Anything comparable to Eagan (Minneapolis, St. Paul: cul-de-sac, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[Gruffalo]

Another we're relocating thread, but sort of backwards. Instead of asking the broad question of "What's a good place to live?" in the hopes that you will focus us, I'm telling you I like Eagan, is there anything else similar out there. A lot of online research and a brief visit to the area has us leaning heavily towards Eagan for schools, commute, housing style and recreational opportunities (e.g. Lebanon Hills park). We have 2 preschool children and my wife and I will both be working at the U of StThomas. I'm assuming the commute to St Thomas will be about 30 minutes from Eagan. Is there anything else within that commuting range that I should consider. We're looking at houses in the $250k - $275K range. Mac-Groveland is off the table because I wouldn't want to live in anything that I could afford there.

Thanks.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Gruffalo

Another we're relocating thread, but sort of backwards. Instead of asking the broad question of "What's a good place to live?" in the hopes that you will focus us, I'm telling you I like Eagan, is there anything else similar out there. A lot of online research and a brief visit to the area has us leaning heavily towards Eagan for schools, commute, housing style and recreational opportunities (e.g. Lebanon Hills park). We have 2 preschool children and my wife and I will both be working at the U of StThomas. I'm assuming the commute to St Thomas will be about 30 minutes from Eagan. Is there anything else within that commuting range that I should consider. We're looking at houses in the $250k - $275K range. Mac-Groveland is off the table because I wouldn't want to live in anything that I could afford there.

Thanks.

30 Minutes would be on the long side of the commute unless you are going at prime commute times 8 and 5. I drove from Rosemount to Minneapolis just past the Cretin exit on 94 in less then 20 minutes, non-rush hour yesterday. It took 25 minutes to get home in rush hour.

Eagan schools are an excellent choice being in that district myself. Rosemount is a little less expensive then Eagan but 5 miles further out too, but all the same things available. Stillwater and Mahtomedi would be other areas to explore with similar commute times to St. Thomas. Both good districts as well.

[Slig]

I personally don't find Eagan much different than any of the northern suburbs I've lived in (Blaine, Coon Rapids, Ramsey). I think for the most part you're going to find much more similarities than differences with pretty much any Minneapolis/St. Paul suburb in respect to schools, parks and commute (traffic into the city from the suburbs sucks everywhere). Have you looked at what's available in other St. Paul neighborhoods? You should be able to find a nice house in that price range in other parts of the city.

[Beckyh516]

Eagan is a nice city. My husband grew up there, went to high school there, and we lived in a townhouse in Eagan for 5 years. Currently we live in Burnsville, the neighboring city. There are times we wish we still lived in Eagan. The 196 school district is one of the best in the state.
Apple Valley and Lakeville are also nice. Like the previous poster noted, Rosemount is also a good choice.

Roseville is north of the river, and would be a nice commute to St Thomas.
I grew up in the Roseville area, I currently work there, and I really like the city. The homes are a bit more expensive & you'll get an older home for the $250,000 - $275,000 price range. You get more house for your money in Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville and Rosemount.

Good Luck!!

[Gruffalo]

Thanks for the advice. I did cruise through Roseville when I was interviewing. It was definitely convenient to UST and I liked the town, but I wasn't thrilled by what was available in my price range.

I grew up in the suburbs about 20 miles north of Boston. We had a modest house, but on an acre lot on a cul-de-sac, and that has always stuck with me as the way I like to live. There were no fences, just packs of kids and dogs roaming free. Consequently, I don't think I could ever get used to a 40' by 110' lot in St Paul. Plus that detached garage on the alley layout has to be a remnant of when people took their car out maybe twice a week, and most likely walked to work. Having to march 2 kids through the snow and cold just to get in the car seems like something I would rather avoid. I do think those neighborhoods are beautiful, but it's not my preferred style of living.

Slig, I haven't looked much at the north suburbs, but do like the larger lakes up there. Is there any difference culturally between north and south? Do people get more laid back as you get towards the north woods or is it all the same? We would prefer to live in a fairly liberal area that isn't very status-obsessed. We've just spent 6 years in Texas, which was exactly 6 years too long.

[JenLee]

How about looking in the Arden Hills/Shoreview areas? The Moundsview School District is good, and the houses and lots may be more to your liking than the Roseville area.

One of the lovely things I've noticed about living on the north side of St. Paul is that there is very little airport noise; often the noisiest things we hear here are the birds (we are far enough off the highways where we live we don't hear them at all).

[Slig]

If you're looking at northern suburbs I would check out the aforementioned ones Roseville, Shoreview, and possibly Maplewood as they would be a little closer to your work. Culturally I've found that the northern suburbs are a little more blue-collar but the differences aren't substantial. The southern suburbs might be a little more liberal and there's some more money down here. Given a choice I'd kinda lean towards the northern suburbs but that's mostly because I feel a little more comfortable with that crowd.

However, I prefer city life at this point in my life and I would think Minneapolis/St. Paul proper are more liberal than any suburb you find.

[JenLee]

Originally Posted by Slig

Culturally I've found that the northern suburbs are a little more blue-collar but the differences aren't substantial.

I had to laugh about this: there may be *some* suburbs (both north and south) which were historically more blue collar, but that certainly hasn't been true in my experience in the Arden Hills, Shoreview, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, etc. areas!

[Slig]

Yes, those are all northern suburbs of St. Paul. I should've been more specific and said northern suburbs of Minneapolis. I am referring to Fridley, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Brooklyn Park, Ramsey, Elk River, Ham Lake, etc.

[Scott Secor]

May I suggest that you look north to places such as New Brighton, Arden Hills, Shoreview, Vadnais Hts., etc.? Also about the same distance and drivetime from the University of St. Thomas' campus.