Moving to St. Cloud... help! (Minneapolis, Brainerd: crime, hotels, new house)

[nsomniac]

Hey, I might be taking a job in St. Cloud, MN... I'd be relocating from Kansas City, can anyone offer me some advice about the area? I noticed housing and cost of living is more expensive...assuming utilities play a big role in that. Any other things I should know about the area or things that might be surprising for a newcomer?

I noticed there aren't any Sonics! I guess I'll have to learn to deal with that...ha! What about school districts, (my wife is a teacher and will be looking for a job) and parts of town to live in, etc...

Is St. Cloud a big college town? Sounds like the University is fairly decent size...

Anyways, any help or advice or tips would be great, thanks...

[golfgal]

St. Cloud State University is a good sized place. Outside of St. Cloud are two private schools College of St. Benedict and St. John's University so there are a lot of activities at both. Sartell has the 'best' schools in the area but they are all pretty good. The Catholic Schools are also very good, including the high school. There are also several smaller towns around so finding a teaching job shouldn't be all that hard if there are openings. There is also St. John's Prep school which is a highly competitive prep school on the campus of St. John's University grades 7-12.

If it were me I would look to Sartell or St. Joseph to start with.

[grace1202]

I agree with golfgal's recommendation for Sartell. We lived in Sartell for almost 4 years and left only because of my husband's job. It is a bedroom community and it is noted in that area for its good schools. Our kids absolutely loved their time in the Sartell schools. There are 2 elementary schools - Oak Ridge Elementary (built in 2004 I believe) and Pine Meadow Elementary. Then you have Sartell Middle and Sartell High.

In the last few years Sartell has developed Pine Cone Road as they didn't really have a main street previously. It is really just a strip mall with a large grocery store (Coburn's), a swim school, coffee shop, etc. It is between 5 -10 minutes to St. Cloud for anything else you might need. There are also plenty of walking trails and bike paths. It is a town of about 10,000 with a small town feel. I'd highly recommend Sartell as a great place to raise a family! Hope that helps.

[warmweather!]

St. Cloud State (the college) is known for being a HUGE party college. I live in the Twin Cities, and personally, I hate St. Cloud. But that's just my preference. Some other people really like St. Cloud. I know there is a good skiing place near there and the famous quarrys-cliffs you jump off of into a super deep lake there.

[deedee56]

MN is a beautiful place to live! In moving there or anywhere check into property taxes! What are you lokking for size wise? Do you want it on the River? There is a town a little north of ST Cloud called Little Falls I know the hospital is expanding and hiring up to 600 positions, Super Walmart is just underway and lots of really nice things and people in the area. Go to realtor.com and you can find listing and pin point what you want. There is a monsterous home on the river approx 5500 sq. ft 7 acres, brick, for under 430, taxes $2700! Check into some of the homes and area I think you will be impressed! Good luck to you and yours.

[zach182]

Surprises? Eh, I think St. Cloud might be the most normal city in the world. You would definitely just start livin' life and not be shocked at all. St. Cloud's University does have the reputation of being party central, but it's not like it interferes with the rest of the city. Personally I'd rather live in the Minneapolis area, which I do, but since your job would be in St. Cloud you don't have much choice.
Good luck!

[MNboundmommy]

We are also looking to move to the St. Cloud area. We're looking at Sartell as the best option to raise a family. I read that St. Cloud has a lot of violence, and Sartell is near a paper mill, which makes it stinky (literally). Can anyone shed some light on this?

[earthwar]

That paper mill doesn't smell that bad. At least of all the times I've been there I haven't noticed it. They just did new plumbing and paved many of the streets in Sartell. The new part of town is quite far from the paper mill anyway and wind in Minnesota mainly blows from the South-East or the North-West. Maybe thats something to consider. It is a nice town with the only concern I would have is there has been a lot of construction going on. New houses, city work,last years hail damage and a expansion of the city. Last year we were working until 10 at night and I think that bothers some people but most of them understand it has to get done. Sartell is in a great location I always thought. Its not to far from 15,75,23 and I94. Shortcuts from Sartell can get you to downtown St. Cloud in minutes, close to the hospital and across the road is Sauk Rapids, another nice city. It has low traveled roads that lead to the mall as well. EW

[DustinSimmonds]

I wouldn't recomend St. Cloud maybe 20 years ago but not now there is pretty bad crime ... for example my cousin was raped right in downtown! and my family moved from there cause of the crime we live in Little Falls now a GREAT! town to the north about 30 minutes there is a great hospital the school district is going wonderful the economy is booming and the town is expected to to grow alot in the next few years and if you are looking for colleges its right between St. Cloud and Brainerd which both have schools the housing i think is doing well the city is annexing about 800 acres to the west and i'm pretty sure that will be residential development and there is industrial to the north and commercial to the east its a very well rouneded town and i think you should give it a shot

[newcastle]

St. Cloud is growing because it is within 60 miles of the Twin Cities. the university is growing, but it is really just a big party school. That reputation has not changed in over 15 years.

The town is one large strip mall and you get the feeling you could be in anytown USA because it looks the same as anywhere else. The downtown area has a convention center and a few hotels and a bank tower.

It is hot and humid in the summer-the quarry is a nice place to cool off. Other than that, I do not find the area all that attractive. It is busy because everyone drives north to the Brainerd Lakes area and their cabins. My experiences in St. CLoud have not been very promising.