Considering moving to Minneapolis, need advice

[mkaccountant]

Hey dis peeps! DH and I are considering moving to Minneapolis for several reasons, but primarily for better jobs. I just completed my MBA and frankly the job market I live in is dry since I am not part of the good ol' boys club. I know the move will practically eliminate our yearly driving trip to WDW as the distance will more than double, but if the job is right and I can convince DH, we can fly!

I am hoping some of my dis peeps from that area can give me some insight, advice, pointers, enlightenment, etc to help us make our decision and help with the transition. I have spent 2 + weeks researching the area and looking into jobs. I can spout numerous facts from the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, but would love to hear more from someone who lives there and not just someone trying to enhance the Twin Cities economy or belly ache because they moved there and it is cold.

TIA!!

 

[zulaya]

I've lived here for 25+ years.

You'll talk to different people who will tout their personal area of the cities in terms of who has the better schools or the better neighborhoods or better access to "stuff".

Bottom line: It's a nice place to live.

We have all 4 seasons and I love that. We don't get the extremes as much as people thing. But I'll tell you...we are more prepared for winter than any place else in the country. Life doesn't come to a screeching halt.

We have a lot of lakes and parks. The state is really big on the outdoors.

We have a lot of corporations headquartered here: General Mills, 3M, Medtronic, and UnitedHealth Group, to name a few.

We have a lot of great colleges and universities in the area.

And while I think it's a great family town, I think it's a great overall metro area.

We have a great theater presence...probably the best outside of Broadway. And in general, Minnesota is very supportive of the arts.

I'm sure I could go on and on, but I'll stop not knowing what is most important to you.

In terms of jobs...I think last I heard, our job market was a little stagnant. I won't say it's the pits, but I wouldn't say we're a bright and shining star either. But I'm not in a job search mode so I'm just going by my impression which is totally uneducated.

As far as getting to WDW...there are people who drive from here. It's a long haul, I'll grant you, but it can be done.

However, there are plenty of non-stop flights to MCO as well.

Does that help?

 

[golfgal]

Another Twin Cityian checking in. You can't beat MN for overall quality of life-schools are tops, economically we have fared pretty well considering, the major employers in the area are very diverse which helps the state through tough economic times. For a major metro area, the TC's are reasonable, cost of living, etc.

The metro area itself is pretty large so finding an exact place to live will really depend on where you get a job.

Do you have kids? If so, what ages and what things do they like to do? The nice thing about the schools here is that you can pick where you want to live based on the extra activities offered at the various schools because academically the schools for the most part (in the suburbs anyway) are all very good.

 

[funnygarcia]

Hey dis peeps! DH and I are considering moving to Minneapolis for several reasons, but primarily for better jobs. I just completed my MBA and frankly the job market I live in is dry since I am not part of the good ol' boys club. I know the move will practically eliminate our yearly driving trip to WDW as the distance will more than double, but if the job is right and I can convince DH, we can fly!

I am hoping some of my dis peeps from that area can give me some insight, advice, pointers, enlightenment, etc to help us make our decision and help with the transition. I have spent 2 + weeks researching the area and looking into jobs. I can spout numerous facts from the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, but would love to hear more from someone who lives there and not just someone trying to enhance the Twin Cities economy or belly ache because they moved there and it is cold.

TIA!!

MN has always been my home, took a year of living in California to discover that what we left behind is where we belonged, we moved back.

I live in New Brighton which is a north east suburb, blue collar/ middle income people.. not snobby, safe, and awesome school district that continually meets the top high schools list in the US.

The things I like about living in "the cities": quality education, school choice with open enrollment, excellent medical care, museums, lots of parks/ lakes, lots of malls (1st enclosed indoor mall was Southdale, still open.. but a bit over shadowed by Mall of America), lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors (or not if you choose) , lots of colleges. Educated... Higher number of population with degrees, higher number of libraries and book stores (beat out by Seattle this year).

For the most part people are friendly, once we get to know you.
Minnesota nice.

Yep, it's cold and we have snow. Miserable cold a few weeks of the year, snow in the cities is not as bad. Summer is wonderful, but can be very humid.. this is why god invented air conditioning.

