West metro, compared

The nine west-metro towns, side by side

Median price, property taxes, schools, market pace, and size for every Lake Minnetonka and Twin Cities west-metro town Bryce covers — one honest table, sourced and current, instead of nine tabs and a stack of government PDFs.

Prices & days on market: Zillow, updated July 2026· Taxes & population: U.S. Census · School ranks: Niche / U.S. News

TownMedian priceProperty taxSchool districtDays on marketPopulation
Wayzata$1.66M~1.17%median $10,000+/yrWayzata · ISD 284#1 in MN32 days4,354
Orono$1.62M~0.9%median $8,722/yrOrono · ISD 278#5 in MN8,195
Deephaven$1.76M~1.1%median $10,300/yrMinnetonka · ISD 276#2 in MN3,793
Minnetonka$407K~1.1%median $5,285/yrMinnetonka · ISD 276#2 in MN19 days53,064
Eden Prairie$505K~1.1%median $5,158/yrEden Prairie · ISD 272#4 in MN17 days63,051
Excelsior$818K~1.17%median $10,001+/yrMinnetonka · ISD 276#2 in MN2,570
Shorewood$975K~1.05%median $7,414/yrMinnetonka · ISD 276#2 in MN7,647
Minnetrista$844K~0.9%median $6,038/yrWestonka · ISD 277#17 in MN8,708
Plymouth$505K~1.0%median $5,160/yrWayzata · ISD 284#1 in MN16 days79,220

A note on schools: several towns share a district (Minnetonka, Deephaven, Excelsior, and Shorewood are all ISD 276), and the town line is not the school-attendance line — always confirm the specific address. How to check an address’s district →

The quick answers

What is the most and least expensive Twin Cities west-metro suburb?

Of the nine Lake Minnetonka / west-metro towns, Deephaven has the highest median home price at $1.76M, and Minnetonka the lowest at $407K. Prices are Zillow medians, updated July 2026.

Which west-metro suburb has the lowest property taxes?

Orono carries the lowest effective property-tax rate of the nine towns at about 0.9% of home value (median $8,722/yr). Effective rates across the corridor run roughly 0.9%–1.2%; the actual bill depends on the home's value. Source: U.S. Census (median real-estate taxes paid).

Which west-metro town has the best-ranked schools?

Wayzata and Plymouth share the top-ranked public school district of the nine towns — Wayzata · ISD 284, ranked #1 in Minnesota (Niche). Minnetonka (ISD 276) and Eden Prairie (ISD 272) also rank among the state's best. Note: the town line is not the school-district line — confirm the specific address before buying.

Which west-metro town's homes sell the fastest?

Plymouth has the fastest market pace of the nine towns at about 16 days on market. The mid-size towns (Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Plymouth) generally move faster than the smaller lakefront towns, where higher-priced homes sit longer. Source: Zillow, updated July 2026.

The honest read

A table can’t tell you which town is right for you

The numbers narrow it down; the trade-offs decide it — walkability vs. acreage, a #1 district vs. a shorter commute, a lakefront premium vs. more house inland. That’s the conversation Bryce actually has with buyers, no pressure and no pitch.