Information on Outlying Suburbs

[lindbergh]

OP: in case you have not noticed, Twin Cities residents are BIG on commutes and its (sadly) the topic of much conversation. Strategic planning actually goes into daily commute calculations/scheduling, etc. Mostly due to weather. If you are working at the U, you are not going to want anything as far out as the suburbs you've suggested. In inclement weather, you would literally be talking about a 2 hour ride on some days. Living rural and working at the U may be mutually exclusive options.

[emersonheights]

Eagan and Lakeville are they best I have seen here.

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by lindbergh

OP: in case you have not noticed, Twin Cities residents are BIG on commutes and its (sadly) the topic of much conversation. Strategic planning actually goes into daily commute calculations/scheduling, etc. Mostly due to weather. If you are working at the U, you are not going to want anything as far out as the suburbs you've suggested. In inclement weather, you would literally be talking about a 2 hour ride on some days. Living rural and working at the U may be mutually exclusive options.

Minnesotans are very high on commutes. The congestion in the Twin Cities metro area is pretty substantial-It's around #13-15 in terms of worst congestion in the USA. I just don't get why so many people choose to commute.

There is the typical commute that is common: Working Downtown MPLS or STP and living in suburbs that require quite the drive such as Prior Lake, Shakopee, Otsego, Rogers, Albertville, St. Michael, Forest Lake, Lakeville, Farmington, Chaska, Chanhassen., etc....

There is also uncommon commuting from Suburb to Suburb. Minnesotan's are very high on this in comparison to the rest of the USA. (Employment isn't just concentrated and limited to the downtowns, the Suburbs themselves have a lot of employment)... For example you find situations where somebody might work in Eden Prairie and lives in Shoreview, which can be almost an hour drive in rush hour...What is there in Shoreview that cant be matched or beaten in Eden Prairie? I know people that live in White Bear Lake and work in Burnsville.

I could understand not wanting to live Downtown, and choosing to live in an outlying suburb, but I cant imagine why people would commute suburb to suburb.

Even if you drive a decent car, driving to EP from Shoreview and back 5 days a week would cost $50-$100 a week in gas, plus 10hrs of your time in a car. If you want to spend $2500-$5000 a year and 500 hours just going and coming from WORK, then more power to you.


Anyways I guess what I am getting at is that, most suburbs in MN (outlying) are the same. Very similar in sqmiles, pops, amentities, schools, etc.... There isn't anything in Blaine that can't be found in Burnsville

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by knke0204

Minnesotans are very high on commutes. The congestion in the Twin Cities metro area is pretty substantial-It's around #13-15 in terms of worst congestion in the USA. I just don't get why so many people choose to commute.

... For example you find situations where somebody might work in Eden Prairie and lives in Shoreview, which can be almost an hour drive in rush hour...What is there in Shoreview that cant be matched or beaten in Eden Prairie? I know people that live in White Bear Lake and work in Burnsville.

I could understand not wanting to live Downtown, and choosing to live in an outlying suburb, but I cant imagine why people would commute suburb to suburb.

Even if you drive a decent car, driving to EP from Shoreview and back 5 days a week would cost $50-$100 a week in gas, plus 10hrs of your time in a car. If you want to spend $2500-$5000 a year and 500 hours just going and coming from WORK, then more power to you.

I am not a fan of commutes, but people commute often because they dont want or cannot sell a home but their employment changes and they have a commute where they didnt before.

[AVguy]

Originally Posted by knke0204

Minnesotans are very high on commutes. The congestion in the Twin Cities metro area is pretty substantial-It's around #13-15 in terms of worst congestion in the USA. I just don't get why so many people choose to commute.

There is the typical commute that is common: Working Downtown MPLS or STP and living in suburbs that require quite the drive such as Prior Lake, Shakopee, Otsego, Rogers, Albertville, St. Michael, Forest Lake, Lakeville, Farmington, Chaska, Chanhassen., etc....

