MAHTOMEDI, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE
LIVING IN MAHTOMEDI
Mahtomedi was platted in 1883, and its name comes from the Dakota name for White Bear Lake — mató, the grey bear, and mde, a lake. It began as a Chautauqua community, a summer gathering place for lectures, music and recreation that drew thousands of people in tents. In 1899 a streetcar company opened Wildwood Amusement Park on the lakeshore, bringing crowds out from St. Paul until the park closed in 1932. Residents voted to incorporate in 1931, and the city later merged with Lincoln Township in 1972.
White Bear Lake is still the center of life here. Mahtomedi Beach puts you right on the water, and the city’s parks include Chautauqua Park, Wildwood Park, Wedgewood Park and Southwest Park. Katherine Abbott Park covers 76 acres of pines and ponds with about three miles of trails for hiking, bird watching and cross-country skiing. The Streetcar Trail follows the old trolley route, the Lake Links Trail also passes through town, and the Gateway State Trail runs just south and east of town.
Neighborhoods range from lake homes and older former summer cottages near the shoreline to established single-family streets farther from the water. The Mahtomedi school district is a big part of the city’s identity, and many families move here for it.
For commuting, I-694 runs along the south side of the area, with Hwy 244 and Hwy 36 close by. Downtown St. Paul is about 15 miles southwest, and Minneapolis is roughly 25 miles. Stillwater and downtown White Bear Lake are both an easy drive for dinner or a day out. It’s a place where the lake, the trails and the schools all sit close together, which is a big part of why people stay for years.
MAHTOMEDI AT A GLANCE
Population: 8,138
Size: 5.8 sq mi
Incorporated: 1931
Schools: Mahtomedi ISD 832 (most)
Lakes: White Bear Lake
Commute: I-694 · Hwy 244 · Hwy 36
County: Washington
Known for: Chautauqua roots
Drive to MSP Airport: about 35 minutes (23 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 30 minutes (21 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 25 minutes (15 miles), off-peak
MAHTOMEDI SCHOOLS
Most of Mahtomedi is in its own public school district, Mahtomedi Public Schools (ISD 832). The district runs two elementary schools — Wildwood Elementary and O.H. Anderson Elementary — along with Mahtomedi Middle School and Mahtomedi High School. Besides Mahtomedi, the district serves Willernie and parts of Grant, Dellwood, Hugo, Pine Springs and Lake Elmo, and it also takes many students through open enrollment.
A small, lightly populated area on the west side (about 5% of the city’s land in the Minnesota Department of Education’s 2025–26 attendance areas) is in White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624). If a specific school matters to you, I’ll confirm the attendance area for any home before you write an offer.
What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Mahtomedi’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 655, 401 and 540 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 Mahtomedi: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — all of the city’s school-age children; White Bear Lake (ISD 624) — under 1% of the city’s school-age children.
HOW MAHTOMEDI’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE
Mahtomedi (ISD 832): reading 67% and math 68% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #8 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 96% (class of 2025), #76 of 317
White Bear Lake (ISD 624): reading 54% and math 49% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #91 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 94% (class of 2025), #119 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 MAHTOMEDI
Wildwood & Anderson elementary schools: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — all of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades K–5, about 208 students per grade; reading 66%, math 75% proficient (2025–26), #68 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Matoska Elementary: White Bear Lake (ISD 624) — under 1% of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades K–5, about 90 students per grade; reading 61%, math 59% proficient (2025–26), #246 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING MAHTOMEDI
Mahtomedi Middle School: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — all of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 264 students per grade; reading 67%, math 64% proficient (2025–26), #14 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Mariner Middle School: White Bear Lake (ISD 624) — under 1% of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 311 students per grade; reading 53%, math 45% proficient (2025–26), #90 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING MAHTOMEDI
Mahtomedi High School: Mahtomedi (ISD 832) — all of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 285 students per grade; reading 65%, math 58% proficient (2025–26), #14 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 96%
White Bear Lake High School: White Bear Lake (ISD 624) — under 1% of Mahtomedi’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 638 students per grade; reading 50%, math 44% proficient (2025–26), #88 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 97%
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.
Compare every Minnesota school district — test scores, graduation rates and statewide ranks for all 327 districts and their schools — or look up the assigned schools for any address on my Minnesota Schools & Districts guide.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What school district is Mahtomedi in?
Most of Mahtomedi is in its own district, Mahtomedi Public Schools (ISD 832), with Wildwood Elementary, O.H. Anderson Elementary, Mahtomedi Middle School and Mahtomedi High School. A small area on the west side is in White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624), so confirm the district for the specific address.
What county is Mahtomedi in?
Mahtomedi is in Washington County, Minnesota. It sits on the east side of White Bear Lake and surrounds the small city of Willernie, with Birchwood Village, Dellwood, Grant and the city of White Bear Lake as neighbors. The city covers just under 6 square miles, including part of the lake.
How far is Mahtomedi from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?
Driving from the center of Mahtomedi at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 21 miles (roughly 30 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 15 miles (roughly 25 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 23 miles (roughly 35 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Mahtomedi you start from.
What is there to do in Mahtomedi?
Most people start with White Bear Lake — Mahtomedi Beach, boating and fishing. On land, there’s 76-acre Katherine Abbott Park with about three miles of trails, the historic Streetcar Trail, the Lake Links Trail and nearby access to the Gateway State Trail, plus parks like Chautauqua and Wildwood.
Is Mahtomedi a good place to buy a home?
Mahtomedi offers White Bear Lake access, a well-regarded local school district and a mix of lake homes, older cottages and established neighborhoods. Because lakeshore and off-lake homes price so differently, it pays to have someone run the numbers. I’m happy to walk you through any home you’re considering.
NEARBY CITIES I SERVE
Willernie · Birchwood Village · Dellwood · Grant · White Bear Lake · White Bear Township · Hugo · Stillwater · Gem Lake
Compare all 42 cities I serve — population, school districts and drive times side by side — on my Northeast Metro guide.
Thinking about buying or selling in Mahtomedi? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results