Situated north of the Minnesota River, Chaska is known for its historic downtown, its A-rated school district and its commuter accessibility as an outer-ring suburb of Minneapolis. Established as a city in 1891, Chaska’s history goes back thousands of years to when Native Americans first inhabited the area. Following the discovery of Chaska's clay resources, heavy industrial development began, including brick production and the steamboat trade along the Minnesota River. Today, the city is home to nearly 30,000 residents, and top employers, like Entegris, an electronic component supplier, and manufacturing businesses make up 30% of Chaska's job market. Despite its continued growth, Chaska takes pride in conserving its heritage, as seen in the preservation of the Woodland Indian's sacred burial mounds near City Square or the 19th-century architecture of the Walnut Street Historic District. Shared amenities like the popular Chaska Town Golf Course and annual events like River City Days contribute to a know-your-neighbor feel throughout the city. “Even though it’s growing a lot on the northern side and is very commercialized in some areas, it still really does have a small-town feel,” says Realtor Josh Ives with Edina Realty. With a strong sense of community, entry-level housing options and year-round activities, Chaska continues to garner interest in Carver County, just 27 miles from Minneapolis.
Historic downtown Chaska offers a number of dining and shopping attractions.
Chaska has a vibrant and historic downtown corridor.
A Brick Sculpture references Chaskas's History.
Downtown Chaska preserves its historic charm.
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Lakefront homes and new development
The real estate market in Chaska, like most of the Twin Cities, is considered competitive. “What attracted us initially is that it's more affordable than a first or second-ring suburb,” says Ives, a Chaska resident with over a decade of selling experience in the city. Though it's still a seller's market, inventory in the outer ring has grown in the last year as compared to demand. In nearby areas, like Chanhassen and Minnetonka, homes are flying off the market. “In Chaska, it’s not assumed that you will sell over the asking price, and you may even have to do a price reduction,” Ives adds. The city is primarily single-family homes, with small pockets of condos and townhomes built in the early 2000s. With a mix of new construction options on the west side and classic 19th-century homes elsewhere, Chaska has a diversity of housing that covers many price points. With a median sales price of $470,000, prices can range from as low as $100,000 for a one-bedroom condo to upwards of $2 million for a five-bedroom newly constructed Traditional with lakeside views. Established single-family homes with private lake access are subject to increased prices beginning at around $500,000.
Chevale is a luxury home development in Chaska.
Chaska has townhome options for residents.
Chaska has lots of recent home developments.
Chaska has upper priced large homes around the town golf course.
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Community gathering spots and year-round curling
Chaska maintains 578 acres of city-owned parks, including nine community parks and 23 neighborhood parks. The city experiences all four seasons, with mild summers and cold winters, and an average of 37 inches of snow per year. The community comes together at Fireman’s Park in Downtown Chaska for local events. Situated adjacent to Fireman's Lake this park has a playground, splash pad, sandy beach and a boardwalk overlooking the water. Winter sports are popular year-round, with three outdoor ice-skating rinks maintained by the city during the colder months. The Chaska Curling Center hosts curling events year-round and with around 1,000 members, it’s one of the largest curling memberships in the country. On the north side, the public Chaska Town Course offers an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole putting green, The Loop, for golfers of all skill levels. It’s owned by the City of Chaska and was voted one of the top ten courses in Minnesota by Golf Digest.
The Curling Center Chaska hosts national tournaments.
The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail runs through Chaska.
Chaska has scenic trails that skirt the Minnesota River.
Fireman's park in Chaska has a boardwalk over the lake.
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The annual River City Days
In July, the City of Chaska hosts the annual River City Days Festival at Chaska Lions Park. This three-day weekend event begins on a Friday with live music and local food trucks and concludes with a parade on Sunday. It’s family-friendly, with a mix of games and activities for kids and a beer garden for adults kicking up in the late afternoon.
Local grocers and eateries in Downtown Chaska
Most residents shop along North Chestnut Street, which provides access to the big-box grocers at Chaska Commons to the north. A mix of fast-food chains and locally owned eateries are also available in Chaska's downtown, which stretches from East First Street to Chaska Boulevard. Dining options downtown include Tommy’s Malt Shop, for classic diner fare, or Sarpino’s Pizzeria, for casual Italian food inside a modest storefront — they also offer delivery, which is good to know during the cold Minnesota winters. Downtown is also home to the Walnut Street Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and City Square Park, which preserves the burial mounds and Native American structures that pre-date Chaska's recorded history.
Cub Foods serves Chaska with many grocery options.
Target serves the city of Chaska with big-box retail.
Chaska Commons is a major shopping district in town.
Enjoy classic diner fare at Tommy's Malt Shop in Chaska.
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High-marks at Eastern Carver County Schools
Families in Chaska are zoned for the Eastern Carver County School District, which receives an A rating and is considered the best school district in Carver County by the review site Niche. The district has eight elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools, serving a combined total of more than 9,000 students. Most students attend Chaska High School, which earns an A-minus from Niche and offers a rigorous college preparatory program with 24 AP courses to choose from. Private options like Southwest Christian High School and St. John's Lutheran School are also available.
Chaska Middle School West teaches around 800 students in grades 6-8 in Chaska.
Chaska High School enrolls over 1,500 students.
Welcome to Carver Elementary School.
At Bluff Creek Elementary, 27% of students are minorities, fostering diverse learning.
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Daily commutes and access to I-494
U.S. Route 212 runs through the heart of Chaska, providing access to neighboring areas like Chanhassen. Route 212 also connects residents to U.S. Interstate 494 which can take them into downtown Minneapolis, around 26 miles away. Those seeking public transportation options take the SouthWest Transit bus, which operates from the East Creek Park & Ride Station. When traveling outside the city, the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is 27 miles away. For healthcare, Two Twelve Medical Center is located off Hundertmark Road.
Crime
On average, Chaska experiences lower crime rates than Minneapolis. In 2023, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees Chaska, reported 20 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Comparatively, Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, reported 124 violent crimes per 100,000 individuals.
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Chaska, MN sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Chaska, MN over the last 12 months is $569,990, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Springs at McKnight Lake is a beautiful, premium apartment community located in Chaska, MN. Our community embraces a unique townhome-style approach to apartment living. Our private entry studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments are complete with modern finishes and details.. Enjoy top-notch community amenities such as a resort-style swimming pool, community clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness
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