Prior Lake, MN

Living in Prior Lake

I’ve lived in Prior Lake since 1986. These are the guides I’d hand a friend who’s thinking about moving here, or who just did.

Population29,780 (2025)
The lake1,340 acres
City parks49
Downtown Minneapolis24 miles

By Mark Gores · Updated Sept. 28, 2026

Neighborhoods and what homes sell for, schools, the lake, getting around, and the things you only learn by living here. I keep them current, and if you notice something that has changed, tell me.

What’s happening this week?

Everything going on around town is on the This Week page and the full events calendar.

Start here

Moving to Prior LakeThe whole picture: the county, schools, taxes, the lake and getting around.New to Prior LakeUtilities, trash, parking rules and the first things to set up.Prior Lake FAQStraight answers to the questions people ask most.

Where to live

NeighborhoodsWhat each area is like and what homes there sell for.Housing marketPrices, taxes and how fast homes sell, from the MLS.SchoolsHow the district is set up now, and how to check an address.

Everyday life

Life on the lakeSize, depth, launches, beaches and the rules on the water.Things to doParks, trails, downtown, live music and the big events.GolfThree 18-hole courses in town and a dozen within half an hour.CommuteDrive times, the roads that matter and the MVTA buses.SafetyCrime rates next to nearby cities, and who to call.HistoryThe railroad, the resort years and how a village became a city.

Compare towns

Looking at Savage, Shakopee, Lakeville or Burnsville too? Each comparison covers schools, home prices, taxes, the commute and what each town is like, fairly for both.

Prior Lake vs SavageNeighbors that partly share a school district.Prior Lake vs ShakopeeNext door, with different schools and a different pace.Prior Lake vs LakevilleSimilar prices, very different towns.Prior Lake vs BurnsvilleA lake town next to a bigger, built-out city.
From the publisher

I also run priorlake.realestate, a Prior Lake housing site built from the MLS and updated twice a day.

Get to know Prior Lake, twice a week
Every Monday, what's happening this week. Every Friday, the weekend. Free, and 1,500+ neighbors already read it.
“Who knew all this was going on right in our town.” Barb, subscriber
Mark Gores

Who writes these guides

Mark Gores

Founder of Prior Lake Events · REALTOR® with RE/MAX Advantage Plus

I've lived in Prior Lake since 1986. I built Prior Lake Events to put everything happening in town in one place, and I write these guides the way I'd explain Prior Lake to a friend who's thinking about moving here. I've also sold homes here for 22 years.

Buying or selling in Prior Lake? Reach Mark Gores of RE/MAX Advantage Plus directly.

Call or text 612-201-5447markgores.com

Love the site, or spot something that has changed? Email me at mark@priorlakeevents.com.

Photo: Sunset on Prior Lake by Tiger Girl, CC BY 2.0.