Working in downtown St. Paul - best suburbs to live in?

[sweryap]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Actually, it isn't really any less expensive to live in those areas of WI then it is to live on the MN side. We priced it out when we moved to the twin cities, the property taxes are higher, the income tax is lower, the price difference for our family came to about $20/year less in Wisconsin--which then costs MORE after a week of driving the extra 20 miles to work each way.

That is not true. There is more to expenses than property tax and income tax. I don't believe you could approximate well enough to know a $20/year difference either. Everything costs less in WI. (Milk, cheese especially) I am renting in WI right now for a fraction of what I could be in the Twin Cities. Western WI (particularly the chippewa valley) has some of the lowest earnings per household in the MN/WI area leading to the dollar going further. A common house in Spring Valley goes for 90,000 to 120,000. The one I am currently renting has 5 Bedrooms, 2 baths and is in decent shape. 1900 sq. feet. I could keep renting it for 1000 a month or buy it outright for 110,000. Property is cheap around here!!!

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by sweryap

That is not true. There is more to expenses than property tax and income tax. I don't believe you could approximate well enough to know a $20/year difference either. Everything costs less in WI. (Milk, cheese especially) I am renting in WI right now for a fraction of what I could be in the Twin Cities. Western WI (particularly the chippewa valley) has some of the lowest earnings per household in the MN/WI area leading to the dollar going further. A common house in Spring Valley goes for 90,000 to 120,000. The one I am currently renting has 5 Bedrooms, 2 baths and is in decent shape. 1900 sq. feet. I could keep renting it for 1000 a month or buy it outright for 110,000. Property is cheap around here!!!

Of course you could live more cheaply in the Chippewa Valley, it is dozens of miles from even the fringes of the The Cities. You could probably live equally as cheaply in Owatonna, Hinckley or Litchfield. To someone working in downtown Saint Paul, Western Wisconsin stops at Saint Croix or Pierce County. Hudson is not particularly cheaper than any Minnesota subrub. If it is, the price will certainly be offset by the price of gas. Why drive twice as far to Wisc. when you can get the same thing here twice as close?

[sweryap]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

Of course you could live more cheaply in the Chippewa Valley, it is dozens of miles from even the fringes of the The Cities. You could probably live equally as cheaply in Owatonna, Hinckley or Litchfield. To someone working in downtown Saint Paul, Western Wisconsin stops at Saint Croix or Pierce County. Hudson is not particularly cheaper than any Minnesota subrub. If it is, the price will certainly be offset by the price of gas. Why drive twice as far to Wisc. when you can get the same thing here twice as close?

Yeah you are probably right, to me, I just don't mind an extra few minutes on the freeway...it is the one time I can just be alone and think about life!

[minnedan]

The city of Saint Paul has several desirable neighborhoods--Crocus
Hill, Macalester-Groveland, Highland Park and St. Anthony Park are
among them. The Crocus Hill area trails only North Oaks and Dellwood
in the average house price in the East Metro area.

Commuting in the Twin Cities area has become very problematical
and a central location really helps to reduce the hassle and stress.

Somebody once said that Minneapolis is Wonder Bread and Saint
Paul is rye...