$525,560Average Value$220Average Price per Sq Ft41Homes For Sale
Small-town city along the Minnesota River
Founded in 1852, Carver offers quiet small-town living along the bend of the Minnesota River. The community is named after Jonathan Carver, an early explorer of North America credited with mapping the Minnesota region. The city’s core of 19th-century buildings was incorporated into the Carver Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Situated next to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, residents here have easy access to outdoor amenities including 50 miles of trails perfect for exploring the woods and wetlands; and a public boat launch at Carver Riverside Park, where they can paddle out onto the Minnesota River. “Carver is a river town, and it feels like a small-town—it’s like country living but close to the cities, offering a great school district, scenic views and an inviting downtown area,” says Kim Cummins, Realtor with ReMax Advantage Plus who has lived and sold in Carver for over 28 years. Located 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Carver offers a more serene setting than communities closer to the Twin Cities while still promising a reasonable commute with the accessibility of the SouthWest Metro Transit and U.S. Route 12.
Carver residents and visitors enjoy easy recreational access to the Minnesota River.
Charming historic buildings line downtown streets in Carver.
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New construction and charming Craftsman
Despite its historic charm, that’s not the primary draw to the area. “A lot of people are coming to Carver now because they have a large amount of new construction that’s all focused around Jonathan Carver Parkway,” says long-time local Josh Ives, Realtor with Edina Realty. Carver features home styles ranging from ramblers and charming Craftsmans to new traditionals and multi-family townhouses. With a median sales price of $450,000, homes here range from the mid $100,000s (for a two-bedroom ranch-style) to upwards of $700,000 for a newly-constructed traditional. Carver is made up of a variety of subdivision options. For new construction, potential buyers should look along Jonathan Carver Parkway in areas like the Timber Creek Community, while those looking for quick walks to Community Park should consider Carver Creek. Townhouses options are found in areas, like Glen At Spring Creek. The average lot size here is about a quarter acre, although some properties can span nearly 2.5 acres of land. Larger lot sizes are primarily found in subdivisions like Carver Highlands and can go from $400,000 to upwards of $600,000.
American foursquare-style homes beautify Carver's streets.
New traditional craftsman-style homes are being built on the west side of Carver.
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Explore the Chaska Trail at Riverside Park
When seeking time outdoors, Carver residents capitalize on their proximity to the Minnesota River at Carver Riverside Park. Visitors can utilize the public boat launch here or picnic at the tables alongside the river. Archers can try their aim at the on-site archery areas here, while campers pitch a tent at the designated overnight areas. At Riverside Park, pavement meets the wetland paths of Chaska Trail at the end of Main Street East, which makes up around 2 of the 50 miles of trails found within the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. For a few matches of tennis, serve up at Lions Park while children burn energy on the jungle-gym. Skaters can check out the ramps at Community Park, which features skateboard ramps and pipes to fine-tune tricks. Baseball teams have their choice of practice fields at Lions or Community Park, both featuring fenced areas and seating for parents to cheer on their little leaguers.
Carver Riverside Park features an archery range and camp sites that look over the Minnesota Rive
Nature's canvas unfolds at Riverside Park in Carver.
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Shopping at Chaska Plaza
While Carver offers a variety of independent dining destinations along Broadway Street downtown, locals often travel 6 miles north to neighboring Chaska Plaza, for big-box grocery and department stores, like Target, Kohl’s and Cub Foods. For quick eats, residents can visit Kwik Trip, a convenience mart, off Monroe Drive. Locals can start their mornings at the family-owned Getaway Motor café, where they can sip on a freshly brewed coffee al fresco, on their outdoor patio. Or for classic American fare, check out Harvey’s Bar & Grill’s rotating weekly breakfast and lunch specials. For a sweet treat, head to The Carver Creamery, which offers a variety of unique ice cream flavors like Oreo espresso served up in a waffle cone.
Travel to downtown Carver and stop at Getaway Motor Cafe for specialty drinks and sweet treats.