We have high property taxes. We have some scary areas in certain neighborhoods with gang activity, just be smart and you will be fine. Our public transportation is gradually improving with light rail and a new commuter train.

Rush hour is manageable on most days, if there is snow it's a slow crawl. We've always made sure to live close to our work, 20 to 30 minute commute. Living in a far south suburb to work on the north side of the cities (or vice versa) and you have created your own personal nightmare of commuting.

Good luck!

Here is a great resource.. likely to get more responses from locals.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/minneapolis-st-paul/

 

[blanq]

I live in a suburb of the Twin Cities, wiithin 15 miles of St Paul. I have lived in this area my entire 47 years, except for a stint at college and a few years in California when DH was in the Marine Corp. Are you wanting to live in Minneapolis proper, or a suburb?

I love this area, except for the nasty winters, which is...oh...about 6 months of every year! I think the quality of life, schools, and theater scene is great. I also like the restaurants, but I think that we get the short stick on reviews at a national level. I live in a small town of 15,000 right on the St Croix River. It is a tourist hub with amazing antique shops. I love the smaller town feel, but being close to the cities.

If you end up working in Minneapolis, and want to live in a suburb, you may want to consider west or south of Mpls (and I DO NOT mean south Minneapolis...stay away from that place. I have a funny story about my brother getting carjacked at a gas station there...what idiot except my brother would show up with his Caddy at midnight in South Mpls...but I digress). If you want to work in St Paul, then suburbs east, south or north are good.

 

[SaraJayne]

I live in a suburb of the Twin Cities, wiithin 15 miles of St Paul. I have lived in this area my entire 47 years, except for a stint at college and a few years in California when DH was in the Marine Corp. Are you wanting to live in Minneapolis proper, or a suburb?

I love this area, except for the nasty winters, which is...oh...about 6 months of every year! I think the quality of life, schools, and theater scene is great. I also like the restaurants, but I think that we get the short stick on reviews at a national level. I live in a small town of 15,000 right on the St Croix River. It is a tourist hub with amazing antique shops. I love the smaller town feel, but being close to the cities.

Stillwater is beautiful. My best friend from college was from there.

OP, really, you can't go wrong with any of the suburbs around the Cities...even into WI, like Hudson or River Falls.

 

[golfgal]

I live in a suburb of the Twin Cities, wiithin 15 miles of St Paul. I have lived in this area my entire 47 years, except for a stint at college and a few years in California when DH was in the Marine Corp. Are you wanting to live in Minneapolis proper, or a suburb?

I love this area, except for the nasty winters, which is...oh...about 6 months of every year! I think the quality of life, schools, and theater scene is great. I also like the restaurants, but I think that we get the short stick on reviews at a national level. I live in a small town of 15,000 right on the St Croix River. It is a tourist hub with amazing antique shops. I love the smaller town feel, but being close to the cities.

If you end up working in Minneapolis, and want to live in a suburb, you may want to consider west or south of Mpls (and I DO NOT mean south Minneapolis...stay away from that place. I have a funny story about my brother getting carjacked at a gas station there...what idiot except my brother would show up with his Caddy at midnight in South Mpls...but I digress). If you want to work in St Paul, then suburbs east, south or north are good.

Stillwater is AWESOME.....I grew up there.

 

[jme829]

I live in a suburb of the Twin Cities, wiithin 15 miles of St Paul. I have lived in this area my entire 47 years, except for a stint at college and a few years in California when DH was in the Marine Corp. Are you wanting to live in Minneapolis proper, or a suburb?

I love this area, except for the nasty winters, which is...oh...about 6 months of every year! I think the quality of life, schools, and theater scene is great. I also like the restaurants, but I think that we get the short stick on reviews at a national level. I live in a small town of 15,000 right on the St Croix River. It is a tourist hub with amazing antique shops. I love the smaller town feel, but being close to the cities.

If you end up working in Minneapolis, and want to live in a suburb, you may want to consider west or south of Mpls (and I DO NOT mean south Minneapolis...stay away from that place. I have a funny story about my brother getting carjacked at a gas station there...what idiot except my brother would show up with his Caddy at midnight in South Mpls...but I digress). If you want to work in St Paul, then suburbs east, south or north are good.

