Salt Lake City or Minneapolis/St. Paul. (Buffalo: crime, how much)

[MillyMarie]

Hi there newbie here. In about a year or two's time I have the advantage of either choosing Salt Lake City or to be in the Minn/St. Paul area. I currently live in Dallas and have for about oh I guess 10 years now. My mom is going to move to Salt Lake City in about a year because her side of the family has lived there for ages. I love my family, but I never concidered living there either. I also like Dallas, but I can't see settling down here in the long run. I do love winters (since being here I miss the change of weather - so I don't mind the cold my allergies and sinuses have been a wreck ever since living here). I have done tons of research and looked a little bit around the message board here and by posting in this board or particular forum I already know what kind of answers I might get, but I'm hoping to get helpful answers or at least comments As far as friends if I don't move to be with family it's going to be important. I've seen the talk about Minn nice. I'm not too worried about it. Dallas and Florida where I both lived were the hardest places to ever really make any long lasting friends. Or any friends for that matter. Crime is important to a point, but honestly I have also lived in the DC area (around abouts) and Dallas - both which at a point and time have been ranked #1 in crime.

The big thing is I loved about Minn/St. Paul when I did the research is the many parks and scenery. I know Salt Lake has them too, but it seems Minn/St. Paul out ranks SLC on that. I'm also not too big on mountains they are pretty, but I can take them or leave them.

Plus the other thing I liked about Minn/St. Paul is that it's very close to Canada and I've been dying to travel throughout Canada one day.

I'm also hoping to get my PHD in English to teach at the college level so Education is going to be the big thing too.

So I hope as you can see I have done some research. I think St. Paul might be more of my cup of tea. I'm hoping I can get some people's opinions if they've visited both or lived in both areas. I have yet to visit Minn/St. Paul and I hope to do that soon actually and maybe that's what will actually help me make up my mind. I know I have a year to decide, but it'd be nice to see how much money I would need to save up for. I think Salt Lake City is a little more expensive at least on the housing market, but on the outskirts it's not too bad. Ohh I'm not a big shopper either, but sometimes I do love to look.

Help is appriciated. I know I should post this in the SLC also, but I have family to help me make up my mind on that end if I have questions. Either way if I move to Minn/St. Paul it'll be nice having my mom's home to stay in instead of relatives if that's the case when visiting home.

Sorry I'm a little chatty tonight. - there's been a lot going on for the past two days

[Bagira]

Driven thru SLC and thats about it it seemed nice have met folks from there if your Mormon your good...the city is @ 50/50 or so. I'm not believing SLC is more expensive than MPLS. Just looked at realtor.com and I am 100% right what goes for 200k in SLC is 300k in MPLS and btw 500k+ where I live(DC area). Live near MOM, unless you do not want to. Mountains HUGE + much smaller area. Altitude means NO BUGS!!! We lived in NW NM (5500 el.) for 16 months only bugs my the water.

The Twin Cities(born in MPLS, reared in the cities and the lakes area) are a wonderful place but if I had to choose I'd do SLC just for WOW factor base of the Rockies very beautiful. Drawback to it is....it is UTAH!

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by MillyMarie

Hi there newbie here. In about a year or two's time I have the advantage of either choosing Salt Lake City or to be in the Minn/St. Paul area. I currently live in Dallas and have for about oh I guess 10 years now. My mom is going to move to Salt Lake City in about a year because her side of the family has lived there for ages. I love my family, but I never concidered living there either. I also like Dallas, but I can't see settling down here in the long run. I do love winters (since being here I miss the change of weather - so I don't mind the cold my allergies and sinuses have been a wreck ever since living here). I have done tons of research and looked a little bit around the message board here and by posting in this board or particular forum I already know what kind of answers I might get, but I'm hoping to get helpful answers or at least comments As far as friends if I don't move to be with family it's going to be important. I've seen the talk about Minn nice. I'm not too worried about it. Dallas and Florida where I both lived were the hardest places to ever really make any long lasting friends. Or any friends for that matter. Crime is important to a point, but honestly I have also lived in the DC area (around abouts) and Dallas - both which at a point and time have been ranked #1 in crime.

The big thing is I loved about Minn/St. Paul when I did the research is the many parks and scenery. I know Salt Lake has them too, but it seems Minn/St. Paul out ranks SLC on that. I'm also not too big on mountains they are pretty, but I can take them or leave them.

Plus the other thing I liked about Minn/St. Paul is that it's very close to Canada and I've been dying to travel throughout Canada one day.

I'm also hoping to get my PHD in English to teach at the college level so Education is going to be the big thing too.

