Working in downtown St. Paul - best suburbs to live in? (Eagan: public schools, income)

[movingfromMN]

My family and I currently live in outstate MN and are considering relocating to the Twin Cities Metro area. I would be working in downtown St. Paul. Which are the best suburbs to keep commute time to a minimum? Also, we're very concerned about good schools for our kids. Our 4th grader is gifted and needs to be challenged while our 4 year old preschooler needs special education services for speech delay. Thanks!

[heyheyheyhey]

check out mendota heights

[Minnehahapolitan]

Mendota Heights, Roseville, White Bear Lake come to mind. I'm no Saint Paul expert, though.

[heyheyheyhey]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

Mendota Heights, Roseville, White Bear Lake come to mind. I'm no Saint Paul expert, though.

I was gonna mention Roseville and White Bear Lake but commutes from the north of st paul, can be a little crazy trying to get into town.

[golfgal]

Mahtomedi, Stillwater, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount are all good choices. For downtown St. Paul I would start with Mahtomedi and Mendota Heights. They both have about 15 minute commutes with traffic and are nice areas with good schools. All of the public schools in MN are going to offer special needs services.

One thing to keep in mind with Gifted/Talented classes in MN, it is difficult to get accepted into the programs when moving from out of the district. They tend to be 'full' and you can't really kick kids out after they have been accepted HOWEVER, the public schools in MN are excellent and you will find what you need to challenge your child in most of the top districts without a problem.

[BillyB]

Any city in Ramsey county is nice, though Roseville, Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, St. Anthony, or Maplewood will have the shorter commutes to downtown.
Have you considered living in St Paul?

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by heyheyheyhey

I was gonna mention Roseville and White Bear Lake but commutes from the north of st paul, can be a little crazy trying to get into town.

You could possibly take side streets into the City from Roseville, You are probably right about White Bear. That would be the only downside of the WBL area that I could think of though. The commute from Mahtomedi would be the same?

[sweryap]

A little bit longer communte (maybe 30-40 mins depending on where you are going) but your money will go a lot further in Western Wisconsin (Hudson, Baldwin, Spring Valley etc). Just something to think about...

[Minnehahapolitan]

/\Which will quickly be offset by $4 gas. It would work better, IMO, if you worked in Washington County, but downtown Saint Paul is 20 miles just to the border. Add traffic...yikes!!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by sweryap

A little bit longer communte (maybe 30-40 mins depending on where you are going) but your money will go a lot further in Western Wisconsin (Hudson, Baldwin, Spring Valley etc). Just something to think about...

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.