There is also uncommon commuting from Suburb to Suburb. Minnesotan's are very high on this in comparison to the rest of the USA. (Employment isn't just concentrated and limited to the downtowns, the Suburbs themselves have a lot of employment)... For example you find situations where somebody might work in Eden Prairie and lives in Shoreview, which can be almost an hour drive in rush hour...What is there in Shoreview that cant be matched or beaten in Eden Prairie? I know people that live in White Bear Lake and work in Burnsville.

I could understand not wanting to live Downtown, and choosing to live in an outlying suburb, but I cant imagine why people would commute suburb to suburb.

Even if you drive a decent car, driving to EP from Shoreview and back 5 days a week would cost $50-$100 a week in gas, plus 10hrs of your time in a car. If you want to spend $2500-$5000 a year and 500 hours just going and coming from WORK, then more power to you.


Anyways I guess what I am getting at is that, most suburbs in MN (outlying) are the same. Very similar in sqmiles, pops, amentities, schools, etc.... There isn't anything in Blaine that can't be found in Burnsville

It's actually quite easily explained in a lot of cases. With so many younger native Minnesotans choosing to stay in-state for work, and with so many people wanting to stay connected with their families for social purposes (a common discussion in the "Minnesota Nice" threads), people choose to live near family, even if it means a longer commute.

Since moving back here, I have met so many people who are from the Twin Cities or surrounding communities and live within miles from where they grew up. When family is an important part of your social circle--or maybe you just rely on Grandma or Grandpa to help with the kids during the week--tacking on extra travel time isn't significant compared with the benefits of having family nearby.

My observation is that there are a disportionate number of people on this forum who are (i) younger than the general overall Twin Cities population; (ii) don't have kids; (iii) are not originally from the Twin Cities; or (iv) are city dwellers (consider that the two central cities comprise less than 25% of the area's MSA). Accordingly, a disproportionate number of posts here are geared toward things that may be considered, but are of a lower priority for many families: (i) commute time (primary wage earner may work long hours and not be subject to rush hour; if bad weather, simply leave work early to pick up the kids from day care of school); (ii) public transit (parent picking up the kids may drive because it's easier/more convenient; my perception is that the average age of a public-transit commuter is younger than the average age of a single-occupancy vehicle commuter, but empirical evidence, if available, could easily determine whether this is correct); and (iii) proxity to work (married couples may not work in the same city, causing one or both spouses to not "choose" a commute; MSP ranks #3 for working mothers by Forbes magazine, suggesting that this two-parents-two-cities commuting issue may be systemic in the metro).

If you're single, and perhaps work a standard 8-5 shift, choosing where to live may be as simple as weighing commute times versus monthly cash outlay. But you have to realize that commuting is only one piece of the puzzle when people (and in my examples above, people with families or people trying to stay close to families) consider where to live. If you work longer hours (say, leaving work as early as 6:30 p.m.), you can depart downtown Minneapolis or downtown St. Paul and be driving past farmland in 30 minutes--not possible when working in the central cities of NYC, DC, Chicago, LA, etc. Remember that people in rural communities often have 30 minutes commutes and don't bat an eye, so it's all your perception and how you want to spend your limited resources (e.g., time and money).

[sparksals]

Since you are coming here for further education, as a child free couple, keep in mind that many of the suburbs are extremely family friendly. Not a bad thing, but if you move to a place like Lakeville, Farmington or Rosemount, you may feel a bit out of place. We really like living in Rosemount, but have few things in common with our neighbours. If the market wasn't so bad, we'd consider moving because we don't fit in here at all.

Having said that, even though you plan to home school your future kids, school district is extremely important when you buy a home for resale value. District 196 which is Rosemount, Eagan, etc., is top notch.

Considering your time in your life, I agree with the others that the suburbs may not be best for you right now.

[Citykid3785]

I'll echo another and say Eagan, lakeville, and apple valley are top notch. North lakeville is suburban, while south lakeville is very rural. I'm generalizing here, but from my opinion, and others I talk to, the " south of the river" suburbs tend to be the nicest.