Cottage Grove (Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley: crime, houses, neighborhood)

[lukeache]

Can anybody explain why homes and property taxes are much lower in Cottage Grove than in other suburbs like Burnsville, Eagan or Apple Valley? I have never considered Cottage Grove to be a bad neighborhood, it just seems like your middle class average Minnesota suburb, nothing bad, nothing great. Crime does not seem to be high there either. Are Cottage Grove schools maybe not as good?? I have met many people that grew up and live in Cottage Grove and they are just "average" normal people. What am I missing here?

[golfgal]

Washington County vs Dakota County. No, their schools are not as good as the ones in Eagan, etc. They aren't bad, just not as good. Cottage Grove is ok. It has traditionally be a pretty blue collar area and fairly industrial looking although they are working on improving that look. Once they get the Wakota bridge done it will probably grow some more. Getting to/from Cottage Grove has always been a challenge since hwy 61 was really your only option and the intersections at 494 were not all that safe.

[pollywannacracker]

I can speak from a homebuyers perspective. When we were looking at homes in the twin cities we considered Cottage Grove cause the houses were affordable, but with the construction on 494 projected to take years, this was a few years ago too, we said NO THANKS and looked elsewhere. I agree with pp'er there will definitely be an increase in new residents when that construction is done.