Prior Lake is one of the South Metro’s most distinctive communities, built around two connected glacial lakes and ringed by parks, trails, and neighborhoods that range from established lake cabins to brand-new executive builds. With roughly 28,000 residents, a top-ranked school district, and a median sale price of $492,500 as of February 2026, Prior Lake consistently punches above its weight compared to the broader Twin Cities market. If you are considering buying or selling a home here, here is what you need to know before you start.
I’m Travis Wyman, a South Metro Realtor with Pemberton Real Estate. I work with buyers and sellers across the Prior Lake area and the surrounding communities of Lakeville, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, and beyond. If you want to talk through what the Prior Lake market looks like for your situation right now, schedule a no-obligation discovery call here.
Prior Lake Housing Market: What the Numbers Say (February 2026)
Prior Lake’s market is moving fast and prices are climbing. Here is a snapshot based on NorthstarMLS data through February 2026:
| Metric | Prior Lake | Twin Cities Region |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $492,500 | $380,000 |
| Median Days on Market | 31 days | 48 days |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 2.2 months | 2.0 months |
| Active Listings | ~78 homes | — |
The headline number worth paying attention to is the year-over-year price growth. Prior Lake’s median sale price rose from $430,000 in February 2025 to $492,500 in February 2026, a gain of approximately 14.5 percent. Over that same period, the Twin Cities Region median was essentially flat. Prior Lake is not following the metro average; it is outperforming it.
With only 2.2 months of supply on the market, conditions favor sellers. A balanced market typically sits at four to six months of supply. Prior Lake is less than half that. Homes are going under contract in a median of 31 days, compared to 48 days metro-wide, which means well-priced listings are not sitting.
For buyers, that context matters. If you find a home you love, moving quickly and coming in prepared is more important here than in many other South Metro markets. For sellers, current conditions give you real leverage, but pricing and presentation still matter.
Prior Lake Neighborhoods: Where to Start Your Search
Prior Lake has a variety of distinct areas, and choosing the right neighborhood depends heavily on what kind of lifestyle you’re after. Here is an honest breakdown of the key areas.
The Wilds
The Wilds is Prior Lake’s most recognizable golf community, centered on The Wilds Golf Club and its surrounding streets in the southern part of the city. Homes here include custom single-family properties, townhomes, and villas, many backing to fairways, ponds, or wooded open space. Price points range from the mid-$500,000s for smaller single-family homes and townhomes up to well over $800,000 for custom properties. If you want a neighborhood with a strong visual identity, mature trees, and the convenience of a nearby golf course and trail network, The Wilds delivers.
Spring Lake Neighborhood
The Spring Lake area sits in northern Prior Lake, generally north of County Road 42 near Highway 13. It is a mix of lakeshore and near-lake single-family homes, with many older properties that have been heavily remodeled or completely replaced with new construction. Prices vary widely depending on whether you are on the lake, near the lake, or in a surrounding neighborhood. For buyers who want proximity to Spring Lake Regional Park and a quieter, more established feel, this area is worth exploring.
Jeffers Pond Area
The Jeffers Pond neighborhoods are located in northwest Prior Lake near Jeffers Parkway NW and Jeffers Pond Elementary School. These subdivisions were largely developed from the late 1990s through the 2000s and feature curvilinear streets, pond views, and strong trail connectivity. The area has a family-friendly, community feel and draws buyers who prioritize outdoor access and walkability alongside solid school proximity. Homes here are generally mid- to upper-price-point single-family properties.
Parkwood Estates
Parkwood Estates is a newer executive-style neighborhood in southeast Prior Lake off Bennett Street SE. Homes here are commonly four or five bedrooms, over 3,000 square feet, with three-car garages, open floor plans, and walkout lots. Active builders include OneTenTen Homes and Brandl Anderson Homes. Recent listing prices fall generally in the upper $600,000 to $900,000 range. If you are a move-up buyer looking for newer construction with space and modern finishes, Parkwood Estates is one of the first places to look.
Pike Lake Landing
Pike Lake Landing is located in northeast Prior Lake near the intersection of County Highway 42 and County Highway 21, adjacent to Pike Lake and Pike Lake Park. This is an association-maintained community of detached villas and single-family homes built by Robert Thomas Homes and Ron Clark Construction. The appeal is the combination of natural surroundings (wooded reserves, wetlands, green space) with low-maintenance living. Robert Thomas Homes detached villas start in the low $700,000s; Ron Clark villa homes run roughly $900,000 to $1,000,000-plus for fully built homes around 3,100 square feet. This neighborhood draws downsizers and buyers who want main-level living without leaving Prior Lake.
