that sell are going for about list price in roughly five weeks. Another source we saw listed a lower average price, a reminder of how volatile numbers from a market this small can be. For anyone buying or selling in Lakeland, a custom review of nearby comparable sales is more useful than any headline number.
Schools
Lakeland is served by Stillwater Area Public Schools, which Niche grades A overall with an A for academics. District enrollment is about 8,455 students, and 2024-25 state test proficiency was 61% in reading and 58% in math. Afton-Lakeland Elementary is the nearby elementary school. We recommend confirming school assignment by address.
Taxes and Costs
Ownwell estimates Lakeland’s median effective property tax rate at about 0.95%, with a median annual bill of $2,914. That is based on a median home value of about $312,750, which is well below the current ZIP-level sale price, so actual bills on newer purchases are likely to be higher. We will verify taxes for any specific address before you make an offer, because river and lake-view properties can be assessed much higher.
The Commute
Interstate 94 and Minnesota Highway 95 are the main routes through the area, and Hudson is right across the river. The community is farther from the Twin Cities core than inner-ring suburbs like Woodbury, and we have not verified an exact drive time to St. Paul or Minneapolis, so we encourage you to test your own commute at your actual travel times. Many residents also work in Stillwater, Hudson or the east metro.
Is Lakeland Right for You?
Lakeland fits buyers who want river-valley character, a quiet small-town setting and highly rated schools, and who do not need dining or shopping within walking distance. It also appeals to those who like biking the river trail and being close to Hudson and Stillwater.
It is probably not right if you want a large selection of homes, neighborhood amenities, or a walkable downtown. Inventory is very limited, so patience and a clear sense of what you want are important.
Let’s Talk About Your Move
Small river communities reward local knowledge, and that is where we can help. We can monitor the few listings that come up and help you compare Lakeland to neighboring towns.
Thinking about Lakeland? 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 for ZIP 55043 as of September 2026 (city-level data was not available); 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.
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 Woodbury, MN
- Living in Cottage Grove, MN
Or start with our home search and valuation tools.