do you need good money to live in maplewood? (St. Paul: home, neighborhoods)

[gtc08]

what southern suburb would you guys compare it to?

[Mnreppin]

When you say southern do you mean southern of the twin cities? Maplewood is a first tier suburb of Saint Paul and you definitely do not need "good" money to live there.

[Beenhere4ever]

Definitely not North Oaks. Probably higher median than Powderhorn Park. I don't know if they have a circulator bus like Roseville, so a bike or car might be more necessary than some other suburbs.

[golfgal]

Maplewood--probably similar to Richfield but maybe not even that nice--maybe closer to South St. Paul?

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Maplewood--probably similar to Richfield but maybe not even that nice--maybe closer to South St. Paul?

Depends which part of Maplewood. North Maplewood is like South St. Paul. South Maplewood is like Woodbury (not the upper class neighborhoods, but similar to the middle class neighborhoods). So to answer the OP's question, it depends where in Maplewood.

[Beenhere4ever]

I've spent more time in Maplewood than in most other suburbs. I wonder where the judgment is coming from that it is "not as nice" as other suburbs. Much BIGGER than some, stretching all the way from I94 to I694. More open spaces than places like Richfield. But "not as nice"? One real advantage over Richfield? Airline traffic is MILES away!

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

I've spent more time in Maplewood than in most other suburbs. I wonder where the judgment is coming from that it is "not as nice" as other suburbs. Much BIGGER than some, stretching all the way from I94 to I694. More open spaces than places like Richfield. But "not as nice"? One real advantage over Richfield? Airline traffic is MILES away!

I think it is because most people think of North Maplewood, by the mall, first and foremost since it is commercialized and is also not the nicest area. However, people forget about South Maplewood which is completely residential south of Upper Afton, with very nice neighborhood and nice parks. Basically, I think people forget it is shaped like a backwards-upside down L, spanning the north border and east border of St. Paul, of which the south (east border of St. Paul) is much nicer.

[Beenhere4ever]

Yeh, so many Maplewoods. Hard to summarize the whole thing in one phrase. Parts of it may not be a prized place to live. Other parts much better. I think Richfield and South Saint Paul are much more uniform.

I was curious about comparative demographics between Maplewood and Richfield:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Maplewood-Minnesota.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Richfield-Minnesota.html

Kinda funny. Almost like twins. Nearly identical in median income, per capita income and home price in 2009. Looks like Maplewood has an older population (by a little). Not to beat a dead horse, but Maplewood is far from the airport. No takeoffs or landings.

[AndreaSoup]

Born and raised in Maplewood - love it! I would say that, like ANY city, it has pockets of "not so good" but those pockets are very far and few between.

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by AndreaSoup

Born and raised in Maplewood - love it! I would say that, like ANY city, it has pockets of "not so good" but those pockets are very far and few between.

Completely agree. Grew up at the south end of McKnight (on the St. Paul side) and down there Maplewood is an extremely nice city, especially down towards Carver Lake.