Aspen Ridge
Aspen Ridge is Key Land Homes’ newer community in southwest Prior Lake, off Fairlawn Avenue and Winfield Way SW. The development has approximately 46 homesites, ranging from roughly a quarter-acre to over two acres, with semi-custom single-family plans that run from about $686,000 to $868,000 depending on size and finishes. Options include sport courts and larger estate-style configurations. For buyers who want space, newer construction, and more land than typical suburban lots offer, Aspen Ridge is worth a look.
Schools: Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (ISD 719)
The vast majority of Prior Lake homes are served by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (ISD 719), one of the most highly regarded school districts in the state. ISD 719 earned an overall “A” grade on Niche and is ranked the #19 Best School District in Minnesota for 2026, serving approximately 8,777 students across 12 schools.
Elementary Schools (K–5, serving Prior Lake addresses):
- Jeffers Pond Elementary
- WestWood Elementary
- Glendale Elementary
- La ola del lago at Grainwood (Spanish immersion program)
- Hamilton Ridge Elementary (note: Savage mailing address, serves some Prior Lake attendance areas)
Middle Schools (Grades 6–8):
- Hidden Oaks Middle School (Prior Lake address; offers Project Lead The Way and other STEM-focused programs)
- Twin Oaks Middle School (Savage; also serves many Prior Lake students)
High School:
- Prior Lake High School (grades 9–12; located in Savage; enrollment 2,800+ students) — ranked #32 Best Public High School in Minnesota by Niche and rated 9/10 by GreatSchools based on test scores and college readiness
Important note on school boundaries: A portion of Prior Lake falls within Shakopee Public Schools (ISD 720), which serves students in parts of Prior Lake as well as Shakopee and Savage. When buying a home in Prior Lake, always confirm the specific school district assignment for that address rather than assuming ISD 719. I always verify this for every buyer client I work with.
Getting Around: Commutes and Highway Access
Prior Lake sits about 25 miles south of the Twin Cities, with a practical commute of roughly 35 to 40 minutes to downtown Minneapolis in typical non-peak traffic. The drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) runs about 22 miles and approximately 28 to 33 minutes under normal conditions.
Key roads out of Prior Lake:
- MN State Highway 13 — connects north through Savage to Burnsville and Eagan, with access toward I-35W and I-35E
- County Road 42 — major east-west arterial linking to Shakopee, Burnsville, and Apple Valley
- County Road 21 — north-south corridor connecting to U.S. Highway 169 in Shakopee and Savage
- U.S. Highway 169 and I-35 — the primary limited-access routes for longer commutes into the metro
Transit options: MVTA Route 490 provides weekday express bus service from a stop at Co. Rd. 21 and Main Ave NW in Prior Lake to Downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota via Southbridge Crossings Park & Ride in Shakopee. MVTA Connect also operates an on-demand microtransit zone covering Prior Lake and Shakopee Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with connections to Mystic Lake Casino, Marschall Road Transit Station, St. Francis Regional Medical Center, and Southbridge Crossings Park & Ride.
Nearby employment centers:
- Mystic Lake Casino Hotel (Prior Lake) — one of the largest employers in Scott County
- St. Francis Regional Medical Center (Shakopee) — approximately 5 to 6 miles away
- Mall of America and MSP Airport (Bloomington) — approximately 25 to 35 minutes by car
- Mayo Clinic (Rochester) — approximately 80 miles and roughly 1 hour 35 minutes by car
Parks, Lakes, and Outdoor Recreation
Prior Lake’s outdoor amenities are genuinely a primary reason people move here. The city maintains multiple public beaches and parks directly on Prior Lake, and regional parks are close by.
Lakefront Park sits on the shore of Lower Prior Lake and serves as the city’s recreational and social hub. The park features lakefront walking paths, a playground, sledding hill, skate park, amphitheater, ball fields, and shoreline access. It is also the venue for Lakefront Music Fest each July.
Sand Point Beach Park is a city-operated public swimming beach with a sandy shoreline, designated swim area, picnic facilities, sand volleyball, and a nearby boat launch. It is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Watzl’s Beach is a second city swimming beach near Lakefront Park. The city has plans for future improvements including a fishing pier as part of broader park upgrades.
Cleary Lake Regional Park — a 1,186-acre Scott County regional park near Prior Lake — offers a public golf course, campground, picnic areas, a swimming beach, paved and unpaved trails, cross-country ski trails, and an off-leash dog area.