So I hope as you can see I have done some research. I think St. Paul might be more of my cup of tea. I'm hoping I can get some people's opinions if they've visited both or lived in both areas. I have yet to visit Minn/St. Paul and I hope to do that soon actually and maybe that's what will actually help me make up my mind. I know I have a year to decide, but it'd be nice to see how much money I would need to save up for. I think Salt Lake City is a little more expensive at least on the housing market, but on the outskirts it's not too bad. Ohh I'm not a big shopper either, but sometimes I do love to look.

Help is appriciated. I know I should post this in the SLC also, but I have family to help me make up my mind on that end if I have questions. Either way if I move to Minn/St. Paul it'll be nice having my mom's home to stay in instead of relatives if that's the case when visiting home.

Sorry I'm a little chatty tonight. - there's been a lot going on for the past two days

Minneapolis is underrated on its nature. There are heavily forested areas, a plethora of wonderful rivers and creeks, it is gentally rolling. Mpls., unlike western Minn., is not flat prairie.
Education is very dear in Mpls. There are great graduate universities; The Univ. of Minn. and Saint Thomas top among them. The population here is generally very educated, and there are great opportunities here for thought and higher education.
Winnipeg is equidistant with Chicago, and the transcontinental railroad stops at the station downtown. Canada north of us is pretty barren otherwise. It is pretty convenient to Canada among American cities, though. Seattle, Detroit and Buffalo would be better, but then you are in Detroit and Buffalo.
Saint Paul is a more eastern city. It is not nearly as vibrant, but maintains its history and architecture better than Mpls. Its neighborhoods are very nice.
Minneapolis is not the easiest place on earth to make friends. Minnesota nice is real, but is more an axiom among strangers than relationships. Once you do find friends, they will help you commit crimes. Kind of an Aussie mate type situation.
Crime here is overhyped. It isn't as safe as a San Francisco or Seattle, but crime is confined to about three bad areas. Even those areas are relatively intact when compared to Dallas, Atlanta or Saint Louis. Unless you are associated with crime, the only time you are in physical danger is when they miss. There are minor crimes, but if you use some City Smarts, you will be fine.
I think the average home preice in The Cities is near $240,000. That is surely more expensive than Dallas, but not a killer. It depends on what type of place you are looking for, and neighborhoods vary quite a bit.
Hope this got you somewhat started
---Minnehahapolitan

[BillyB]

Be sure to watch the movie SLC Punk before you move to SLC...

[yellowsnow]

I've lived in both places. SLC from 83 to 95 and MN from 95 to present. Salt Lake is the prettiest place I have ever lived and has the best weather. 4 seasons with a reasonable winter. Hot in the summer with no humidity and very few bugs. No mosquitos except in the mountains.

Weather wise, SLC wins hands down. Employment wise, MN wins hands down. You will make more money and have more opportunities in Minnesota. Next there's available activities. This one is debatable but I vote for SLC. You have all the mountains and at least 6 or 7 national parks you can visit within a reasonable distance. Then there's the equally interesting desert areas. The outdoor activities make Utah a great bet. You can enjoy winter in Utah without freezing for 1/2 the year.

MN has more cultural activities than SLC. You will find more plays/theater. But there are great art galleries in Utah. Both places have advantages and disadvantages. To me, the biggest disadvantage to MN is lack of things to do outdoors because of the bugs and cold. And the weather. It can be winter half the year here.

[Lillietta]

Yes, Minnesota is right below Canada, but you have to travel hours through nothingness from Minnesota to get to any good-sized city in Canada. Winnipeg is about eight hours away.

Ooops I see that Minnehahapolitan already stated this.

[Lillietta]

My preference also would be for Minnesota because it personally suits me but I resent the fact that the summers can be too hot and the winters too cold to make the most of the beautiful place it is.

[MillyMarie]

Thank you guys. I think I got quite a few helpful answers. Job wise I think MN would be my best bet. Right now I'm thinking maybe to go to college in MN since they have a great Education system and jobwise I can save up. If I decide to move to UT after I get my Masters at least I can then work at the University and hopefully not have to look for jobs there, so once I do that then I'll make up my mind for sure. At least I'll have the best of both worlds with family living there and me in MN/St. Paul. Possibly. Thanks for all of your input it's appriciated!!!

[music7lover]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

It isn't as safe as a San Francisco or Seattle---

This seems like a false statement. Especially the San Francisco statement. I was just out there on vacation. Minneapolis feels like Mayberry compared to that area.

[Lillietta]

You're very welcome Milly, and it sounds like the best plan! Good luck to you.