Where Is Stillwater, MN? Location, Commutes, and Home Prices for 2026

Stillwater is the county seat of Washington County, Minnesota, sitting on the west bank of the St. Croix River at the eastern edge of the Twin Cities metro, directly across the water from Wisconsin. The historic downtown runs right along the riverfront, giving residents quick access to the water.

If you're buying in Stillwater, the location premium shows up in detached houses, which sold above list 41.7% of the time in the 90 days ending September 30, 2026. Townhomes and condos are where you'll have room to negotiate. Oak Park Heights and Bayport next door are the first alternatives worth comparing.

You're looking at Stillwater from outside the area and want to decide whether its location, drive times, and home prices fit your commute and budget before you start touring.

If you'll drive into St. Paul or Minneapolis most weekdays, read "How far is Stillwater from St. Paul and Minneapolis?" first. Then check "Towns between Stillwater and the Twin Cities" for shorter drives.

If a detached house is a must, see "Single-family homes." If a townhome or condo would work, see "Townhomes and condos." The answer decides if you compete or negotiate.

If you'd consider living in Wisconsin, read the Hudson profile and its tax catch first. If being on the river matters more than Stillwater itself, start with Oak Park Heights, Bayport, and Afton.

Interstate 94 passes well south and west of Stillwater, running through the southern metro and Hudson, WI, rather than through the city. That leaves Stillwater relying on two state highways maintained by MnDOT:

Most commuters heading west take Highway 36 to reach St. Paul or Minneapolis. Minneapolis is the longer haul of the two and adds significant time in morning traffic. Because nearly every westbound trip funnels onto that one corridor, the time on a map is rarely your rush-hour time. Drive your actual commute route at weekday rush hour before you make an offer.

Stillwater sits roughly 23 to 34 miles from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Typical drive times are about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic and your route.

The 1931 Lift Bridge downtown no longer carries car traffic to Wisconsin. Drivers now use the St. Croix Crossing, a four-lane bridge about a mile south of downtown. If you cross into Wisconsin often, your route runs south of downtown to that bridge, not over Main Street.

The Stillwater market splits sharply by property type. In the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, the median sale price for all homes was $434,793, down year over year. Over the same window, the single-family median rose 4.1% while the overall median slipped, so each home type calls for a different negotiating approach.

Houses are where the location premium lands. Single-family homes went under contract in a median of 17 days, with just 1.7 months of supply. About 25 of the 61 houses sold above list, accounting for nearly every over-list sale in the city.

With less than two months of supply, waiting for a price cut on a well-priced house rarely works. Tour within days of listing and go in with financing ready.

Attached homes are the negotiating side of this market. That window saw roughly 15 non-single-family sales (based on 15 condo and townhome sales) and about 15 active listings, or about three months of supply. Treat that small sample as a signal, not a trend.

Price per square foot is nearly identical across property types: $230 for all homes versus $229 for houses. The savings in attached homes come from their smaller size, not a lower rate. Compare price per foot rather than sticker price, and use the slower pace to ask for concessions.

HOA dues add to every monthly payment, so ask the HOA for current dues and what they cover. Condo approval for FHA or VA loans varies by complex, so ask your lender whether the complex is approved.

If Stillwater's house competition or prices push you out, these towns keep you on the river and widen your pool of listings. A town name doesn't guarantee a school assignment, so check any specific address with the district's own boundary lookup tool.

Oak Park Heights shares Stillwater's southern border. The Minnesota end of the St. Croix Crossing lands here, which makes the town practical if you cross into Wisconsin or head west on Highway 36 often.

Much of the town's frontage faces the Highway 36 corridor, so traffic noise and commercial views vary block to block. Visit the specific street at rush hour before making an offer.

Bayport is a small river town south along Highway 95 with its own short main street. It's home to Andersen Corporation's headquarters, which includes an 8-million-square-foot production facility.

A small town means few listings at any one time. Set up a saved search early, because a quiet month can mean nothing on the market.

Farther south, Afton offers a more rural setting with larger lots and river bluffs. Afton State Park sits nearby on the river, and the Afton Alps ski area is just south of town.

Rural land often means a private well and septic system instead of city water and sewer. Ask whether the home is on a well, and request a water test and a septic compliance inspection.

Hudson sits across the river and south of Stillwater, with direct I-94 access to St. Paul. Crossing the state line changes more than your address. Minnesota and Wisconsin no longer have an income tax reciprocity agreement, so living in Wisconsin and working in Minnesota can mean filing in both states. Wisconsin property taxes also follow different rules. Before buying in Hudson while working in Minnesota, ask a tax professional how you'd file.

West of Stillwater, these communities trade the riverfront for a shorter weekday drive toward St. Paul or Minneapolis.

Lake Elmo sits west of Stillwater, with a mix of open land and newer subdivisions. It suits buyers who want new construction and a shorter drive toward St. Paul. Newer subdivisions usually come with HOAs, while older rural parcels may be on a well and septic. Request the matching HOA documents or well and septic records.

Woodbury is a larger suburb to the southwest along I-94, with more retail close by and a convenient drive into the core cities. You trade Stillwater's historic river downtown for a newer suburban layout. Spend a weekend in each before deciding which daily setting works for you.

Northwest of Stillwater, White Bear Lake is a lake town with its own older downtown. It's the closest match in feel if you want water and a walkable center, but on a lake rather than a river.

Lakeshore and lake-access homes carry their own premium and rules. Ask the city or HOA about dock and shoreline regulations before you buy a lake lot.

Stillwater is known as the "birthplace of Minnesota" because an 1848 territorial convention held there began the process of establishing the state. Through the late 1800s and into the twentieth century, the lumber industry dominated the town.

Houlton, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community in St. Croix County within the Town of St. Joseph, sits directly across the river. Hudson lies farther south along the river.

Detached houses are the expensive side. The single-family median sits above the all-homes median, and single-family prices rose over the past year while the overall median fell. Townhomes and condos cost less mainly because they're smaller.

Stillwater has two ZIP codes: 55082 for standard delivery and 55083 for PO boxes. A Stillwater mailing address can extend beyond city limits, so confirm the actual city on a home's property tax statement.

Stillwater receives an average of 42 inches of snow a year. Check a property's driveway slope, and in an HOA, confirm who handles snow removal.

Residents use Pioneer Park on a bluff overlooking downtown, Pine Point Regional Park with five miles of multi-use trails, and the 6.4-mile paved Brown's Creek State Trail.