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, located in the Credit River area just east of Prior Lake, is a large park reserve featuring glacial ridges, forest, challenging cross-country ski trails, a major mountain bike trail system, and extensive natural habitat. It is designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.
For water recreation on Prior Lake itself, Upper and Lower Prior Lake are connected and accessible by boat, with public launches available for residents and visitors alike.
Local Dining, Breweries, and Shopping
Prior Lake has developed a real downtown identity along Main Avenue SE, with local restaurants, boutiques, and gathering spots that give the community its own character rather than feeling like every other suburb.
Dining and nightlife highlights:
- Charlie’s on Prior (3950 Green Heights Trail SW) — lakeside restaurant and marina with outdoor seating directly on Prior Lake; popular American menu and one of the best patio spots in the South Metro
- Perron’s Sul Lago (16154 Main Ave SE) — Italian bistro in downtown Prior Lake; a neighborhood staple for date nights and family dinners
- Boathouse Brothers Brewing Company (16211 Main Ave SE) — local craft brewery in downtown Prior Lake with 18-plus taps, an open beer hall, and regular food truck events
Shopping: Downtown Prior Lake along Main Avenue SE has local boutiques including Grace + Gumption and Lueur. For larger retail, Burnsville Center, Shakopee, and Savage are all within eight to ten miles.
Community events: The Prior Lake Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings through the summer and fall on Main Avenue SE, with local produce, food vendors, and live music. Lakefront Days is the city’s annual summer festival centered around Lakefront Park. The Lakefront Music Fest, organized by the Rotary Club of Prior Lake, is a major two-night outdoor concert each July that draws tens of thousands of attendees and raises funds for local nonprofits.
Healthcare
St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee is the closest full-service hospital, approximately 5 to 6 miles from central Prior Lake. M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville is about 7 to 8 miles away and offers emergency care and a wide range of specialties. Multiple urgent care and MinuteClinic locations in surrounding cities are also within easy reach.
Prior Lake Housing: What to Expect at Different Price Points
Prior Lake’s housing stock is overwhelmingly owner-occupied single-family homes and townhomes, with approximately 89 percent of units being single-family attached or detached. Owner occupancy rates exceed 85 percent, which speaks to the long-term stability of the community.
The city grew rapidly from the 1970s through the 2000s, so you will find a range of home vintages. Older homes near downtown and along the lake often carry mid-century bones with significant remodels, and some have been torn down and rebuilt entirely. Newer subdivisions from the 2000s through today dominate the northwest, south, and east parts of the city.
General price ranges as of early 2026:
- Townhomes and entry-level single-family: $400,000s to low $500,000s
- Mid-tier resale single-family: $500,000 to $650,000
- Move-up and executive single-family: $650,000 to $850,000
- Lakefront and high-end custom homes: $800,000 and well above
New construction is active across several price points. Key Land Homes’ Aspen Ridge starts in the high $600,000s. OneTenTen and Brandl Anderson homes in Parkwood Estates are generally $770,000 to $900,000. Pike Lake Landing villas from Robert Thomas Homes start in the low $700,000s, while Ron Clark’s villa homes in the same community are priced from approximately $900,000 to over $1,000,000.
55-plus and low-maintenance options exist for buyers who want to stay in Prior Lake without taking on a large single-family home. Haven Ridge (M/I Homes) near County Road 18 and Crownline Drive NE offers low-maintenance homes with trails and pond views for active adults. The Grainwood Senior Apartments on the south side of downtown is an affordable 55-plus rental community. McKenna Crossing (Presbyterian Homes) provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care on a Prior Lake campus.
Why Buyers and Sellers Choose Prior Lake
Prior Lake is one of the few South Metro communities where you can live on or near a lake, drive to downtown Minneapolis in under 40 minutes, send your kids to a top-20 school district in the state, and still have access to brand-new construction in multiple price ranges. That combination is hard to replicate. The trade-off is that inventory is limited and prices have moved significantly. Buyers who wait or who are not ready to move decisively will watch good homes go to more prepared buyers.
Sellers in Prior Lake are in a strong position right now. Median prices are up nearly 15 percent year over year, days on market are well below the metro average, and there is not a flood of competing listings coming. Pricing strategically and presenting your home well still makes the difference between a good outcome and a great one.
