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Moving to Minnesota, what's the area like?

minendo

minendo

Elite Member
Well, I took a job in Northfield, MN and am moving there on April 14/15. So what is the area like? Where should I look to purchase a home? Wife and I were thinking Lakeville area since it is closer to Minneapolis, but people are telling me Faribault is nice. So, what areas should we consider?
 
FLAT. College town too, since Carleton and St. Olaf College is in that town. It's quite a drive to the Twin Cities, about 30 mins with no traffic. There's practically no diversity there until you get into the Twin Cities. As far as houses and schools, I'm not sure.
 
Originally posted by: weirdichi
FLAT. College town too, since Carleton and St. Olaf College is in that town. It's quite a drive to the Twin Cities, about 30 mins with no traffic. There's practically no diversity there until you get into the Twin Cities. As far as houses and schools, I'm not sure.
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What about Lakeville?
 
I would probably get as close to the cities as you could without it being too much of a pain to drive to your job. Never been to Faribault, but I am guessing there isn't much to do, like a lot of medium-smaller sized towns in MN. To be honest, pretty boring.

If you like the city, I would even look into Bloomington if I were you. It is the largest MN suburb - pretty fast paced. A bit north of Lakeville. About 10 min drive to downtown Minneapolis, and 15-20 min to downtown St. Paul. Close to the Mall of America for the wife. Straight shot down 35 toward Northfield.
 
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: weirdichi
FLAT. College town too, since Carleton and St. Olaf College is in that town. It's quite a drive to the Twin Cities, about 30 mins with no traffic. There's practically no diversity there until you get into the Twin Cities. As far as houses and schools, I'm not sure.
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What about Lakeville?
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I don't know too much about Lakeville. I have heard the name quite a bit in the last couple years. I believe it is the type of city that people are starting to come to just past the outskirts of the Twin Cities. Probably newer houses, townhomes, etc. But people who can still be away from the city life.

Lakeville "small town Minnesota with the advantages of living near the Twin Cities metropolitan area."
 
No one mentions the COLD? I live in AZ, and want to move back to Indiana, and everyone makes fun of me for wanting to move back to the "cold". I always tell them, "It's not like I'm moving to Minnesota." I think it would blow their minds to think people would move there voluntarily.
 
I like Minneapolis, very midwestern, but there's still cool things going on around town.

They have a kisckass radio station.

The Current

I haven't spent a lot of time there, but it seems nice. We have some friends up there.
 
Minnesota isn't that cold, the summers are long enough and they get to the 90s, some times 100. Like, right now? Today is technically the first day of spring and it's nearly 60 degrees, with thunderstorms expected. Twin Cities FTW.

You'll love it here, even if you're 30 minutes from the cities.
 
Originally posted by: manowar821
Minnesota isn't that cold, the summers are long enough and they get to the 90s, some times 100. Like, right now? Today is technically the first day of spring and it's nearly 60 degrees, with thunderstorms expected.
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That's what I'm talking about! Arizonans are weird. "Nearly 60" means in the 50's, right? People here were SO MAD when our highs were only in the 50's in Jan. "Why do I live in AZ?! If I wanted cold weather, I'll move back east!" It was high 90's last week, and they loved it. Forecast for this weekend is low 70's, and they're complaining that it's "getting cold again".
 
Homes prices will probably be better the farther away you are from Mpls but then you have longer drive when you do want to do things in the city. Kind of depends if you want to live more rural with larger lots or closer to the city in more suburban type living. I live on the opposite side of town so can't say alot about Northfield. I do know Lakeville is one of the fastest growing areas right now. They are kind of the edge of the suburbs I believe. If you live closer to the city the nice thing will be you will be heading south to work in northfield when most other commuters are heading north into the city.

G
 
Originally posted by: manowar821
Minnesota isn't that cold, the summers are long enough and they get to the 90s, some times 100. Like, right now? Today is technically the first day of spring and it's nearly 60 degrees, with thunderstorms expected. Twin Cities FTW.

You'll love it here, even if you're 30 minutes from the cities.
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Used to live in Rochester Minnesota, it got pretty cold at times in the winter. Frequently went below zero. Flat is definitely right, and lots of corn fields all around once you get out of the city/suburbs.
 
