LEXINGTON, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE
LIVING IN LEXINGTON
Lexington is small in size and big on identity. The area was once part of Blaine Township, and the first recorded settler, Phillip Laddy, homesteaded near what’s now Laddie Lake in 1862. In 1950, residents voted 93 to 61 to incorporate. Leo Ryan, who led the effort, suggested the name Lexington in honor of his former Army unit, which traced its roots to the Battle of Lexington — and the Revolutionary War theme stuck, from street names like Minutemen Lane to the minuteman on the city logo.
Today about 2,250 people live in Lexington’s 0.7 square miles, between Circle Pines and Blaine, on the flat ground of the Anoka Sand Plain. Lexington Memorial Park is the busiest spot in town, with baseball and softball fields that stay active all summer, and Lexington City Park on Dunlap Avenue has a playground and picnic tables. The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve is a few minutes away, and a regional trail runs along Lexington Avenue.
Lexington shares police with Circle Pines and Centerville through the Centennial Lakes Police Department, and local recreation runs through partners like Centennial Community Education, area youth sports associations and the Chain of Lakes YMCA.
Lake Drive (County Road 23), Lexington Avenue and Lovell Road are the main routes, and I‑35W runs just to the west, so downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul are each about 15 miles and roughly 20 to 25 minutes away outside of rush hour. Because the city is so compact, homes come up for sale only now and then, and knowing the recent sales street by street really helps. Many residents like that they get a small-town city hall and their own parks while living minutes from the shopping and services in Blaine and Circle Pines.
LEXINGTON AT A GLANCE
Population: 2,248
Size: 0.7 sq mi
Incorporated: 1950
Schools: Centennial ISD 12
Parks: Memorial & City Park
Commute: I-35W · Lexington Ave
County: Anoka
Known for: Revolutionary War name
Drive to MSP Airport: about 35 minutes (24 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 25 minutes (15 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 25 minutes (17 miles), off-peak
LEXINGTON SCHOOLS
All of Lexington is served by Centennial Schools (ISD 12), the district that also covers Circle Pines, Centerville and parts of Blaine and Lino Lakes. Students attend Centennial High School in neighboring Circle Pines and Centennial Middle School in Lino Lakes. The city also partners with Centennial Community Education for classes and recreation programs, and every Lexington address feeds into the same district. That makes things simple when you’re comparing homes: there’s no boundary line to check, and every house in town shares the same middle and high school.
What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Lexington’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 178, 101 and 105 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 Lexington: Centennial (ISD 12) — all of the city’s school-age children.
HOW LEXINGTON’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE
Centennial (ISD 12): reading 57% and math 57% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #48 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 92% (class of 2025), #155 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 LEXINGTON
Golden Lake Elementary: Centennial (ISD 12) — about 55% of Lexington’s children that age; grades K–5, about 64 students per grade; reading 55%, math 62% proficient (2025–26), #258 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Centennial Elementary: Centennial (ISD 12) — about 24% of Lexington’s children that age; grades K–5, about 76 students per grade; reading 54%, math 58% proficient (2025–26), #303 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Blue Heron Elementary: Centennial (ISD 12) — about 22% of Lexington’s children that age; grades K–5, about 115 students per grade; reading 61%, math 66% proficient (2025–26), #173 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING LEXINGTON
Centennial Middle School: Centennial (ISD 12) — all of Lexington’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 535 students per grade; reading 53%, math 47% proficient (2025–26), #88 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING LEXINGTON
Centennial High School: Centennial (ISD 12) — all of Lexington’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 520 students per grade; reading 52%, math 53% proficient (2025–26), #42 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 95%
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 Lexington, MN in?
Lexington is entirely within Centennial Schools, Independent School District 12. Students attend Centennial High School in neighboring Circle Pines and Centennial Middle School in Lino Lakes. The city also works with Centennial Community Education for recreation and enrichment programs for kids and adults.
What county is Lexington, MN in?
Lexington is in southwestern Anoka County, in the Northeast Metro. It’s surrounded by Circle Pines, Blaine and Lino Lakes, and it’s just a few minutes from Centerville, Mounds View and Shoreview. Note that this is a different place from Lexington Township in Le Sueur County.
How far is Lexington from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?
Driving from the center of Lexington at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 15 miles (roughly 25 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 17 miles (roughly 25 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 24 miles (roughly 35 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Lexington you start from.
Why is it called Lexington?
When the village incorporated in 1950, Leo Ryan, who led the effort, suggested the name to honor his former Army unit, which traced its history to the Battle of Lexington in the Revolutionary War. That theme shows up across the city, from Minutemen Lane to the minuteman on the city logo.
Is Lexington a good place to buy a home?
Lexington is a compact, established city with Centennial schools, two city parks, quick access to I‑35W and the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes nearby. Because it’s so small, homes don’t come up for sale often. I live a short drive away in Centerville and can help you spot the right home and price it accurately.
NEARBY CITIES I SERVE
Circle Pines · Blaine · Lino Lakes · Mounds View · Centerville · Spring Lake Park · North Oaks · Arden Hills · New Brighton
Thinking about buying or selling in Lexington? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results