Older Suburbs around Mnpls/St Paul? (St. Paul, Bloomington: low crime, homes, best schools)

[Dr D]

My spouse and I are considering a move to the Twin Cities area. I notice that a lot of the suburbs near the cities are sort of "new". Are there any older, more established suburbs outside the Twin Cities? Are there suburbs with homes similar in style and character to the Macalester area, for example? I grew up in the Detroit area, and outside Detroit there are older suburbs such as Birmingham and Royal Oak with old, brick or frame homes that have lots of character. Are there similar places in the Twin Cities area? We have two little ones, so we are looking for quiet suburbs with low crime, good schools, and homes in the $400,000 - $450,000 range.

[santos]

Stillwater is wonderful but may be a commute. Wayzata is fabulous.

[golfgal]

I agree with Stillwater or Wayzata. Also look at Hastings or farther out, Northfield. There are parts of West St. Paul and Mendota Heights that would work too.

Where will you be working? That could make a big difference.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Stillwater and Wayzata have great old housing stock, and downtown in either of them couldn't be quainter. THe problem with them is that there aren't things downtown that really service the residents of the area. For this reason, I would recommend areas like the eastside of Edina (esp. around 50th and France, where shops abound that also serve residents). Excelsior is much the same way.
Northfield is nice, but it is an independent city some 30 miles south of Mpls.. Not a streetcar suburb like Royal Oak.

[MplsTodd]

I'd suggest St. Louis Park or Hopkins. Both have good schools and have areas with great homes, and are close to urban-style amenities. Check out Hobby Acres or Knollwood in Hopkins (though Knollwood may be pricier than $450K), or the eastern part of SLP (west of Minnekada Golf Course or east of Hwy 100 but north of Mtonka Blvd)

[chilaili]

Does Highland count as a suburb? Or is it more of an older downtown St Paul neighbourhood?

And I'm always confused as to how Stillwater is a suburb when it's a half hour drive from the outskirts of St Paul?

[ckhthankgod]

What about suburbs like Bloomington, Richfield, Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Roseville, St. Anthony, Columbia Heights and Maplewood?

[funnyg]

I wouldn't count Columbia Heights as being a good area for schools. They have gone downhill in MCA scores and just plain lousy in the last 10 years.

St Anthony would be a great choice-- high school is in the best schools in the nation per Newsweek. America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com (Rank 497) Gorgeous brick and other unique architecture homes with a tree lined boulevard. Close to shopping, close to freeway for commutes.

Mounds View district is a good choice too. (New Brighton, Mounds View, parts of Shoreview)

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Does Highland count as a suburb? Or is it more of an older downtown St Paul neighbourhood?

And I'm always confused as to how Stillwater is a suburb when it's a half hour drive from the outskirts of St Paul?

Technically it is not a suburb and it is not even a 1/2 hour from downtown St. Paul.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Technically it is not a suburb and it is not even a 1/2 hour from downtown St. Paul.

Which one?

According to Mapquest (and my own experience) it takes 28 minutes (21.2 miles) from the centre of St Paul to the centre of Stillwater.