Hey neighbor. .. I'm in Hudson right on the other side of the St. Croix (to the OP I'm on the Wisconsin side)..

WE LOVE LOVE LOVE it here! We moved here 2 1/2 yrs ago from Ohio. Hudson is a great town, good schools, close to the cities without being right on top of them. Depending on where you get jobs, consider our area. While we are in Wisconsin, we are considered an eastern Suburb to the cities.


We are 15 miles or so east of St Paul right down I94...My dh works in Woodbury, and it takes him 15-20 minutes to get to work depending on traffic.

 

[jme829]

Stillwater is beautiful. My best friend from college was from there.

OP, really, you can't go wrong with any of the suburbs around the Cities...even into WI, like Hudson or River Falls.

I live in Hudson! It's a great town!

 

[blanq]

Hey neighbor. .. I'm in Hudson right on the other side of the St. Croix (to the OP I'm on the Wisconsin side)..

WE LOVE LOVE LOVE it here! We moved here 2 1/2 yrs ago from Ohio. Hudson is a great town, good schools, close to the cities without being right on top of them. Depending on where you get jobs, consider our area. While we are in Wisconsin, we are considered an eastern Suburb to the cities.

Hey back at you! I actually grew up in Hudson and graduated from HHS in 1980 (yes, I am that old). After college, I moved to this side of the river. My brother and his family, as well as my parents still live in Hudson. Love it!

OP, Hudson is an excellent choice if you work on the St Paul side of the cities. Plenty who live there also make the commute into Mpls, but I would not prefer to do it. Then again, I have a 2 mile commute to work so am a total baby when it comes to any commute inconvenience. Hudson is on the I94 corridor, which runs right through St Paul and into Mpls.

 

[SaraJayne]

I live in Hudson! It's a great town!

Yes, it is. I went to college in River Falls.

 

[funnygarcia]

Not all of south Minneapolis is bad, just as much as saying "don't ever go to north Mpls", all the "bad" is not in one spot.

Only you know what your comfort level, need for diversity, affordability is in terms of an urban or suburban setting.

 

[Cherbear013]

I grew up NW of Mpls in Brooklyn Park. Great area! Love that it feels like a small town without being far from the city or anything you need. Like another poster said you need to look around where your job is as well as the qualities you are looking for. Good luck!

 

[jme829]

Yes, it is. I went to college in River Falls.

DD16 will be going to UWRF (fall 2011) ...she actually started out there yesterday taking youth options courses (for HS and college credit)...and that is the only college she is considering as of right now!

 

[abdmom]

I was transplanted into the Twin Cities 8 years ago. I uprooted myself and transplanted myself back home last summer. The writing was on the wall when both of my babysitters (adult females), who had lived their entire lives in MN, both independently decided to move to California. It is ridiculously cold there, especially at this time of year. Winter lasts from October to April.

Eden Prairie or Chanhassen are good choices for transplants.

Most people in the Twin Cities have lived there their entire lives, and so did their parents, and their grandparents.... I found that they tend to spend time with their own families or people and not socialize too much outside their own circle.

As far as jobs go, I was not part of the old boys club there either. There were very few opportunities in my field (educational administration). I did get enough experience to know that the schools are not as good as there statistics purport them to be. I would investigate schools first, houses second.

Good movies to get the feel of MN - Fargo and New in Town.

There are lots of recreational opportunities. Deer hunting, fishing, boating, hockey and football are very popular.

The Twin Cities housing market is VERY depressed. You should be able to get a very good deal. I have an excellent real estate agent who specializes in transplants if you are looking for a referral.

The one reason I put off moving from the Twin Cities - Super Target. Sighh. Even my ds14 and dd11 miss it. We just go visit the closest one - a 2 hour drive and a border crossing away.

PM me if you'd like more info.

 

[golfgal]

I was transplanted into the Twin Cities 8 years ago. I uprooted myself and transplanted myself back home last summer. The writing was on the wall when both of my babysitters (adult females), who had lived their entire lives in MN, both independently decided to move to California. It is ridiculously cold there, especially at this time of year. Winter lasts from October to April.

Eden Prairie or Chanhassen are good choices for transplants.

