Answers · MN
Woodbury vs Cottage Grove, MN: How They Compare
The short answer
Woodbury and Cottage Grove are neighbors in Washington County, and Cottage Grove sits directly south of Woodbury. Woodbury has nearly twice the population, an estimated 81,558 people in 2025 compared with 43,604, on a similar amount of land. Woodbury drivers use Interstates 94 and 494 and the METRO Gold Line, while Cottage Grove relies on Highway 61 and sits on the Mississippi River.
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Side by side
| Fact | Woodbury | Cottage Grove |
|---|---|---|
| County | Washington County | Washington County |
| ZIP codes | 55125, 55129 | 55016 |
| Population (2025 estimate) | 81,558 | 43,604 |
| Land area | About 34.9 sq mi | About 33.6 sq mi |
| Median owner-occupied home value (Census 2020-2024 survey) | $450,200 | $378,800 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.6% | 88.2% |
| School districts | South Washington County Schools (most of the city); Stillwater Area Schools; North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale | South Washington County Schools |
| Main routes / transit | I-94 and I-494; METRO Gold Line (3 stations) | Highway 61 (shared with Highway 10); express Route 363 |
| Parks and trails (official figures) | About 3,500 acres of parkland; more than 170 miles of trails | Almost 2,000 acres of parkland; 38 neighborhood parks; nearly 100 miles of trails |
Population is the Census estimate for July 1, 2025. The home value and owner share come from the Census survey for 2020 to 2024, so they are not today's sale prices. Confirm schools for any address with the district.
Homes
Woodbury's first suburban neighborhood, Woodbury Heights, began in 1955, so its oldest homes date to the 1950s and 1960s. Later subdivisions added two-story homes, townhomes, and association-maintained communities, and new construction is still under way. About 90 percent of Woodbury's lakeshore is public trail and parkland, so homes directly on a lake are rare.
Cottage Grove grew from farm country starting in the late 1950s, when Thompson Grove brought ranch-style homes. Its older central neighborhoods have ranch and split-level homes from the late 1950s through the 1970s. Old Cottage Grove, the original village, was platted in 1871 around Lamar Avenue. Newer subdivisions and new construction include Eastbrooke along the Woodbury border, Hawthorne, Glacial Valley Estates, and Ravine Crossing, and the Grey Cloud Island area sits beside the Mississippi.
The Census survey for 2020 to 2024 put the median owner-occupied home value at $450,200 in Woodbury and $378,800 in Cottage Grove. Owners occupy 77.6 percent of homes in Woodbury and 88.2 percent in Cottage Grove. Those survey figures are not today's sale prices, so we pull recent sales for the homes you are considering.
Getting around
Woodbury sits 8 miles east of St. Paul. Interstate 94 forms its northern boundary and leads west to St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Interstate 494 runs along its west side toward the airport and Bloomington. The METRO Gold Line opened in 2025 with Tamarack, Woodbury Theatre, and Woodlane stations, and Woodlane has a park-and-ride.
Cottage Grove sits about 10 miles south of St. Paul. Highway 61, which shares the road with Highway 10, connects north to Interstate 494 and St. Paul, and no interstate runs through the city itself. Metro Transit express Route 363 runs from the Cottage Grove Park and Ride to downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis, with four morning and four afternoon trips on workdays.
Which one fits you?
Both cities have older neighborhoods and new construction, so the age of a home depends more on the street than on the city. If you want trails around public lakes, Woodbury has more than 170 miles of trails and lakes ringed by parkland. If you want the river and large wooded parks, Cottage Grove has Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park and the Grey Cloud Dunes along the Mississippi. If your drive heads west on Interstate 94 or you want an all-day bus line, look closely at Woodbury. If your drive follows Highway 61 north, look closely at Cottage Grove.
We help buyers compare both, home by home. Send us a message or call (651) 661-4770.
You can read more on our Woodbury page and our Cottage Grove page.
Where these facts come from
Checked November 2026. These facts come from U.S. Census QuickFacts: Woodbury, U.S. Census QuickFacts: Cottage Grove, City of Woodbury: community profile, City of Woodbury: schools, City of Woodbury: METRO Gold Line, City of Cottage Grove: parks, City of Cottage Grove: transit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Woodbury or Cottage Grove bigger?
Woodbury is bigger by population. It had an estimated 81,558 residents on July 1, 2025, and Cottage Grove had an estimated 43,604. The two cities cover a similar amount of land, about 34.9 square miles in Woodbury and 33.6 in Cottage Grove.
Which has newer homes, Woodbury or Cottage Grove?
Both cities have new construction under way and older neighborhoods. Woodbury's first suburban neighborhood began in 1955. Cottage Grove's original village was platted in 1871, and its ranch and split-level neighborhoods date from the late 1950s through the 1970s. We compare the age and condition of each home you consider.
Are Woodbury and Cottage Grove in the same county?
Yes. Both cities are in Washington County, Minnesota, and Cottage Grove borders Woodbury to the south.
Which school districts serve Woodbury and Cottage Grove?
South Washington County Schools covers most of Woodbury, and Stillwater Area Schools and North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale serve some Woodbury addresses. South Washington County Schools serves Cottage Grove. Boundaries vary by address and can change, so confirm the schools for a specific home with the district.
How do I compare property taxes in Woodbury and Cottage Grove?
Washington County keeps the tax records for both cities. Search the county's property tax lookup by parcel number or street address to see the current tax and assessed value for each home, and the county also has a tax calculator for estimates.
Is it easier to commute to Minneapolis or St. Paul from Woodbury or Cottage Grove?
It depends on where you work and where the home sits. Woodbury is 8 miles east of St. Paul on Interstate 94 and has the all-day METRO Gold Line. Cottage Grove is about 10 miles south of St. Paul, and most drivers use Highway 61, with express Route 363 running on workdays. We look at your actual drive before you choose.
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