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Fact text

  • Apple Valley got its name from a California city, a real estate firm based in Apple Valley, CA picked this Minnesota spot for growth, and the name just stuck.
  • Residents actually voted on the city's name in 1968, choosing Apple Valley over the very biblical-sounding Lebanon Valley by a margin of 1,376 to 757.
  • The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley is home to Japanese snow monkeys, African penguins, and Takins from China, an unexpectedly wild lineup for a Twin Cities suburb.
  • Apple Valley's July 4th celebration is called Freedom Days and features one of the largest parades in the entire metro area.
Your
Apple Valley
Retirement Outlook — in 90 seconds
Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
Every figure mentioned is drawn from the same sourced public data shown below — and the video updates as the data does.
Stat icon
53,728
+
Total Population
Stat icon
$
90,162
Median Income
Stat icon
$
270,600
Median Home
Stat icon
14
%
Age 65+
Retirement Suitability
How
Apple Valley
ranks for retirees?
44
/ 100

A blended, sourced view of how this city ranks for retirees across tax, affordability, healthcare, and climate.

Tax
0
Affordability
76
Healthcare
82
Climate
1

Results

Apple Valley

Suitability Breakdown

Retirement tax planning
01 - Taxes

Retirement Tax Treatment

Tax
0

Minnesota exempts most middle-income retirees from Social Security benefit taxes, applying them only above certain income thresholds.

State sales tax here runs about

%.

Source · Tax Foundation
0
Retirement tax planning
02 - Income

Annuity Rates Available Here

Affordability
76

Fixed annuity rates reach up to

7

% on 5-year terms, with most landing between

5

% and

5

%.

Source · Cannex
76
Retirement tax planning
03 - Healthcare

Hospital Access & Quality

Healthcare
82

The area has

1

Medicare-certified hospitals, averaging a

4

/5 CMS quality rating.

Source · CMS Hospital Compare
4
Retirement tax planning
04 - Climate

Weather & Comfort

Climate
1

A

Cold / Snowy

climate — summers peak near

80

°F, winters dip to about

7

°F, with roughly

40

″ of snow a year.

Source · NOAA Climate Normals
Cold / Snowy
Retirement tax planning
05 - Risk

Natural Disaster Risk

Risk
Relatively Moderate

FEMA's overall natural-disaster risk rating for this county on the National Risk Index.

Source · FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Minnesota tax Social Security retirement benefits?

Minnesota applies a partial tax on Social Security benefits, but most middle-income retirees are exempt because the state only taxes benefits above certain income thresholds. For many Apple Valley retirees with household incomes around the area median of $90,162, this partial exemption can meaningfully reduce their state tax burden in retirement.

What hospitals are available near Apple Valley for Medicare-covered care?

Apple Valley is served by one Medicare-certified hospital, which holds a 4.0 out of 5-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That rating reflects solid care quality, giving retirees a reasonable local option for Medicare-covered hospital services without necessarily traveling far from home.

How affordable is housing in Apple Valley compared to other Twin Cities suburbs?

The median home value in Apple Valley is $270,600, which provides a concrete benchmark for retirement housing costs in this community. With a homeownership rate reflecting an established residential base and a median household income of $90,162, the area reflects a financially stable environment for those evaluating housing costs in retirement planning.

What are the winter weather and natural disaster risks retirees should know about in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley has cold, snowy winters with average lows near 7°F and about 40 inches of annual snowfall, which can affect mobility and heating costs for older residents. On the broader risk side, FEMA classifies the county’s overall natural-disaster risk as Relatively Moderate, meaning severe weather events are possible but not at the highest risk level.

How can Apple Valley residents plan around Minnesota’s Social Security tax exemption?

Apple Valley’s median household income of $90,162 suggests many residents sit near the threshold where Minnesota’s partial Social Security tax exemption applies, making predictable supplemental income especially worth planning around. A multi-year guaranteed annuity locks in a fixed interest rate for a set term, so your growth is known from day one. That certainty helps cover essential expenses without guessing. Current rates change often, so check our current annuity rates page for today’s figures.

Check Current Rates