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Originally posted by: manowar821
Minnesota isn't that cold, the summers are long enough and they get to the 90s, some times 100. Like, right now? Today is technically the first day of spring and it's nearly 60 degrees, with thunderstorms expected. Twin Cities FTW.

You'll love it here, even if you're 30 minutes from the cities.
Click to expand...

Used to live in Rochester Minnesota, it got pretty cold at times in the winter. Frequently went below zero. Flat is definitely right, and lots of corn fields all around once you get out of the city/suburbs.
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If you get higher north than the cities you'll hit lakes and trees and hills galore. I'm not sure exactly where it starts though.

And as for it being cold..you get used to it. Everyone was wearing t-shirts here in Duluth today, because our high was 44 🙂
 
OK, here's the scoop. Grew up in Faribault, parents currently live between Northfield and Faribault.

Don't move to Faribault. It was a town of the 70s/80s and has declined ever since. The mall is dying, the historical down town is falling apart (both literally and business wise), and city council is an ass about new retailers moving to the city. There is absolutely nothing to do in the town, and the school district is poo. Stay away.

Northfield is nice, but small. The Malt o Meal plant is there, so pretty much the entire town smells like sugar puffs.

I don't know too much about Lakeville. It is a nice distance from the cities, and I believe it is a growing community. They have a nice theatre there. Expect housing to be more expensive.
 
Rob9874
TextNo one mentions the COLD? I live in AZ, and want to move back to Indiana, and everyone makes fun of me for wanting to move back to the "cold". I always tell them, "It's not like I'm moving to Minnesota." I think it would blow their minds to think people would move there voluntarily.
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It's cold here in Minnesota?
 
I grew up in the Twin Cities and I can tell you it gets DAMN cold. Ialso spent a fair amount of time in Rochester and Brainerd Minnesota. December gets alot of snow (think feet not inches) Did you ever wonder who came up with antenna balls? They were invented so you could find your car under the drifts.

January is so cold it hurts. You don't dress to stay warm, you dress to survive. I once put a recording thermometer near where I lived in HS and the lowest reading for that day was 40 below zero. That kind of cold will kill and does.

Weather aside, the Twin Cities are a great place to visit and many of the small towns have great fishing, hiking, canoeing and camping.
 
I live in Faribault and actually like it. It's a nice town for raising kids. There may not be a ton of things to do here but that depends on the type of things you want to do. It is growing, we even have a Starbucks now....oh joy. My sister in law works for the school district and I've subbed quite alot there also. I like the schools and the teachers here. I don't know alot about Northfield but I know that it is also growing. The cities are about 30 minutes drive from Faribault (it's about the same from Northfield) but it isn't a bad commute. Lakeville is really nice but it's growing alot faster than Faribault or Northfield and has become more of a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

One last note, yes it gets cold here and there are years with lots of snow. Just remember that you want a job that allows you to look out your back door and then say to yourself.......Nope not going in that. You'll do fine.
 
The closer you are to the twin cities the better IMO. From the time I've spent there, Faribault seems like a nice enough place, similar size to where I grew up (Austin MN) but that's not for everyone. Northfield is pretty quiet outside of the colleges, which are both pretty quiet by college standards...

Housing will be more expensive in Lakeville than the other cities but prices have actually dropped quite a bit in parts of the metro area lately-- not sure about Lakeville in paticular though.

When I was younger I didn't mind the winters but this year it felt like spring couldnt come soon enough. It's 46F as I'm writing this (right on the Wisconsin side of the border) and this is the nicest night I can remember since October. Invest in a nice coat, hat, and gloves and the winters are a lot more tolerable.

Learn to like hockey-- the Mpls-St. Paul area is the best place in the country to watch high school hockey. If you are a fan of live music Minneapolis is a good place to be close to, they get a ton of great bands at a bunch of nice venues.
 
How expensive housing is in MN cities/towns? Let say a new house 2,000SF, 4 beds, 2 baths, in nice neighborhood with good school. Down here it will be around $200K.
 
its too far north, its like the boonies...soo far outta the city!


btw, lakeville is a little closer to the cities, still the boonies! haha

both are 'nice' areas though.
 
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