Home to around 29,000 people, Prior Lake is a vibrant community anchored by two recreational lakes. With a quaint downtown and parks stocked with amenities, the city offers a variety of opportunities to bring neighbors together through all seasons. "People here love the small-town atmosphere with what is actually the third-largest recreational lake in the Twin Cities – it's good for boating and jet skiing and has multiple public beaches," says Berkshire Hathaway broker Jeff Young. As part of the top-ranked school district in the county, Prior Lake is also a destination for families with children.
Sand Point Beach overlooking Lower Prior Lake.
Pickleball is very popular with residents of all ages at Spring Lake park in Prior Lake.
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Fishing docks at Lakefront Park
Prior Lake's 51 parks offer over 1,000 acres of intentional green spaces with diverse amenities to explore. Park hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it easier to fit a Pickleball game or walk by the water into a busy day. The park with the longest list of amenities is Lakefront Park, with trails that lead to the waterfront, tennis and Pickleball courts, ice rinks, a huge sledding hill, a playground, fishing docks, kayak rentals, an amphitheater, and much more. Lakefront Parks Waltz Beach is said to be a quiet place to spend the day on soft sand, watching the waves lap toward shore. Locals can store their boats at the Knotty Oar Marina on Eagle Creek Avenue.
An angler fishing in the Marina.
A boat coming in to the bay in a lake home neighborhood.
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New homes in Springview Meadows
"Homes are typically going to be anywhere from $450,000 to $650,000," Young says. An entry-level price point for an inland home that needs love and care could be as low as $280,000. New communities, like Springview Meadows, offer farmhouse-style homes with quartz countertops, spacious bedroom suites and three-car garages starting in the $500,000s. An inland 1,800 square foot two-story traditional built in the mid 2000s could cost around $630,000. A highly modern, over 4,000 square foot new construction overlooking Prior Lake may cost over $2 million.
A group of newly constructed homes in The Springview Meadows housing development in Prior Lake.
New houses under construction in Prior Lake.
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Lakefront Music Fest and DecemBRRR Dazzle
There are events for every season in Prior Lake. Two prominent ones are Lakefront Music Fest in July, and DecemBRRR Dazzle. Both are held at Lakefront Park. "Lakefront Music Fest is a two-night festival that brings in about 20,000 people per night from all over the region," Young says. Lynyrd Skynyrd headlined the event in 2023. At DecemBRRR Dazzle, Santa is on hand for photos, there's a giant bonfire for smores and ice carving demonstrations, and the event always ends with fireworks.
Boutiques and bistros in downtown Prior Lakes
In downtown Prior Lake, Perron's Sul Lago is an Italian Bistro known for its elegant atmosphere and steak, pasta and seafood options. Prior Lake Farmers Market has indoor and outdoor vending options to stay open during cold months. Next to Form Massage and Bodywork, Olive Moon sells women's apparel. At Charlie's on Prior, off Green Heights Trail Southwest, locals dine on tacos while overlooking the lake. State Highway 13 runs through Prior Lake and is lined with essentials, including a Target, 3 miles north. There's a Hy-Vee grocery store just a mile from that on Egan Drive.
You'll find seemingly endless pastries at Edelweiss Bakery in Prior Lake.
Perron's Sul Lago Bistro offers upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Prior Lake.
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Top-rated schools in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district
Prior Lake is served by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools. “We have seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and Bridges Area Learning Center,” says Liz Zimmerman, the communications and social media specialist for Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. “We also have a Spanish immersion elementary school called La ola del lago at Grainwood.” One pipeline students travel is Westwood Elementary School, Hidden Oaks Middle School and Prior Lake High School. The elementary and high school both earn an A minus from Niche while the middle school scores an A rating. Lake High School is part of an E-STEM district where students receive instruction focused on inquiry and real-world problem-solving.
La ola del lago at Grainwood is a highly rated K-5 Spanish immersion school in Prior Lake.