What My Clients Say
“Our experience with Travis was incredible from start to finish! He was a great partner navigating our situation as rental property owners and helped us strategize for the best outcome! With his help, we were able to receive an offer the day our property hit the market and close within a little over a month’s time! We could not be more thrilled with his team and partnership! If there were 10 stars to give, we would!” — Megan, Seller
Ready to Buy or Sell in Prior Lake?
Whether you are just starting to explore Prior Lake or you are ready to make a move, I am glad to help. I work with buyers and sellers throughout the South Metro, and I know this market well. The best first step is a quick conversation about your goals, your timeline, and what the current market means for your situation.
Schedule Your Complimentary Discovery Call
Travis Wyman | Pemberton Real Estate
📍 14800 Galaxie Ave., Suite 302, Apple Valley, MN 55124
📞 612-887-9716
🌐 traviswyman.com
Or explore other South Metro communities I serve:
- Lakeville, MN
- Apple Valley, MN
- Burnsville, MN
- Eagan, MN
- Rosemount, MN
- Farmington, MN
- Savage, MN
- Shakopee, MN
Frequently Asked Questions: Prior Lake, MN Real Estate
As of February 2026, the median sale price in Prior Lake is $492,500, based on NorthstarMLS data. That is roughly $112,000 above the Twin Cities Region median of $380,000 for the same period, reflecting Prior Lake’s strong demand and limited inventory. Prior Lake’s median price rose approximately 14.5 percent year over year from February 2025 to February 2026.
Prior Lake is currently a seller-leaning market. Inventory sits at approximately 2.2 months of supply, well below the four-to-six months that characterizes a balanced market. Homes are selling in a median of 31 days, compared to 48 days across the broader Twin Cities. Buyers should be prepared to act quickly and come in with strong, well-structured offers.
Most Prior Lake addresses are served by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (ISD 719), which is ranked the #19 Best School District in Minnesota by Niche for 2026 with an overall “A” grade. Prior Lake High School is ranked #32 Best Public High School in the state. However, a portion of Prior Lake falls within Shakopee Public Schools (ISD 720). Always confirm the specific school district for any address before purchasing.
Yes. Upper and Lower Prior Lake (which are connected) anchor the city’s lake lifestyle. Lakefront and lake-access homes are available along the shoreline in several areas, with prices varying significantly based on direct water frontage. The Spring Lake neighborhood in north Prior Lake also has lakeshore and near-lake properties. Lakefront homes in Prior Lake at the high end of the market are often $800,000 and above, with some reaching well over $1,000,000.
Several active new-construction communities are currently underway in Prior Lake. Key Land Homes is building semi-custom homes at Aspen Ridge in southwest Prior Lake, with base prices from approximately $686,000 to $868,000. OneTenTen Homes and Brandl Anderson Homes are building executive single-family homes in Parkwood Estates in southeast Prior Lake, generally priced from the upper $600,000s to $900,000-plus. Robert Thomas Homes and Ron Clark Construction are building detached villa homes at Pike Lake Landing in northeast Prior Lake, starting from the low $700,000s to over $1,000,000. Custom and infill builders are also active on individual lots throughout the city, particularly near the lakes and golf course.
Prior Lake is approximately 25 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. In typical non-peak traffic, the drive takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes. The drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is about 22 miles and typically 28 to 33 minutes. Peak-hour commutes along Highway 169 and I-35 can run longer depending on conditions.
Yes. MVTA Route 490 provides weekday express bus service from Prior Lake (stop at Co. Rd. 21 and Main Ave NW) to Downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota, with a stop at Southbridge Crossings Park & Ride in Shakopee. MVTA Connect also operates an on-demand microtransit zone covering Prior Lake and Shakopee, running Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with connections to major destinations including Mystic Lake Casino, St. Francis Regional Medical Center, and Southbridge Crossings.
Yes. Haven Ridge (M/I Homes) near County Road 18 and Crownline Drive NE is an active-adult-oriented community with low-maintenance homes, trails, and pond views. Pike Lake Landing offers association-maintained detached villas with main-level living plans built by Robert Thomas Homes and Ron Clark Construction, popular with downsizers. The Grainwood Senior Apartments provides affordable 55-plus rental units near downtown. McKenna Crossing (Presbyterian Homes) offers a continuum of senior living including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
Prior Lake Housing Market Statistics
Market data sourced from NorthstarMLS InfoSparks, exported March 5, 2026. School rankings from Niche (2026) and GreatSchools. All market conditions are subject to change. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute a guarantee of any specific outcome in a real estate transaction.