Hopkins was originally named West Minneapolis, but a little misunderstanding changed the name forever: The towns first postmaster, Harley H. Hopkins, allowed the first train station to be built on his land, as long as the station said "Hopkins" on it. Disembarking guests thought the town was named Hopkins, and the name stuck. We think Harley knew what he was doing all along.
Hopkins is a small suburb just west of Minneapolis
Hopkins was originally named West Minneapolis, but a little misunderstanding changed the name forever: The towns first postmaster, Harley H. Hopkins, allowed the first train station to be built on his land, as long as the station said "Hopkins" on it. Disembarking guests thought the town was named Hopkins, and the name stuck. We think Harley knew what he was doing all along.
Hopkins is a small suburb just west of Minneapolis. The town covers just over 4 square miles and is home to almost 18,000 people. If you were hoping Hopkins is a small town in the country, you're be out of luck. Hopkins tends to feel much bigger than it is because of the town's proximity to Minneapolis and other suburbs (Edina, Brooklyn Park), sometimes making town boundaries feel fuzzy. Well, we're all one, right?
There are numerous rental properties in Hopkins.The rental properties range from studio apartments in shared houses (these are normally finished basements on a month to month basis) to two bedroom apartments where a family can live comfortably.Because it's a suburb, you can expect to pay less rent than those who live in Minneapolis. You'll need to be prepared to prove yourself, however: lower rent doesn't mean you can have a lower credit score. A credit check will be required, and background checks are also par for the course. A pay stub or some proof of employment will also be needed at many rental locations.
Hopkins is small enough that there are not distinct neighborhoods. No worrying about being in the best or worst neighborhood here, because it basically is all one neighborhood. There are several parks, bisected by Main Street, where all the shopping and dining happens. The remainder of the city is divided into residential areas, a mix of single family and multi-family units.
We give the rental rates in Hopkins a $$$ out of five dollar signs, meaning you can get a little bit of bang for your buck.
Hopkins is big enough that you won't feel like your neighbors are everywhere you go, and close enough to the Minneapolis metropolitan area that you will have plenty to do. Eating out in Hopkins is cheaper than eating in Minneapolis, as is gas. If you don't want to pay for gas at all, public transportation is another option for getting around. The routes are sparse, but with a little walking, you can get where you want to go. The routes do align with the public transportation in Minneapolis, so getting into the city is easy to do without having to drive.
If you enjoy the benefits of big city living, but like to go home where you have space to stretch out, then make your way over to Hopkins.