Moving to Minneapolis Suburbs- Questions (Eden Prairie, Minnetonka: apartments, to rent, condos)

[Fi'sMom]

My husband may be taking a job in Minnetonka (we currently are living in New Jersey). A few of the towns we are looking at moving to include: Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, and Chanhassen. What are the pros/cons of some of these towns? Are they all relatively safe? We have no children, so the quality of the school district isn't a concern. We are looking to start out renting.

[Radical_Car]

Out of the ones you listed, Hopkins is my personal favorite. What are you looking for in a suburb (Hopkins and Wayzata are very different) and what kind of commute do you want?

[StilltheSame]

Also helpful would be your budget and housing needs (bedrooms/ amenities)

[Fi'sMom]

We'll since the job is in Minnetonka it seems like the commute won't be far for him from any of those towns, or am I wrong (is traffic really bad around there)?

In New Jersey we pay $1,200 a month to rent a 1 bedroom condo where we pay all utilities except water (its nothing fancy, but fancy here costs like $1,600). We don't really want to spend more than $1,200, as we would like to save up for a house and I may not have a job lined up when I get there. We are considering both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments or condos to rent. We must be able to bring the cat. Underground or garage parking will be necessary too (it seems like everywhere offers this though).

Possibly relocating here was a surprise and is fueled by the good opportunity he (hopefully) will receive. It seems hard at this time to answer the question of what do we want in a suburb. Our basics for right now include a safe place to live and friendly neighborhood (hopefully somewhere we can make new friends). It seems like there is stuff to do everywhere, which is good.

Thanks for the help!

[Radical_Car]

Housing here is much cheaper than New Jersey. Your budget will be no problem whatsoever. Here I typed in Eden Prairie & Minnetonka on forrent you can see for yourself some of the places you can get. http://tinyurl.com/oc2yupm http://tinyurl.com/k8eaxn9

Hopkins is closer to Minneapolis if that is important to you. Places like Wayzata and Chanhassen are more on the outer part of the metro and the part around Chaska and Chanhassen is very beautiful. Eden Prairie and Minnetonka both have plenty of shopping and each have their own shopping mall.

Best I can say is visit some of these areas and see for yourself. Any of the places you mentioned will be perfectly safe, don't have to worry about that at all (trust me and everyone else who tells you the same here)

[rzzz]

Personally, I'd choose Minnetonka. It's like living in the woods, though, so it comes with many of those problems.
Might not be an issue with a condo building, though.

[golfgal]

The west suburbs are the most expensive in the metro. You should be able to find an apartment in your budget. I'd look close to your husbands work. You won't have any issues with safety in the areas you have considered at all. Chanhassen will probably give you the most bang for your buck for an apartment simply because it's a bit farther out, but maybe $100 or so less. You will be happy when you start house hunting here as property taxes are minuscule compared to NJ.

[uptown_urbanist]

If you like suburbs, might as well just keep things easy and focus on Minnetonka. No real benefit from commuting from a farther-out suburb, as you'd just burn up your savings in commuting time and gas money. You'll have no trouble with your budget.

[Citykid3785]

Minnetonka - very typical modern suburb, also includes rich areas along lake
Wayzata - more of a boutique suburb with wealther folks, less big box
Eden Prairie - see "Minnetonka" above, minus lake comment. High school is obnoxiously enormous
Hopkins - smaller, older, more intimate, more mom & pops, less modern big box
Chanhassen - quiet, worst highway access to cities, also includes rich areas along lakes

All are safe, none are bad choices. With the exception of Hopkins, all are known as slightly wealthier suburbs in the Twin Cities, but not so much so that one can't find appropriate housing. Hope this helps.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Minnetonka - very typical modern suburb, also includes rich areas along lake
Wayzata - more of a boutique suburb with wealther folks, less big box
Eden Prairie - see "Minnetonka" above, minus lake comment. High school is obnoxiously enormous
Hopkins - smaller, older, more intimate, more mom & pops, less modern big box
Chanhassen - quiet, worst highway access to cities, also includes rich areas along lakes

All are safe, none are bad choices. With the exception of Hopkins, all are known as slightly wealthier suburbs in the Twin Cities, but not so much so that one can't find appropriate housing. Hope this helps.

Minnetonka and Wayzata have high schools that are the same size as Eden Prairie..I think Wayzata might even be bigger than EP now.

Chanhassen has one of the newest and least congested highways to connect to 494--the new 212