For all their grocery needs, Carver residents can shop Cub Foods in nearby Chaska.
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The annual Carver Steamboat Days
In early September every year, locals gather in downtown Carver as a tribute to their river-town roots. The annual Carver Steamboat Days festival, hosted by the Carver Minnesota Lions Club, is a three-day weekend event featuring live music and local food vendors, plus fireworks on Saturday night and a parade on Sunday to wrap up the weekend. “Many people come from all over the state to attend this event,” says Cummins. The festival pays homage to the town’s former steamboat industry, serving as a regular route for round trips between Carver and St. Paul in the 1850s. While the community transitioned to the railroad in 1871, Steamboat Days honors its past with river activities, like boat racing and steamboat rides along the Minnesota River.
A tugboat display in downtown Carver signifies the change from waterway transportation to rail.
Gazebo Park is the perfect place to rest for visitors of downtown Carver.
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High-marks at Eastern Carver Public Schools
Students in Carver can attend schools like Carver Elementary, Pioneer Ridge Middle and Chaska High School, which have respectively earned ratings of A-minus, B-plus and A-minus from the educational review site, Niche. Carver Elementary School was named a “best of the best” public elementary school by Southwest News Media for the 2022-23 school year. While Pioneer Ridge Middle School offers a multilingual learners (ML) program in which multilingual students are able to receive further English instruction in addition to the traditional curriculum. Chaska High School offers an advanced curriculum with 24 AP courses to choose from. Private options like St. John the Baptist Catholic School and St. John's Lutheran School are also common.
Carver Elementary School serves grades K-5 with an outstanding Niche grade of 'A-'.
Pioneer Ridge Middle School enrolls over 400 students in grades 6-8.
Chaska High School has an impressive Niche grade of 'A-'.
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Nearby healthcare and commuting on Route 212
Carver residents rely on Jonathan Carver Parkway for easy access to U.S. Route 212 and neighboring areas like Scott County and Chaska. For public transportation, residents can grab a seat on the SouthWest Metro Transit bus, which is accessible at the Carver Station and operates within the suburbs of Chaska, Chanhassen and Eden Prairie. Those interested in traveling a bit further outside the community can visit Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, 30 miles or a 30-minute drive from the community. Healthcare is available at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, 9 miles from Carver.
Carver Station serves as park-and-ride for SouthWest Transit bus transportation.
Nestled in a bend of the Minnesota River, Carver offers quiet, small-town living.
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Written By
Christian Slater
Video By
Jason Jacot
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jim Snaza,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Carver, MN sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Carver, MN over the last 12 months is $532,580, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome to a home that truly stands out as better than new, offering exceptional care, thoughtful updates, and a move-in ready experience in one of the most desirable communities in the southwest metro. Located in the highly sought-after Meadows at Spring Creek neighborhood in Carver, this property offers the perfect blend of comfort, space, and lifestyle. The area is known for its peaceful
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Welcome to this beautifully maintained home in The Meadows at Spring Creek in Carver, currently offering TWO bedrooms with the flexible option to easily convert either the main-level office/study or the upstairs loft into a third bedroom—whichever best suits your lifestyle. Buyers will also enjoy a $7,500 credit toward this conversion or have it completed before closing, providing both
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Welcome to a home that truly stands out as better than new, offering exceptional care, thoughtful updates, and a move-in ready experience in one of the most desirable communities in the southwest metro. Located in the highly sought-after Meadows at Spring Creek neighborhood in Carver, this property offers the perfect blend of comfort, space, and lifestyle. The area is known for its peaceful
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Welcome to 1244 Maple Ln, a meticulously clean and maintained 2019-built two-story home in a wonderful community setting. Featuring 4 bedrooms on one level, 3 bathrooms, and a 3-car garage, this home offers space to spread out and a layout designed for everyday living. The unfinished basement provides a great opportunity to add future living space and build equity, bring your ideas. Only
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