Moving to Minnesota, please help with neighborhoods and schools (Minneapolis: house hunting, rent)

[ladybug4233]

Hi there,

My husband got a terrific job opportunity in Minneapolis. We currently live in Denver. My husband starts on July 7th. The company is providing us with two house hunting trips. He will be working in downtown Minneapolis. What neighborhoods do you recommend? I have a 5 yr. old daughter who is starting Kindergarden in the fall. So I want a great school district and a community with a lot of kids for her to play with. We have driven around Plymouth, Chaska, Minnetonka and Edina. Edina is a little too expensive for us. What school districts are good? Is Victoria too far from Downtown?

Thanks for your help,
Candie

[mreh19]

Originally Posted by ladybug4233

Hi there,

My husband got a terrific job opportunity in Minneapolis. We currently live in Denver. My husband starts on July 7th. The company is providing us with two house hunting trips. He will be working in downtown Minneapolis. What neighborhoods do you recommend? I have a 5 yr. old daughter who is starting Kindergarden in the fall. So I want a great school district and a community with a lot of kids for her to play with. We have driven around Plymouth, Chaska, Minnetonka and Edina. Edina is a little too expensive for us. What school districts are good? Is Victoria too far from Downtown?

Thanks for your help,
Candie

Candie,

I think that Apple Valley is a great location, which is close to everything and not far from Minneapolis. My husband and I have a townhouse in Apple Valley for Rent or to Purchase if you are looking at that area.

Thanks and good luck.
Michelle

[GipsyHeart]

I currently live in Plymouth and plan to stay here for a while. Plymouth is part of the Wayzata School district wich is one of the best here in town. In addition Plymouth has alot of young families wich will be great for your 5 y.o. to find friends very fast. Good Luck!!!

[Sarah Maske]

Originally Posted by ladybug4233

Hi there,

My husband got a terrific job opportunity in Minneapolis. We currently live in Denver. My husband starts on July 7th. The company is providing us with two house hunting trips. He will be working in downtown Minneapolis. What neighborhoods do you recommend? I have a 5 yr. old daughter who is starting Kindergarden in the fall. So I want a great school district and a community with a lot of kids for her to play with. We have driven around Plymouth, Chaska, Minnetonka and Edina. Edina is a little too expensive for us. What school districts are good? Is Victoria too far from Downtown?

Thanks for your help,
Candie

For the area you're considering try Hopkins school district. It is a big district and encompasses parts of Golden Valley, Hopkins, Saint Louis Park, Minnetonka and Edina. (I know Edina might be a touch high but it is really expansive and there are some more affordable areas perhaps than where you've looked).

Also as someone mentioned above - Plymouth. That's close to these other areas as well with a relatively quick commute to downtown. Yes, Wayzata School Dist is good.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by ladybug4233

Hi there,

My husband got a terrific job opportunity in Minneapolis. We currently live in Denver. My husband starts on July 7th. The company is providing us with two house hunting trips. He will be working in downtown Minneapolis. What neighborhoods do you recommend? I have a 5 yr. old daughter who is starting Kindergarden in the fall. So I want a great school district and a community with a lot of kids for her to play with. We have driven around Plymouth, Chaska, Minnetonka and Edina. Edina is a little too expensive for us. What school districts are good? Is Victoria too far from Downtown?

Thanks for your help,
Candie

You described most of the suburbs in Hennepin County, even parts of Mpls. proper. If you want an older, mature neighborhood with something like a main street, look into Hopkins, Excelsior. Southwest Mpls. is lovely, filled with kids and has great schools. If you want a newer suburb, Maple Grove or Eden Prairie are good. Chaska and Victoria are nice, but they get to be far from downtown. Victoria isn't particularly cheap either, esp. when you calculate about $5 to $8 worth of gas to get downtown and back. What sort of house are you looking for, and for what price?

[gatorinmn]

Someone posted about Apple Valley. It really is a very nice town, but commuting to Minneapolis from there is not pleasant. Stick to the western suburbs -- Plymouth is a very good suggestion. Good luck!

[kim825]

try Lakeville. DR Horton neighborhood across from new HS, Chadwick Farm. TONS of kids and walking distance to top rated elementary school (#9 in state for math this year.) awesome community rated #4 best place to raise family on various surveys, downtown is so fun and the commute to Minneapolis isn't bad. Alot of people in the neighborhood do it without issue

[fiedlck]

Hi Candie,

We too have just gone through a similar process - making the move from the Denver area to Minneapolis area and have done a reasonable amount of research of the school districts of the area as we also have a 5 year old getting ready for kindergarden.

We have narrowed down our search to the following school districts as they all have come up as the best in the area:

Eden Praire
Wayzata
Minnetonka
Edina

Also, the regional School House Magazine which lists all schools and their test scores may prove helpful.

I hope this helps and good luck with your move !

[golfgal]

All these districts are good and will give you what you want. Minnetonka and Edina are a bit older population and you won't see AS many young families. Plymouth will have more younger families. Don't rule out the south and east suburbs in your search. While they may seem farther out, they really aren't. Mahtomedi and Eagan are 2 of the top districts in the state. They are both the same distance from Minneapolis as Eden Prairie, 17 miles. Chaska is almost 27 miles from downtown Minneapolis, where as Apple Valley/Rosemount (Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan district is the top district in the state) area is only 19 miles and a MUCH easier commute then coming in from some of the western suburbs. Victoria is 27 miles out on a 4 lane road with several stoplights. It isn't the best commute.