Apple Valley or Maple Grove, which one? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: home, schools)

[Oildog]

Is the adage about living North of Hwy 12 still hold true??? Choose AV.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by sunnyc

Thank you to all for responding. Golfgal, to answer your question, what I'm hoping to do is choose one of these areas and search for a job after making that decision.
I'm in my mid-20's and looking for a place where I'll fit in. How long would the commute be from Apple Valley to Maple Grove if I lived in one, worked in another?

I would not worry about commuting from AV to MG or vice-versa as both are essentially bedroom communties with few great career opportunities.

These two places are amazingly similar with AV being a little more mature. Both have extensive retail and services, both are outer tier burbs, both have reputation as desirable areas. Commute to downtown Minneapolis would be similar as well (long).

My philosophy is build your life where you are happy living and make your career work around your life. If you go too far with that, your career won't go very far though. In your situation I would look for a more central location and rent. After a year or so, you will discover what areas you like and be able to make a better choice for the long term.

Plenty of people will say this area is better than that area, but you really have to figure out what makes you happy based on your own preferences. Listen to what people say, and put it into your own perspective.

[Slig]

The problem is you're going out of order. Find a place to work first and then find a place to live nearby.

[Hskrdo]

AV and MG are much the same, just on different ends of the metro. AV is snooty and MG is the same way. Although AV schools might be a bit better, but they are the same place. AV is built up with shops and shops and shops....now MG is all shops as well. If you like Target, goto AV, they have two of them in that city. Are you from the north or the south, maybe that will clinch it for you. If you go south from MG or north from AV, the traffic is horrible, especially when trying to get out of town.

I dont like either of those cities...but thats just my oppinion.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by sunnyc

Are there many differences between these two areas? Which is more upscale, clean, newer; and which would be less dangerous? If you had to recommend one or the other for people in their 20's, which would it be? Any thoughts/recommendations would be helpful--thanks!

I am picky and I think both areas have a lot to offer. Apple Valley is closer to the airport if that is part of your job. DO NOT under estimate traffic problems. It can take 3+ hours for a 40 mile trip when 6" of snow fall in the wrong part of the day. Really.

The two areas you mentioned are not so far apart. In fact, the entire beltway "feels" similar unless the area is really mature with 1960 home as it New Hope. For my money, I'd pick Maple Grove in your situation.

[bloomingtonsteve]

I live in Bloomington and commute to New Hope, which isn't very far from Maple Grove. 24 minutes non-stop at 55+ mph.
Yesterday in the snow that time tripled.
Plus either way...you have the Cedar Avenue bridge over the Minnesota River to cross.
Good luck with that during a snowy rush-hour. That and that alone is the only reason I will never lice on the other side of the river.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by Oildog

Is the adage about living North of Hwy 12 still hold true??? Choose AV.

No. That adage was in reference to Wayzata Blvd, which is generally the divide between the Northside and Kenwood/South Mpls. It turned into 394 about 25 years ago. It was never directed towards suburbs, and shouldn't be directed towards the City either.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by Slig

The problem is you're going out of order. Find a place to work first and then find a place to live nearby.

I used to feel that way, but not anymore. A home is more than a place to crash in a location close to work. Problem with buying a house based on your job, is that jobs come and go.

When you get into your 2nd or 3rd house, you tend to have a home much closer to your "dream house" and become less willing to move.

[Slig]

I figured I would eliminate most of the distance problem by buying a house in Minneapolis proper. Now pretty much everywhere in the metro is within 25 miles of me. I'm a huge short-commute guy though. Before I moved closer I was commuting an hour and 20 minutes both ways. Now that I live close to where I work I literally have 10 more hours of life each week to do whatever I want with it. It's a HUGE difference.

[rahb88]

I do not know much about maple grove but I grew up in Apple Valley. I have lived there my whole life and I love it. I am also in my twenties and have older sisters in their twenties who live in apple valley still because they love the area. It is only about a ten minute drive to the Mall of America and there are 3 or 4 movie theaters within 5 minutes. It is close enough to the cities where you can enjoy the nightlife, bars, and many job opportunities yet far enough so you do not have to deal with the noise, pollution, and traffic. Apple Valley is a very safe, clean place to live and I would recommend it especially for someone in their twenties who are looking to raise a family in a newly developed area.