Minneapolis residents are generally happy with their quality of life—70% said they feel the city provides a great experience, and families with children are among the most optimistic, according to a new survey from global architecture and design firm Gensler.

Gensler’s 2025 City Pulse survey polled residents of 65 cities around the world for insights on what brings new residents in and what may push them to leave. In the U.S., only Raleigh, North Carolina, San Antonio, Texas and San Diego ranked slightly higher than Minneapolis in terms of overall satisfaction.

The percentages are determined by respondents rating their city’s performance as “good” or “excellent” on each factor. Here are some key findings:

• Families with children in Minneapolis reported both a high level of satisfaction and strong optimism about the city’s future, with 73% saying they feel positive about what’s ahead, compared to the overall city average of 61%.
• Climate disaster preparedness in Minneapolis is 4% above the global average at 51%.
• Minneapolis is a rewarding place to live with 70% of locals saying the city offers an overall positive experience, putting it in the top half of all cities surveyed.
• Economic strength and investing in neighborhoods are both 1% below the global average at 54% and 47% respectively.

The City Pulse survey was created five years ago, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, to get an idea of how the crisis was changing city life, said Bill Baxley, design principal at Gensler’s Minneapolis office. This year’s  results indicate an opportunity for Minneapolis, he said.

“We’re consistently ranked as one of the healthiest cities in the country and are seen as a potential climate change haven, but we don’t always do a great job telling that story.”

Like most cities across North America, Minneapolis residents express concerns about traffic, crime, the cost of living and the overall declining access to retail. Baxley said retail spaces are areas to gather in and when those and other shopping streets go quiet, so do the “urban rhythms that made (Minneapolis) feel alive.”

This survey can serve as a guide for Minneapolis to think beyond infrastructure and focus on ways to encourage international tourism and combat “boredom.” This may include investing in cultural events like festivals, reimagining retail areas and finding ways to encourage younger adults specifically, as they are likely to leave the city.

“If we want people to stick around for the long run, we’ve got to build a city where everyone feels like they truly belong,” Baxley said. “That means supporting folks no matter where they are in life, whether they’re just starting out, raising a family, or enjoying their later years. To truly become magnetic, Minneapolis must become a place where people put down roots, grow, and help shape what’s next.”