Job in Burnsville, where to live? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: crime, home, safe neighborhoods)

[Zimbochick]

Hi everyone - my husband has a great opportunity in Burnsville (SW side), and I am hoping to get some input on where to live. We have a 9 and 6 year-old, so good schools are paramount. We would prefer to steer clear of conservative communities, that's not our thing. We would like to be close to kiddie activities, such as sports and recreation, and preferrably some good outdoor facilities such as parks and trails. Our housing budget would be around $500k. I would also appreciate knowing how far suggested neighborhoods are from the city as we do like to go to shows and such occasionally. We are a multiracial family, I have heard this is not a big deal in the Twin Cities, am I correct in thinking that (please don't flame me for asking that, because it is a factor where we live now)? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

[golfgal]

If he is working on the SW side of Burnsville I would look at either Prior Lake or the Apple Valley/Rosemount area for schools. I am not a fan of the Burnsville schools at all for a number of reasons. You won't have any issues finding a home in your price range either. You will not run into any racial issues in these areas either. You are not more than 30 minutes from most of the theaters (I am assuming you mean plays when you say "shows"). Most of the towns also have a theater/plays, etc. too. Burnsville just built a new performing arts area as well.

[Zimbochick]

Thanks golfgal. How long of a drive are either of those into Minneapolis itself? Also is Eagan going to be too far?

[Slig]

Actual residents from Burnsville who post here have had nothing bad to say about Burnsville schools, GolfGal continually throws them under the bus because of a bad experience she had when their students were rude during a sporting event. I think your kids would be absolutely fine if they attended schools in the Burnsville area.

[uptown_urbanist]

I think you want to be somewhere between Burnsville and the cities, if not IN the cities; the middle and outer suburbs are definitely entering definite conservative territory. (and Tim Pawlenty got his start in Eagan, for what it's worth); MN's 2nd District includes Burnsville and Apple Valley, among other places, and is reprsented by very conservative John Kline. Not that you won't find some more liberal, or at least moderate, neighbors, but if that's important to you then you should know that MN's history of progressivism and liberalism doesn't thrive in that part of the metro area.

It depends on what you prefer, of course, but if it were me I'd stick with a nice neighborhood in either Minneapolis or St. Paul (not sure how the commutes compare) and commute out. You'll find good schools, good access to trails and nature, and lots of kid-friendly activities.

You will be fine with the Burnsville schools, if you do decide to just live in Burnsville itself. The great thing about Minnesota is that the public school districts are almost all very good; certain schools may be better than others, but you don't have to limit your housing search based on fears of access (or non-access) to a good public education for your kids.

No one will care that you're a biracial family. It's pretty common in the core cities, and not all that unusual in the suburbs, although most of the TC suburbs are really, really white.

Eagan would be a very easy commute from Burnsville.

[nick is rulz]

I'd say Bloomington. Suburban, but not too suburban...and its close enough to both the city and Burnsville.

[Zimbochick]

Thanks for all the help, it is very much appreciated. When you say a neighborhood in Minneapolis, does that include such areas as Bloomington, Richfield, and Edina, or are you talking about closer in than that? And are any of the suburbs south of St. Paul worth talking a look at, or is the combination of distance and airport noise going to be an issue. Many thanks again.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Zimbochick

Thanks for all the help, it is very much appreciated. When you say a neighborhood in Minneapolis, does that include such areas as Bloomington, Richfield, and Edina, or are you talking about closer in than that? And are any of the suburbs south of St. Paul worth talking a look at, or is the combination of distance and airport noise going to be an issue. Many thanks again.

No, they are talking about neighborhoods right in Minneapolis proper. Personally, why create a commute when you don't have to. Keep in mind that people on these boards have never been to the towns you are talking about so they really don't know what they are like nor do they have children in school and have any idea what people want when they say good schools and safe neighborhoods.

Edina is a nice area but Bloomington and Richfield can have some pretty not so nice areas. West Bloominton is ok and has some nice areas, east Bloomington, not so much. Again, why create a commute when you don't have to. Consider that you will drive to and from work every day and might head into Minneapolis once every week or two or less for a show. It is an easy, easy drive into Minneapolis from Prior Lake, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount to see a show, catch a ball game whatever--less than 30 minutes, closer to 20 minutes from the farther out places-depending on where you live. Lakeville would be another place to consider that is near Burnsville. These would be the most convenient locations.

[Slig]

Originally Posted by golfgal

West Bloominton is ok and has some nice areas, east Bloomington, not so much. Again, why create a commute when you don't have to. Consider that you will drive to and from work every day and might head into Minneapolis once every week or two or less for a show. It is an easy, easy drive into Minneapolis from Prior Lake, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount to see a show, catch a ball game whatever--less than 30 minutes, closer to 20 minutes from the farther out places-depending on where you live. Lakeville would be another place to consider that is near Burnsville. These would be the most convenient locations.

How would living in Bloomington and working in Burnsville be creating more of a commute than living in Prior Lake or Lakeville? They are the same distance and commuting from Bloomington would be going opposite traffic.

[uptown_urbanist]

Well, I am a parent, my son isn't in school yet but is, and as someone who works in an education-affiliated profession (and has an advanced degree myself), I highly value education. I want to live in a safe neighborhood. Most of us do. And it's wrong to say that the people on these boards have "never" been to the towns you're asking about. Perhaps some of us define safe neighborhoods and good schools differently; I define safe neighborhoods as somewhere I can live and walk around without fear of crime (although crime can happen anywhere, and one should take basic safety precautions anywhere) and good schools as where the kids learn all all the basics, learn to love, have access to arts and culture, have access to top college prep options (AP and/or IB), and can emerge competent, confident, and able to enter even the best of colleges willing and able to learn, as well as have the foundation of an interest in learning outside of the classroom, an interest in the outside world, and a willingness to listen to and learn from those who might come from different backgrounds or hold differing views of the world.

To the OP: no, of course don't make an extra commute for yourself if you don't want to, but it all depends on what you want out of a community. I would, myself, take a longer commute and not have to live somewhere like Apple Valley (and yes, I have been there. Many times. It's not like people live in bubbles; most of us have relatives or friends or have had jobs that have brought us to some of these places.). It all depends on what you want. The commute isn't terrible, and I'd go with a neighborhood that I enjoy and can appreciate. Maybe you love the neighborhoods in Lakeville or Apple Valley, and then that would be the ideal blend of convenient and to your taste. But... you don't have to make that decision based on fear of schools or of crime. I would suspect that those who tell you otherwise have perhaps not themselves spent any time in the neighborhoods or schools that they are criticizing.

And again, if you don't want a conservative community you should avoid Lakeville, although I realize that there are some moderates and liberals mixed in as well.

It's all a balance: what matters most to you personally? Living in the city or a more diverse or older suburb is not everyone's ideal location (some of those conservatives out in the outer 'burbs, for example...) but it IS an option, and one that many parents with concerns about safety and schools take without hesitating. I wasn't clear if you were looking for a stereotypically suburban environment just because that's where the job was located, or if you were looking for all your options. Maybe Apple Valley or Lakeville is perfect for you, maybe it's not. You have a great budget; your options are wide open. You'll get a much better sense when you visit in person and can at least get a visual idea of what the various places are like.