Located just 12 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Eden Prairie is known for maintaining small town charm alongside big city convenience. It rests on the north bank of the Minnesota River and is overflowing with waterways, lakes, and green space. With nearly 10,000 acres of parks and green space in city limits, Eden Prairie is a perfect choice for area students who want to truly escape the urbane when they come home. It’s the hub of the SouthWest Transit, which provides students and residents with public transportation to three nearby suburbs, making it a possibility even for those without a car. It’s made Money Magazine’s list of “Best Places to Live” in America for nine years running, topping the list in the 2010 survey. The city is filled with award-winning restaurants, abundant shopping, and a multitude of entertainment options. In fact, according to the city’s website, 99 percent of residents rate the quality of life in Eden Prairie as above average—not bad for a small suburban town!

Hennepin Technical College calls Eden Prairie home, as do it’s roughly 7,000 enrolled students. Students of Hennepin Tech as well as other Minneapolis area schools should have no trouble finding housing in this nature lovers haven.

Olympic Hills is the nearest neighborhood to Hennepin Tech, sitting just east of campus along Pioneer Trail. 

Due north of campus, Anderson Lakes Parkway offers numerous housing options, as well as amenities, as it stretches past the banks of the unfortunately named, Purgatory Creek.

Anderson Lakes neighborhood sits east of campus and boasts the Anderson Lakes Park Reserve, where residents can bike, hike, fish, and even ski. The reserve is composed of three sizable lakes, and nearby students can find numerous shops and restaurants for less outdoorsy days.

Finally, commuters favor the bustling intersection of I-494 and Hwy 212. In the surrounding neighborhoods, suburbanites find peace and quiet without sacrificing a minute of drive time for getting in and out of town.