Most people in the Twin Cities have lived there their entire lives, and so did their parents, and their grandparents.... I found that they tend to spend time with their own families or people and not socialize too much outside their own circle.

As far as jobs go, I was not part of the old boys club there either. There were very few opportunities in my field (educational administration). I did get enough experience to know that the schools are not as good as there statistics purport them to be. I would investigate schools first, houses second.

Good movies to get the feel of MN - Fargo and New in Town.

There are lots of recreational opportunities. Deer hunting, fishing, boating, hockey and football are very popular.

The Twin Cities housing market is VERY depressed. You should be able to get a very good deal. I have an excellent real estate agent who specializes in transplants if you are looking for a referral.

The one reason I put off moving from the Twin Cities - Super Target. Sighh. Even my ds14 and dd11 miss it. We just go visit the closest one - a 2 hour drive and a border crossing away.

PM me if you'd like more info.

I beg to differ with pretty much everything you said in your post-ESPECIALLY the winter from October to April-sorry, not even close. The housing market here is not very depressed, it is back to normal after the huge RE bubble and the schools here are SIGNIFICANTLY better then anything in California. I am curious to know where you lived that the schools were so bad?

As far as socializing outside of your "circle". That can be said for pretty much everywhere in the nation. People develop friendships and there are only so many hours in the day to do things so it isn't uncommon not to spend a lot of time with new people. I have also found that those that come to a new area, Minnesota or wherever, and are friendly and outgoing and don't complain about everything in the new area make friends much faster than those that constantly tell everyone how much better their old place was.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I live farther north, in Duluth, MN. When DH and I graduate, we know we will likely move away from Duluth. We would prefer to move to a warmer climate, but it seems a bit overwhelming to think about actually do it. So we are looking at moving to the cities. The job market might not be great there right now, but compared to here, it's definitely better.

As far as getting to Disney from there, Sun Country is generally very reasonable priced. We love them, and it would be great for us not to have to drive down the night before (flight leaves at 8 a.m.)

 

[golfgal]

I live farther north, in Duluth, MN. When DH and I graduate, we know we will likely move away from Duluth. We would prefer to move to a warmer climate, but it seems a bit overwhelming to think about actually do it. So we are looking at moving to the cities. The job market might not be great there right now, but compared to here, it's definitely better.

As far as getting to Disney from there, Sun Country is generally very reasonable priced. We love them, and it would be great for us not to have to drive down the night before (flight leaves at 8 a.m.)

The Country Inn and Suites behind the MOA has a GREAT deal where you can spend the night there before a flight and they will drive you to the airport and you can leave your car parked in their lot for free while you are gone. They will pick you up when you get back and bring you back to the hotel .

 

[SaraJayne]

I was transplanted into the Twin Cities 8 years ago. I uprooted myself and transplanted myself back home last summer. The writing was on the wall when both of my babysitters (adult females), who had lived their entire lives in MN, both independently decided to move to California. It is ridiculously cold there, especially at this time of year. Winter lasts from October to April.

Eden Prairie or Chanhassen are good choices for transplants.

Most people in the Twin Cities have lived there their entire lives, and so did their parents, and their grandparents.... I found that they tend to spend time with their own families or people and not socialize too much outside their own circle.

As far as jobs go, I was not part of the old boys club there either. There were very few opportunities in my field (educational administration). I did get enough experience to know that the schools are not as good as there statistics purport them to be. I would investigate schools first, houses second.

Good movies to get the feel of MN - Fargo and New in Town.

There are lots of recreational opportunities. Deer hunting, fishing, boating, hockey and football are very popular.

You're kidding, right?

Winter doesn't last from October-April. I'd say more late November to early March.

 

[jme829]

You're kidding, right?

Winter doesn't last from October-April. I'd say more late November to early March.

Hmmm I;m not sure about that...It was DARN cold in August last year... I found pix of my kids on the last day of school in June and they had jeans and sweatshirts on...We always joke that they need snowpants until at least July

The schools here are 3000's better than the schools we had in Toledo and the people we have met here are extremely friendly and very welcoming. We still comment on how everyone is so friendly here. Now, the drivers??? Well thats a different story, and one we just won't expand further on...lol