Faribault, Minnesota is located at the confluence of two rivers 50 miles south of Minneapolis and 54 miles south of St. Paul. The meeting of the Cannon River and the Straight River, historically, made Faribault an ideal place for trade and shipping – something reflected by its namesake, fur trader Alexander Faribault. This industrial spirit is still alive in Faribault today, with multiple manufacturing plants providing employment opportunities for locals. A city of fewer than 24,000 people, Faribault has a lively downtown, with access to many recreational areas and relatively affordable housing.
Faribault has a vibrant downtown area.
A water tower welcomes people along Interstate 35 to Faribault.
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An active market of modest, affordable homes
Faribault has an active market of modest homes in various designs, including Colonial Revival, Craftsman and ranch-styles. There are some larger homes with stone facades in the Legacy Golf Village neighborhood, but they’re an outlier in the city overall. The median home price is $322,000, which is lower than the national median. “We haven’t had enough inventory in Faribault,” says Daryl Bauer, a lifelong resident and Realtor with Re/Max Advantage Plus. “The houses that come on the market have gone very quickly.” Bauer adds that the taxes in Faribault are much lower than other nearby areas, making it an attractive city for homebuyers. “People can literally buy more house for the money,” he says.
Newly constructed craftsman style homes can be found in Faribault.
Faribault has home styles from many different generations.
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Faribault features state’s largest prison, country’s largest canned bean producer
Faribault is home to the largest employer in the county – the Minnesota Correctional Facility. It’s the biggest prison in Minnesota and employs more than 600 people. “They are the number one employer in town,” Bauer says. “There are always lots of correctional officer positions available.” In addition to the prison, other large employers include Daikin Applied, an HVAC manufacturer, SageGlass, a glass manufacturer and Faribault Foods. “Faribault Foods is the largest canned bean producer in North America,” Bauer says. “Any type of refried beans, black beans or anything like that is made by Faribault Foods.”
The Minnesota Correctional Facility is the largest employer in the city.
Faribault Foods is a producer of shelf-stable foods and beverages distributed nationwide
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Shattuck-St. Mary’s trains hockey’s best in Faribault
Faribault’s co-ed private boarding school, Shattuck-St. Mary’s, is another major draw for the area. The school features an internationally renowned ice hockey program and in “Any given year they have a number of players who will play in the National Hockey League,” Bauer says. He notes that the girls’ program is also exceptional. Standout alums of the hockey program include Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Amanda Kessel. The school has also worked hard in recent years to elevate its soccer program, and Bauer says Faribault locals can watch hockey and soccer games for free, knowing that they’re likely watching future professional athletes and Olympians. “Shattuck is kind of in their own little world, but people in the know definitely go to the games,” he says. Called a “hockey center of excellence,” the exclusive school has about 400 students in grades 6-12.
Shattuck-St. Mary is a premier college prep academy.
Shattuck-St. Mary has a famous Hockey program with a legacy of state championships.
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River Bend Nature Center provides year-round outdoor recreation
Faribault is a part of the southern Minnesota lakes region, which gives residents access to a number of water-oriented activities. “Within 10 miles there are probably 35 lakes,” Bauer says. There are also 39 parks and five greenways in Faribault, but the River Bend Nature Center is what Bauer calls the “crown jewel.” It’s 743 acres of natural habitat, including places like Turtle Lake and Fossil Beach, whose names speak for themselves. There are also bridges, river views, and a waterfall to explore. Bauer says there are also year-round recreation programs at the Nature Center, including cross-country skiing, hiking and biking.
River Bend Nature Center is a big draw for environmentalists and nature lovers.
Wildlife can be spotted in River Bend Nature Center.
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Bustling downtown district has noteworthy restaurants
Downtown Faribault has a vibrant, active shopping and dining scene. Central Avenue and Lyndale Avenue are the busiest streets, with local shops in brick buildings that line either side of the road. Depot Bar and Grill is a local favorite, with Bauer adding that it’s a destination even people from outside of Faribault drive to. Housed in a former train station, the Depot serves American fare for lunch and dinner. A couple of World War II veterans made their way back to Faribault and opened Basilleo’s Pizza, another local go-to, named for founders and brothers Basil and Leo.
Basilleo's is a popular pizza restaurant in Faribault.
The Depot Bar and Grill is located next to an active train line.
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Fairbault boasts diverse schools, state schools for the deaf and blind
Faribault is part of Faribault Public School District, which earns a C-plus rating on Niche, though has an A in diversity and is the 14th most diverse district in the state. There is one prekindergarten school, three elementaries, one middle school, one high school and one alternative high school. Additionally, Faribault is home to Minnesota’s State Academies for the Deaf and Blind, and Shattuck-St. Mary’s earns an A-plus.
Faribault Senior High School ranks 253rd in Minnesota, offering AP opportunities for students.
The Minnesota Academy for the Deaf and Blind is located in Faribault.
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Hiawathaland Transit buses residents, I-35 connects them to Minneapolis
Hiawathaland Transit provides mass transit services for Faribault and nearby communities. There are a number of bus stops throughout the city to provide rides to residents. However, the area is still car-dependent. The city is also right near Interstate 35, which is a major artery in the state and leads directly to Minneapolis. The nearest international airport is Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which is 46 miles north of Faribault. Due to its proximity to the rivers, some areas may be more prone to flooding. The city has a CAP Index crime score rating of 4, which is on par with the national average. The crime rates have remained mostly steady in recent years, neither climbing nor falling by any significant number.
Written By
Tanner Harding
Video By
Charlie Lingner
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bryce Schuenke,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Faribault, MN sell after 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Faribault, MN over the last 12 months is $289,950, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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