Soon to Move (Maple Grove, Mankato, Northfield: renting, townhome, neighborhood)

[betterwayoflife]

Hello, my husband is originally from St. Michael. He came out to California to work. He is a lineman. We met while he was here and were recently married. We (myself, husband, and my (our) two young boys) will be moving back to Minnesota or Wisconsin. He wants to be close enough to his parents, still in St. Michael, but yet have our own lives. We were thinking Red Wing Mn or Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls WI area. Any thoughts on these two places? A lot ,of course, will depend on his job. I come from CA where life is so fast paced. I feel I needed to send my boys to a private school to give them a chance at a decent education, not to mention some actual teacher attention. Please help with any info. I have an idea things will be nicer for us there. Reality or dream? Thank you!

[golfgal]

Eau Claire is a nice area and the schools are pretty good. Red Wing is a lovely town but isn't all that close to a variety of employers so finding a job might be somewhat difficult depending on what you do for a living. Northfield might be a better choice for smaller towns in the part of the state with two colleges in town.

The public schools for the most part in MN and Eau Claire will be better then the private schools you see in California so you won't have to worry about that. In Northfield, Red Wing, and many of the towns around the Twin Cities metro area your boys will be able to ride their bikes to the parks, have tons of kids in the neighborhood to play with and you will just have a simpler life.

What has made you settle on Red Wing or Eau Claire?

[dennis s]

I agree with Golfgal I don't know about Wis. but in Minnesota the schools are great. I moved to Minn. during highschool from New York city. The school in Mendota Hts. was so good that most of the wealthy families who could afford private schools didn't feel the need for that. They sent their kids to a public school and they did great. I, after almost 30 years realize that that was a GREAT school. Right Golfgal

[betterwayoflife]

Thank you so much for responding. The private school here is/was definitely worth it. My guess was that I wouldn't need to send them to a private school once we got there. When I was a child here, the school I attended was very much like the nowadays private schools, (smaller classrooms, everyone knew each other, etc.) I'm just looking for that. Also, around here, my children are kind of the minority. We have a lot of Hispanics in this area, actually I think it's like 53% now. Nothing is wrong with that, I just want my kids to blend in a little more. We haven't totally decided on those areas yet. Like I mentioned, my husband is a lineman and he is going to try and get on with Xcel Energy. I know they have quit a few locations though. If you have any more recommendations, I'd be glad to hear them. Thanks again.

[golfgal]

There are so many great places to live in MN that it is difficult to give suggestions. It might be easier if you post a couple of the locations where the jobs are and people can give you an idea of schools to investigate, etc.

Dennis is right, the school in Mendota Heights is the best (or at least it was when we were there). Really though, MN tops the nation in education and for good reason.

[Chelley123]

Maple Grove is close to St Michael (20 min on Hwy) and it's one of the nicest suburbs in the twin cities. Upscale shopping, access to great schools. I love it here but my family is also moving to relocate for my husband's job. We are renting a 3-bed, 2.5 bath townhome in a neigborhood with 1/2 million dollar homes. very safe. I love the quality of life in MN and will probably move back after a couple of years. dont know if that helps but feel free to ask specific questions.

[betterwayoflife]

I think I read a forum that states that Maple Grove is kind of pricey. We are simple people that like nice things. Just because it's pricey, does that also mean snooty? I guess I imagine more money = less down to earth people. Yes, I guess I am stereotyping, aren't I? What about Mankato? My husband didn't really care for it. Thanks again for the info.

[love WI]

My family moved to stillwater from Milwaukee 2 years ago looking for a healthier, nicer place to raise our two kids. We have not found the "Minnesota nice" that we had heard about. People here are very stoic and will barely say hello or smile when they see you.
the schools in MN and WI used to take turns being rated 1st and 2nd in the U.S. but since Pawlenty has been in office,I believe that MN schools are 25th or so ,and WI schools are still tops. I have lived in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Madison and Stillwater and I was born in Cloquet and lived in Brainerd so I know both states well. WI is more beautiful, friendlier, funkier, more collegiate with the influence of the University of Wisconsin being felt throughout the state. Minnesota has never exported a restaurant chain of any sort. there is not even one single food stuff to tell visitors to try. For example Michaels custard in Madison, Famous Daves, Culvers etc. all from WI. So,I say think about WI maybe Hudson or Sheboygan, or maybe Madison , Minnesota is very bland, suburban, and I think the "Minnesota nice" description is more about Minnesotans being nice and clean. They make a lot of cleaning products here and it shows. Finally MN is a very religious state you will not see many political or humorous bumper stickers just lots and lots of Jesus fish(and I consider myself to be a good Norwegian Lutheran yet it still freaks me out) Good Luck! p.s. Maple Grove is a city built around a shopping district. It is flat , conservitive , and spooky , if you drive a Hummer, and want to live in a shopping outlet parking lot,then you will like Maple Grove.

[Isaysos]

Yeah, Minnesota peopel probably seem snotty to you because your in Stillwater, some of those suburbs of the Twin Cities, the people think their better than anyone on earth. There are howerver, many friendly areas left in Minnesota (If they dont get eaten up by the Twin Cities suburbs!)

[jfog55372]

Originally Posted by love WI

My family moved to stillwater from Milwaukee 2 years ago looking for a healthier, nicer place to raise our two kids. We have not found the "Minnesota nice" that we had heard about. People here are very stoic and will barely say hello or smile when they see you.
the schools in MN and WI used to take turns being rated 1st and 2nd in the U.S. but since Pawlenty has been in office,I believe that MN schools are 25th or so ,and WI schools are still tops. I have lived in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Madison and Stillwater and I was born in Cloquet and lived in Brainerd so I know both states well. WI is more beautiful, friendlier, funkier, more collegiate with the influence of the University of Wisconsin being felt throughout the state. Minnesota has never exported a restaurant chain of any sort. there is not even one single food stuff to tell visitors to try. For example Michaels custard in Madison, Famous Daves, Culvers etc. all from WI. So,I say think about WI maybe Hudson or Sheboygan, or maybe Madison , Minnesota is very bland, suburban, and I think the "Minnesota nice" description is more about Minnesotans being nice and clean. They make a lot of cleaning products here and it shows. Finally MN is a very religious state you will not see many political or humorous bumper stickers just lots and lots of Jesus fish(and I consider myself to be a good Norwegian Lutheran yet it still freaks me out) Good Luck! p.s. Maple Grove is a city built around a shopping district. It is flat , conservitive , and spooky , if you drive a Hummer, and want to live in a shopping outlet parking lot,then you will like Maple Grove.

Yeah right. Just a few years in office and we go from 1st or 2nd to 25th? Sounds like someone doesn't know how to add.