Small towns WEST 30 miles or less from Minneapolis (Lakeville, Hastings: neighborhoods, school district)

[Bkado]

Hi- We are a family of 4 looking to relocate from downtown Minneapolis to a smaller town west of the city. We are looking for the following checklist:

- good school district with 200 or less students per grade
- lake
- a downtown or community
- less than or around 30 miles from Minneapolis
- kid friendly community

I have heard great things about Victoria, but have learned that the community splits within three high schools... Something we don't love.

Delano? Rockford? Any feedback?

Any advice if places NOT to move too is also welcome!

Thanks in advance!

[danielle_pal]

Orono deserves a shout out. One of my friends grew up there and I really like the area.

[Kebinminn]

Chaska perhaps but I don't know how big the school is.

I know someone who moved to Big Lake recently and they're quite happy out there.

[golfgal]

Boy, the 200 students or less is going to be a tough one to find that close to the metro.

I have heard great things about Delano. Looks like they are just under 200 kids/grade. A couple things to consider when going to a school this small, most of the larger, and not even huge but schools with class sizes in the 500 +/- range is the availability of courses, advanced courses at the high school. I looked on the Delano website and they have very limited AP course offerings, fairly good offering of College in the School (CIS) math classes though. They are also on a block schedule, which personally I hate for high school kids, at least the type of block schedule they have.

This will be consistent with any school this size across the area and it matters, especially when it comes to college admissions, and even taking the ACT/SAT tests. Just something to keep in mind.

We have some friends that just moved to Victoria. It's an expensive place to live. What is your budget for a house?

If you aren't adamant on class size being that small, there are a lot more options that will give you everything else you have on that list. Our town, Rosemount, for example, has a great sense of community, the bleachers are packed during high school football games, you run into people you know at the grocery store, everyone follows the various sports teams, marching band, etc. Class sizes are in the 500 range but, your class gets a lot smaller by participating in various activities, etc. Our kids, for example, take pretty much all AP/Honors classes. Because the are also in band, they have pretty much the same 100-150 kids in classes year to year so their class feels like it's about 150 kids.

Towns like Hastings and Lakeville would be other considerations. Both have cute downtown areas, class sizes are closer to 400-450. You will find the bleachers packed at football games, etc. Hastings is more compact and more of a small town feel. Lakeville is very spread out, the land size of Lakeville is huge. Stillwater would have everything on your list, except for class size.

Closer to the metro schools like Irondale High School have class sizes close to 200 but you don't have a "downtown" area there. Great school though. Same with Mahtomedi, great school, lovely area, no real downtown though.

[danielle_pal]

Orono would fit the bill.

[audadvnc]

My partner lived in New Germany for a few years. She nearly died of boredom and isolation.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by Bkado

- good school district with 200 or less students per grade
- lake
- a downtown or community
- less than or around 30 miles from Minneapolis
- kid friendly community

The Mound area meets everything on the list, just 20 miles from Minneapolis.

[danielle_pal]

oops, double post. going crazy I guess.

[iNviNciBL3]

Yes Mound is great!! Very Beautiful town.

I know this girl just like you she moved from Vancouver and wanted a small town west of Minneapolis. She was really looking for that small town feel but she moved to Waconia. Got sick of the Suburban development and moved to Mound and she has nothing but good things to say about the town

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

Yes Mound is great!! Very Beautiful town.

I know this girl just like you she moved from Vancouver and wanted a small town west of Minneapolis. She was really looking for that small town feel but she moved to Waconia. Got sick of the Suburban development and moved to Mound and she has nothing but good things to say about the town

Actually, Waconia would be another great place to consider. It isn't even close to "suburban", very small town feel, lovely area on the lake, very, very cool neighborhoods, especially around the lake.