From NYC to Minnesota (Minneapolis, St. Paul: employment, living, cost of living)

[Belkis2191]

Good Morning everyone! My partner and I are considering various places to move to within a year and a half or so. We would love to move somewhere calm, quiet, friendly, where the cost of living isn't high and employment in the medical field/police officers are in demand. I'm curious as to what locations in Minnesota would be ideal for us. We have no kids, but would like to start a family soon. We would love to have a pet or two. If there's any information you guys need to determine what would be right for us, ask away Thank you!

[fromupthere]

What exactly in the medical field are you looking at? Rochester would be a good place in my opinion. The Mayo Clinic (along with another Olmsted Medical Center and the Federal Medical Center) is a good place to work. Cost of living is very good - easy to find housing. Unemployment rate is low. Pet friendly. Lots of diversity. Only 65 miles to southern suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

[uptown_urbanist]

What kind of place do you want? Small town, suburban, small city, big city? Minneapolis itself is going to feel cheap and quiet next to NYC. Have you been to Minnesota before and have some areas that you liked? Or, alternatively, what kind of places do you like in New York or elsewhere? I'm not sure about job opportunities for both police officers and medical, but the entire state is going to feel affordable. I think it's going to come down to just HOW quiet you want it. How about topography and landscape? Minnesota has a good variety on that front, too, from plains to river towns to Lake Superior to northern woods (some of Upstate NY reminds me of central/northern Minnesota, for example).