Moving to Southern Minnesota (Minneapolis, Mankato: unemployment rate, transfer, theater)

[B&N]

My husband and I are looking to relocate to a smaller town within a 2 hour range of Mankato, MN where we have family. We have been to Mankato and it is nice but too big for us personally. We do not know the surrounding towns in the area so we are coming here looking for help.

We prefer something under 20,000 that is homey and pretty with lots of trees. We will also both need jobs and plan on finding a couple of interesting towns and then sending out resumes.

We have listed a few towns that we would like to know more about but are very open to others as well.

Redwood Falls, Hutchinson, Fairmont, Albert Lea, Northfield

Thanks in advance. ~ B&N

[golfgal]

Marshall would be a consideration and probably better local job prospects than any other town on your list. Hutch would be my second choice.

[Green Onions]

Originally Posted by B&N

My husband and I are looking to relocate to a smaller town within a 2 hour range of Mankato, MN where we have family. We have been to Mankato and it is nice but too big for us personally. We do not know the surrounding towns in the area so we are coming here looking for help.

We prefer something under 20,000 that is homey and pretty with lots of trees. We will also both need jobs and plan on finding a couple of interesting towns and then sending out resumes.

We have listed a few towns that we would like to know more about but are very open to others as well.

Redwood Falls, Hutchinson, Fairmont, Albert Lea, Northfield

Thanks in advance. ~ B&N

Northfield is a very pleasant college town, about 90 minutes from Mankato, 25 minutes to the southern Twin Cities metro, 45 minutes to downtown Minneapolis.

[GBCommenter]

Marshall would likely have some advantage for jobs, especially being the HQ for Schwan's, but would stretch the requirement of 2 hours to Mankato. Google Maps lists it 2 hours, 15 minutes. However, I would suspect with the University there are some nice neigborhoods.

I really cannot speak to other qualities beyond this thought...

[golfgal]

Marshall is just under 2 hours from Mankato-the mall area anyway. Along with Schwan's they have Southwest MN State, the hospital, US Bank and several other companies. Unemployment rate there is basically nothing. It's a great town, well kept up, very nice parks, state park just outside of town. It's along the lines of New Ulm but no hills if that helps the OP. Schools are very good too. The college brings in a lot of entertainment, concerts, theater productions on campus, etc. There is a very active Art's Council that has a great Art's series every year bringing in a variety of plays, performers, etc.

[Radical_Car]

From the towns you listed Northfield is my favorite but if Mankato is too big for you than you probably don't care about being close to the twin cities.

I'd also check out St. Peter and New Ulm, I love both of those towns so much, though I don't know about the jobs in either of them. If you lived in a town like St. Peter you could work in Mankato, I'm not sure if you'd want to do that or not.

Definitely check out Marshall too like others have said. Hutchinson is cool too and has a decent downtown.

[stockwiz]

New Ulm is the obvious choice here. That and St Peter.

Do you have work lined up? If not Hutchinson, Marshall, would be better choices. Pipestone has the best chinese place in the western half of the state.

If you want it warmer and more scenic, go east to Winona but that exceeds 2 hours commute.

Wish I had the guts to start over but only if I transferred from one 3M plant to another, such as the plant in Hutchinson, Cottage Grove, etc. Pay is too low in this economy to lose a moderate paying job with good benefits, with almost guaranteed job security for life.

[Cougarjay94]

New Ulm is a VERY nice place! Sleepy Eye is also another cool town if you're looking for something smaller. I personally would check out Worthington, too!

Good luck. Minnesota is a great place to live!

[B&N]

I appreciate everyone's input very much. I have heard very nice things about Northfield, Marshall and New Ulm since I started looking and you have all confirmed that.

Many thanks!!

[ocsid]

I'd love to live in New Ulm. IMO it's the nicest small to mid-sized town in the state. If you have kids though, there's been a lot of controversy about school cuts lately. St. Peter was nicer until the tornado took out a lot of the old trees. Waseca's not bad either.

Sleepy Eye and Springfield are a little too small and provincial for my tastes. Same with Madelia and St. James.