ARDEN HILLS, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE

LIVING IN ARDEN HILLS

Arden Hills takes its name from Arden Farms, a hobby farm established here in 1906. The area was part of Mounds View Township until 1951, when it incorporated on Valentine’s Day — February 14. During World War II the federal government bought roughly 2,500 acres for the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, which employed about 26,000 people at its peak and still shapes the map of the city today. Part of that land is now being redeveloped by Ramsey County as Rice Creek Commons, a mixed-use project.

Water is a big part of life here. The city has seven lakes, including Lake Johanna, Lake Josephine and Valentine Lake, along with ponds and wetlands left behind by the glaciers. Lake Johanna has been a spot for swimming, fishing and boating since the late 1800s, and Tony Schmidt Regional Park on its shore has a swimming beach, boat launch, fishing pier, playgrounds and walking paths. The city also maintains 16 parks of its own, including Cummings Park, Valentine Park and Perry Park, which has a dog park area.

Arden Hills is also an employment and college town. Bethel University is here, the University of Northwestern – St. Paul campus straddles the Roseville line, and the city is home to Boston Scientific and Land O’Lakes campuses. For commuting, I-35W, I-694, U.S. Highway 10 and Highway 51 (Snelling Avenue) all serve the city, putting downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis each roughly 20 minutes away in normal traffic.

Much of the housing dates from the city’s big growth years in the 1970s and 1980s, with neighborhoods spread around the lakes and parks rather than a single downtown. It’s a well-located, lake-filled suburb, and I’m happy to help you sort out which part of it fits you best.

ARDEN HILLS AT A GLANCE

Population: 9,939
Size: 9.6 sq mi
Incorporated: 1951
Schools: Mounds View ISD 621
Lakes: Johanna, Josephine & more
Commute: I-35W · I-694 · Hwy 10
County: Ramsey
Known for: Bethel University
Drive to MSP Airport: about 30 minutes (20 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 20 minutes (12 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 20 minutes (13 miles), off-peak

ARDEN HILLS SCHOOLS

Arden Hills is served by Mounds View Public Schools (ISD 621). Mounds View High School, which has operated since 1955, is located in Arden Hills, as is Valentine Hills Elementary School. The district also serves neighboring cities including New Brighton, Mounds View, North Oaks, Shoreview and Roseville.

Families also have Bethel University and the University of Northwestern – St. Paul close by for college classes and campus events. As always, I confirm school assignments for a specific address before you make an offer.

What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Arden Hills’s children of that school’s age who live in its attendance area — ages 5–10 for elementary, 11–13 for middle and 14–17 for high school (about 723, 355 and 420 children in the 2020 Census). District percentages use all children ages 5–17. It shows where the city’s kids are assigned; it is not a test score or a rating. Students per grade is each school’s 2025–26 enrollment divided by the number of grades it serves.

School districts serving Arden Hills: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 97% of the city’s school-age children; Roseville (ISD 623) — about 3% of the city’s school-age children.

HOW ARDEN HILLS’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE

Mounds View (ISD 621): reading 56% and math 55% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #58 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 91% (class of 2025), #169 of 317
Roseville (ISD 623): reading 45% and math 40% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #193 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 87% (class of 2025), #227 of 317

Proficient = share of tested students who met or exceeded Minnesota’s grade-level standards (MCA, MTAS and Alternate MCA, all tested grades). Test-score rank = position among Minnesota school districts (charter schools not included) by the average of reading and math proficiency; school ranks compare each school with all Minnesota public schools at the same level. Ranks are calculated by Minnesota Chuck from Minnesota Department of Education data and are not an official state rating.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SERVING ARDEN HILLS

Valentine Hills & Pike Lake elementary schools: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 57% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 1–5, about 143 students per grade; reading 57%, math 55% proficient (2025–26), #306 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Island Lake & Snail Lake elementary schools: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 40% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 1–5, about 146 students per grade; reading 65%, math 66% proficient (2025–26), #147 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Williams Elementary: Roseville (ISD 623) — about 4% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades K–6, about 65 students per grade; reading 63%, math 56% proficient (2025–26), #249 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Pinewood & Pike Lake elementary schools: Mounds View (ISD 621) — under 1% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 1–5, about 103 students per grade; reading 41%, math 47% proficient (2025–26), #534 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Sunnyside & Pike Lake elementary schools: Mounds View (ISD 621) — under 1% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 1–5, about 103 students per grade; reading 40%, math 50% proficient (2025–26), #523 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools

MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING ARDEN HILLS

Highview Middle School: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 64% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 292 students per grade; reading 50%, math 42% proficient (2025–26), #114 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Chippewa Middle School: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 34% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 374 students per grade; reading 69%, math 62% proficient (2025–26), #19 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Roseville Area Middle School: Roseville (ISD 623) — about 2% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 7–8, about 432 students per grade; reading 43%, math 36% proficient (2025–26), #160 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Edgewood Middle School: Mounds View (ISD 621) — under 1% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 210 students per grade; reading 42%, math 42% proficient (2025–26), #140 of 264 Minnesota middle schools

HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING ARDEN HILLS

Irondale or Mounds View High School (choice): Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 60% of Arden Hills’s children that age
Mounds View High School: Mounds View (ISD 621) — about 36% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 460 students per grade; reading 65%, math 53% proficient (2025–26), #18 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 96%
Roseville Area High School: Roseville (ISD 623) — about 4% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 564 students per grade; reading 34%, math 29% proficient (2025–26), #278 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 91%
Irondale High School: Mounds View (ISD 621) — under 1% of Arden Hills’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 450 students per grade; reading 42%, math 40% proficient (2025–26), #159 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 92%

Sources: Minnesota Department of Education, School Attendance Areas, SY2025-26; Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 assessment results and graduation rates (Minnesota Report Card); U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (children by age, by census block); Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 enrollment. Boundaries can change, so confirm the assigned school with the district for a specific address.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What school district is Arden Hills, MN in?

Arden Hills is in Mounds View Public Schools (ISD 621). Mounds View High School and Valentine Hills Elementary School are both located in Arden Hills. The district also serves New Brighton, Mounds View, North Oaks, Shoreview, Roseville and Vadnais Heights.

What county is Arden Hills in?

Arden Hills is in Ramsey County. It sits in the north part of the county, bordered by cities including New Brighton, Shoreview, Mounds View and Roseville, with I-35W and I-694 running through or along the city. Lake Johanna, Bethel University and the former Army ammunition plant site are all within its borders.

How far is Arden Hills from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?

Driving from the center of Arden Hills at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 12 miles (roughly 20 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 13 miles (roughly 20 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 20 miles (roughly 30 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Arden Hills you start from.

What is there to do in Arden Hills?

Tony Schmidt Regional Park on Lake Johanna has a swimming beach, boat launch, fishing pier and walking paths. The city has seven lakes and 16 city parks, including Cummings Park and Perry Park with its dog park area. Bethel University also hosts events and athletics on its campus.

Is Arden Hills a good place to buy a home?

Arden Hills offers lakes, parks, Mounds View schools and quick access to I-35W and I-694, plus major employers like Boston Scientific and Land O’Lakes. The Rice Creek Commons redevelopment is also planned on the former ammunition plant site. I can help you compare neighborhoods and price a home with confidence.

NEARBY CITIES I SERVE

New Brighton · Mounds View · North Oaks · Blaine · Vadnais Heights · Lino Lakes · Circle Pines · Lexington · Centerville · White Bear Lake

Thinking about buying or selling in Arden Hills? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results