Westwood Elementary is ranked second best public elementary school in Scott County.
Hidden Oaks Middle School's teachers received a grade of A from Niche.com.
Prior Lake High School is ranked best public high school in Scott County.
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St. Francis Regional Medical Center is 7 miles northwest
This is a car-dependent area but there are a few bus stops downtown served by the Co Rd 21 that will take locals to downtown Minneapolis. M Health Fairview Clinic offers primary care services on Willowood Street. St. Francis Regional Medical Center is 7 miles northwest with an emergency room. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International is 13 miles north via State Highway 13.
St. Francis Regional Medical Center is just a short drive from Prior Lake.
St. Francis Regional Medical Center offers quality health care a few minutes from Prior Lake.
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Written By
Christian Slater
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Rowell
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bruce Nelson,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Prior Lake, MN sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Prior Lake, MN over the last 12 months is $477,500, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
New water heater and stove installed. Fresh paint upstairs by 1 Day painting. Carpets cleaned by Twin Cities Finest. Piano and any furniture can stay with home. Welcome to this charming 3-bedroom, 2-bath home located in a quiet neighborhood in Prior Lake. Enjoy the spacious three-season porch and walkout patio—perfect for relaxing or entertaining. The home features two full bathrooms, a
Serenity at it's finest, an 11 acre horse hobby farm that truly has it all. Come see this thoughtfully updated 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home nestled on a quiet street surrounded by both pasture and farmland, with Credit River running along the southwest corner of the property. This lovely open concept home is situated directly across the road from gorgeous Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve-- a 2,400
Located in the beautiful Red Cedar Heights neighborhood, this home offers a perfect blend of comfort and functionality. The spacious 3-car garage features epoxy-coated floors, is fully finished and heated, and includes a keypad lock for added convenience. A welcoming front porch opens to a bright foyer, while the back of the home features a large deck with a staircase and built-in
Nestled along the serene shores of Prior Lake on your private 0.48-acre lakeshore lot, this charming, cozy bungalow offers the perfect blend of cozy lakeside living and functionality. This home is so warm and inviting, featuring an open layout that maximizes space with tons of natural light pouring in. Large windows provide stunning lake views, while a spacious deck allows for peaceful mornings
A gorgeous Wensmann-built executive townhome with main-level living close to all Prior Lake has to offer. The main floor features include the open concept kitchen with updated lighting and quartz countertops, a breakfast nook as well as a separate informal dining space, living room, laundry, and primary suite with upgraded lighting and quartz counters. The walkout lower level has an additional
Remarkable and spacious executive townhome in the Regal Crest neighborhood of Prior Lake. The 3,200 square foot home has three bedrooms, three baths, and a three-car garage! Once inside the open-concept main level, you’ll love the large kitchen with custom cherry cabinetry with pull-out shelving, granite countertops, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, living room with gas fireplace, a
Welcome to Jeffers at Waterfront Apartments, a place where comfort meets convenience. Our apartments in Prior Lake offer one, two, or three--bedroom layouts equipped with essential amenities like quartz countertops, wood plank style flooring, and stainless-steel kitchen appliances. Residents of our pet friendly community also enjoy exclusive access to communal perks like package receiving,
Welcome home to this newly renovated 4 bed 2 bath duplex right off Main Street in Prior Lake! Showcasing a preferred layout with 2 beds and a bath on the main and 2 beds and a bath in the basement. This unit comes with a single garage stall along with ample off street parking. The sun room includes a rear access through French doors to the home onto a newly installed deck with all the privacy
The Grainwood Apartments brings the feel of a cozy lake place to the heart of Prior Lake! Conveniently located near parks, shopping and restaurants, The Grainwood Apartments offers the freedoms of contemporary maintenance-free living combined with amenities such as granite counters, a built-in washer/dryer in every home, and underground heated parking. Are you ready for convenient living? The
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