Where to Live in
Plymouth

2026 Plymouth Neighborhood Shortlist

Summary Table

The 2026 Vibe Check

Plymouth isn't the sleepy suburb it was a decade ago. The old dividing line was Hwy 55; now, the real split is between the established, ranch-style grids of the west and the sleek, modern townhome corridors pushing east toward Maple Grove. You can feel the money shifting. The core, anchored by Medicine Lake, is holding its "Old Money" line, but the real estate heat is coming from the tech corridor spillover. New builds along Vineyard Road and Annapolis Street are pricing out anyone who isn't pulling a six-figure salary, and the old-school dive bars are getting nervous neighbors.

The biggest change is the "Hwy 55 Renaissance." Where you once found empty storefronts, you now find craft cocktail spots and boutique fitness studios. It's trying to be a walkable "downtown," but let's be real: you still need a car. The gentrification line is drawn along Continental Drive; west of it, you get classic Plymouth charm and bigger lots. East of it, you're paying a premium for new construction and an HOA that tells you what color you can paint your mailbox. The city is getting denser, louder, and a hell of a lot more expensive. If you're looking for privacy and a half-acre, you're already being pushed toward the Westonka school district lines.

The Shortlist

Hollydale

• The Vibe: Mid-Century Starter
• Rent Check: Well below the city average. This is the last bastion of affordability before you hit Maple Grove prices.
• The Good: This is the real deal for first-time buyers. You get solid 1960s brick ranches with actual basements and yards you can mow in an afternoon. The schools (Plymouth Creek Elementary) are solid, and you're a stone's throw from the Hollydale Golf Course, which has a surprisingly good 19th-hole bar. Walkability is a 3 out of 10, but you're five minutes from everything on Vineyard Road.
• The Bad: It's aging. You're buying someone's 60-year-old project. The streets are narrow, street parking is a nightmare in winter, and you'll hear the constant hum of Hwy 55.
• Best For: Young families who want a yard and a three-bedroom without taking out a second mortgage.
• Insider Tip: Drive down Zarthan Avenue on a summer evening. You'll see the exact moment this neighborhood became the "it" spot for young professionals who got priced out of Northeast.

Medicine Lake

• The Vibe: Lakeside Legacy
• Rent Check: Not applicable; this is almost exclusively single-family homes. Prices are 2x the city average.
• The Good: You're on or within a five-minute walk of Medicine Lake, the city's crown jewel. The Lighthouse Park beach is your backyard, and the Fourth of July fireworks from the lake are a core memory. The homes are massive, the lots are private, and the zip code itself is a status symbol. This is the Plymouth people think of when they want to feel established.
• The Bad: The price of entry is astronomical. You're paying for the water access, not the house, which can be dated. The traffic loop around County Road 6 and Medicine Lake Boulevard on a summer Saturday is a parking lot.
• Best For: Established families, C-suite executives, and anyone who values lake life over a new kitchen.
• Insider Tip: Don't go to the main beach. Park at Lafayette Park for a quieter spot and a better view of the sunset without the screaming kids.

Plymouth Park

• The Vibe: Suburban Workhorse
• Rent Check: Dead on the city average. It's the benchmark for a reason.
• The Good: This is Plymouth's engine room. It's packed with two-story family homes built from the 80s to the 2000s. The location is unbeatable for commuters—you're basically living on top of the Hwy 55 / Vicksburg Lane interchange. Access to French Regional Park is a massive perk; their trails and archery range are top-tier. Everything you need—grocery, gas, chain restaurants—is within a two-mile radius.
• The Bad: It's dense. You can touch your neighbor's house from your window. The traffic noise from Vicksburg is relentless, and the area lacks a central identity or a decent walkable coffee shop. It's purely functional.
• Best For: Commuters who value a quick hop onto 55 or 169 over neighborhood character.
• Insider Tip: The hidden gem is the walking path that connects the neighborhoods off Annapolis Lane, letting you get to French Regional Park without ever crossing a major road.

East Medicine Lake

• The Vibe: Modern Builder
• Rent Check: Above average. You're paying a premium for new construction and smart-home features.
• The Good: This is where the city's money is going. The homes are new, energy-efficient, and built with open-concept layouts that buyers want. The townhome and condo developments here are high-end, with granite countertops and attached garages as standard. You're close to the Plymouth Community Center and the best new restaurants popping up on Hwy 55.
• The Bad: Zero character. It's a sea of beige siding and identical rooflines. The HOA fees are steep and they micromanage everything. You're also paying a premium to be "east of the lake" without actually being on the water.
• Best For: Tech workers at nearby headquarters who want a turnkey property with no maintenance and high-end finishes.
• Insider Tip: Check out the new townhomes off Territorial Road. They're building a small commercial plaza there that will be the next hot spot for lunch runs.

Strategic Recommendations

• For Families: Hollydale. It's not even a debate. You get into the Wayzata school district (or the solid Plymouth Creek zone) for a fraction of the Medicine Lake price. The lots are bigger, the streets are quieter, and you have actual space for a swing set. Plymouth Park is a close second if you need a newer house and don't mind the density.

• For Wall St / Tech: East Medicine Lake. The commute is king here. You're 10 minutes from the Target headquarters and a straight shot down 169 or 55. You can afford the new construction, and you want the low-maintenance lifestyle. Don't waste your money on an old fixer-upper in Medicine Lake; you'll never be home to enjoy it.

• The Value Play: Hollydale. Buy here now. The Maple Grove school district is a 5-minute drive away, and as the Hwy 55 corridor continues its renovation, this is the last neighborhood to get the "renovated bungalow" treatment. The lot sizes here are too big to stay cheap forever. Get in before the developers do.