Mounds View, MN, United States

With a population of just 13,249, Mounds View is a sleepy suburb in the Twin Cities metro area. The city's post-WWII growth brought in businesses and residents, but a 1965 tornado and a 1986 pipeline explosion serve as sobering reminders of the risks. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as seen in the city's battle over racial covenants and the renaming of County Road 10. While Mounds View offers amenities like a Medtronic campus, it's best suited for those seeking an affordable, quiet alternative to the bustle of Minneapolis and St. Paul.