Lonsdale offers small-town charm with metro access nearby
Farmland stretches around Lonsdale, a growing city in rural Rice County. The former railroad town, home to roughly 5,000, sits just over 40 miles south of Minneapolis. “It’s more or less a bedroom community,” says local Bryce Schuenke, a Realtor with Keller Williams Preferred Realty. “Doesn’t really jump out at you on a map, but people like the close-knit feel of a small town. It’s farther north in Rice County, so there’s quick access to highways, making it easy to get connected to the Twin Cities metro area.”
A mix of homes, with most built after 2000
Lonsdale is composed primarily of single-family properties, but select subdivisions offer a smattering of multifamily options, including twin homes and townhouses. The median sale price is around $365,000. Historic houses like late 1800s farmhouses and early 1900s cottages are rare on the market. Midcentury split-level and ranch-style houses are common, but Lonsdale experienced the most development after 2000 with contemporary New Traditional houses, many featuring front-facing garages. The median lot size in Lonsdale is just over a quarter-acre, offering many spacious yards. Most homes range from around $180,000 to $450,000, but those on about a half-acre or more can sell for between $490,000 and $660,000. Summers in Lonsdale are warm, with highs averaging around 80 degrees. Winters are cold and snowy, with lows averaging around 14 degrees and an annual snowfall averaging over 40 inches.
Tri-City United offers nearby schools and college credit
Lonsdale is served by two school districts: Tri-City United Schools, graded B-minus on Niche, and New Prague Area Schools, graded B-plus. Requirements for open enrollment vary between the two. Tri-City United Lonsdale PreK-6 School, graded B, is on the city’s east side. Tri-City United Le Center PreK-8 School, graded C-plus, is about 22 miles away. Tri-City United High School, graded B-minus, is closer to 10 miles away. High schoolers can participate in concurrent enrollment with Southwest Minnesota State University.
Parks, trails and seasonal sports keep residents active year-round
Lonsdale has 16 parks and about 13 miles of trails, so playgrounds, ballfields and walking paths are never far away. Trenda Memorial Park is home to the local Little League. Four-legged friends enjoy the east side’s dog park. Paddlers can launch watercraft at Rezac Nature Preserve, which sprawls across 43 acres of woodlands and wetlands. Home to a fishing pier and an archery range, the preserve draws local anglers and marksmen alike. An ice rink brings folks to Trcka Park in the winter, while the pickleball courts are more popular when the weather’s warm.
Groceries, gas and coffee are easy to find in town
The commercial scene in Lonsdale is small, with essentials concentrated around Railway Street, Central Street and Main Street. Mackenthun’s and Dollar General cover day-to-day necessities and groceries. Drivers can gas up or pick up a hot pizza from Casey’s. The Coffee Fools serves pick-me-ups inside First National Bank. As for where to grab dinner and a drink, Smoke is the go-to, offering a menu of craft beer and barbecue. That said, when a big game is on, there isn’t a livelier spot in town than the locally owned Rail 19 Bar and Grill.
A straightforward commute to the Twin Cities
For commutes to Downtown Minneapolis, about 43 miles away, residents can follow Minnesota Highway 19 about 10 miles east to access Interstate 35 – a direct route into the city. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is about 40 miles away. Northfield Hospital has an emergency room about 12 miles away.
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Written By
Micaela Willoughby
