Minnesota homes are mostly wood-frame, built for a cold climate with thick insulated walls and basements with poured concrete or block foundations. About 28 percent were built before 1960, particularly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and about 15 percent of homes are in buildings of 20 or more units.

median year homes were built: 1979; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 25.7%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 28.2%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 72.7%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 20.4%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 2.7%; mobile homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (tables B25035, B25034, B25024)

Common wall types

Wood-frame walls with thick insulation

Where: Most single-family houses and newer construction statewide, often with 2x6 exterior walls.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Exterior walls are deeper than interior ones, so use longer lags where needed, but do not penetrate the vapor barrier unnecessarily.

Plaster on lath

Where: Older houses in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and small-town historic districts.

Mounting: Plaster is brittle over wood lath. Find studs, pre-drill slowly and use toggle bolts when a stud is not available.

Basement poured concrete or block

Where: Most houses in the Twin Cities and across the state.

Mounting: Mount into solid concrete or block face shells with masonry anchors. Insulated, furred basement walls need anchoring into the masonry behind, not just the drywall.

Concrete and metal-stud apartments and condos

Where: Mid- and high-rise buildings in downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester.

Mounting: Concrete needs a hammer drill and concrete anchors; metal-stud partitions need toggle-style anchors. Associations often require approval and a certificate of insurance.

Log and timber homes

Where: Northern Minnesota lake cabins and homes.

Mounting: Solid log walls cannot hide wiring easily and move as they settle; use surface raceways and mounts designed for log walls.

Manufactured homes

Where: Rural areas and manufactured home communities.

Mounting: Thin panels and wider stud spacing mean the mount must hit framing; heavy mounts may need added blocking.

Tips before you mount

Basement concrete or block: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, drilling into the solid face shell of block or poured concrete rather than mortar joints or hollow cores where possible.
Stud walls: studs are usually 16" on center. Lag the mount into at least two studs with 5/16" lag bolts, typically about 2.5" to 3" long. A full-motion arm puts much more leverage on the wall than a flat mount, so it needs studs or masonry and should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Metal studs and plaster: use toggle bolts or snap toggles rated for the TV and mount weight, or have wood blocking added behind the wall. Plaster can crack if drilled carelessly, so locate framing first and pre-drill slowly.
Hiding wires: the National Electrical Code (NEC 400.12) does not allow a regular TV power cord to be concealed inside a wall. Use an in-wall rated recessed power kit, and choose low-voltage cable rated CL2 or CL3 for in-wall HDMI and speaker runs. Where walls are solid masonry, plan on a paintable surface raceway instead.
Over a fireplace: heat rising from a working fireplace can exceed a TV's operating limits, so check the manufacturer's specs, use a deep mantel or a pull-down mount, and never mount on a stone or brick surround without confirming it is solid and anchoring into it correctly. For decks and screened porches, use an outdoor-rated TV and stainless-steel hardware; freezing temperatures and condensation can damage unrated indoor TVs, and winter storage may be advisable.
Condos and apartments: ask the association or landlord whether drilling into concrete or exterior walls needs approval, and get the installer's certificate of insurance (COI) naming the association before work day.
Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type (studs, plaster, brick, block or concrete), the TV size and weight, the mount type and whether wires need to be hidden. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Minnesota (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Minnesota DLI: Section R402 basement walls · Royal Oaks Design: Why we use 2x6 exterior wall framing. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.