Best places for bi-racial family (Minneapolis, Bloomington: for sale, crime, houses)

[pagenunn]

My family and I will be moving to Minneapolis area in June. Which areas are best for bi racial families. How is the racial climate? We are concerned with good schools, affordability.etc. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[EricBrewer]

The north side. Much racial diversity. What are good schools? The north schools have many disruptive behavior things to manage so it may be a challenge to get your kids to focus on the math.
The housing costs are around 140K and are many places for sale around here now. And as far as the north side crime reputation goes some areas are better than others here north. And there is crime hotspots south too.

[citygals]

Originally Posted by EricBrewer

The north side. Much racial diversity. What are good schools? The north schools have many disruptive behavior things to manage so it may be a challenge to get your kids to focus on the math.
The housing costs are around 140K and are many places for sale around here now. And as far as the north side crime reputation goes some areas are better than others here north. And there is crime hotspots south too.

Everyone on this web forum has naysayed the north side as being crime ridden and not a good area. I wouldn't recommend it to any family and certainly not just because you are bi-racial. Minnesota is very white, Minneapolis is much more diverse and you don't have to live in the bad neighborhoods to get that. I would try the south side of minneapolis, longfellow, powderhorn for more diversity and not so much ghetto. It is also a more progressive area with people with many different less traditional family types moving there.
The houses will not be $140 K - more like $240 k and up and older housing. Just an idea!

[EricBrewer]

The south side/uptown area has more bars, restaurants and general nightlife. They also have those murders and robberies too. lots of money too be intercepted, it is a high market area. When the news reports bad stuff in this city,if it happens over north the first thing mentioned is, "oh we had another murder,etc happen at that north Minneapolis again" , But when bad crime happens over south they give the address area that sometimes does not include "south" in it.
I would buy a house too in the uptown area if I could afford it. But not because it is safer than the north side.

[snowlandcook]

Originally Posted by pagenunn

My family and I will be moving to Minneapolis area in June. Which areas are best for bi racial families. How is the racial climate? We are concerned with good schools, affordability.etc. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

I don't think you'll have any problems in or around Mpls just b/c you're a bi-racial family. Minnesota is much more progressive and accepting than other states I've lived in.

Personally, I'd look around Uptown, if I could afford it. If you are interested in a suburban lifestyle, check out Fridley, New Brighton, Bloomington, Coon Rapids. Those areas are growing more and more diverse.

[emeraldhopes]

I say stay out of the cities area as far as crime is involved. Move 100 miles south to Austin...great city, great diversity and good jobs plus low cost housing.

[Robert P Stewart]

If you're in the cities or the suburbs, I really don't think you're going to have a problem. The Twin Cities area is more progressive than any other area in the midwest with the exception of Chicago, perhaps.

Welcome!

[snowlandcook]

Originally Posted by emeraldhopes

I say stay out of the cities area as far as crime is involved. Move 100 miles south to Austin...great city, great diversity and good jobs plus low cost housing.

Yeah, but what else does Austin have?! Really, if these folks are looking for a metropolitan area, Austin doesn't compare to the Twin Cities.

[Robert P Stewart]

Austin is down there a ways, and the goods & services are not great. I drive down to Faribault once in a blue moon because they have a somali grocer where I can buy whole spices CHEAP (its called the Banadhir, I think). If you see Ali behind the counter, tell him I said 'eskawaran'.

I think they turn the electricity off at 8PM in Austin, not sure. If you're into small town life and don't require all the cities can offer, Austin may be a good bet.

Originally Posted by snowlandcook

Yeah, but what else does Austin have?! Really, if these folks are looking for a metropolitan area, Austin doesn't compare to the Twin Cities.

[pagenunn]

Thank you everyone, I was a little scared but I feel much more at ease now. I am actually excited about the move! We have been looking in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Rosemount as far as housing prices and size. It seems that school dist 196 is a selling point. It is mentioned alot in the descriptions. Any input? And 1 more thing, do minnesotans hate the Minnesota nice campaign or embrace it? Just wondering?