San Diego to Maple Grove MN.. (Minneapolis, Plymouth: real estate, crime, house)

[Ramba]

I have lived about 6 years in Utah. I love Utah, due of its natural beauty particulary snow-covered mountains and lot of national parks. Due to my compulsary employment relocation, I moved (under force) to San Diego in last summer. Though, San Diego is a nice city (as claimed my many peoples), my family and I do not like it. The main reason is crowd, traffic and of course unimaginable real estate cost. Everywhere I go in San Diego, the parking is a problem. On top of that, my car was stolen and recovered after a week.

I am seriously considering to move out of California/San Diego. I am an engineer. I am getting a offer form a fortune-500 company in Maple Grove, MN. I am considering to relocate to MN. Is it a good move? My question is, If I have a job in Maple Grove, where I can live to avoid traffic? My kids are going to elementary schools. What are the best place to live (or buy a house) which has a nice public schools?

[yellowsnow]

I also thought Utah was a beautiful place to live. Too bad wages there are so low! I moved from Midvale to MPLS in 95. I hope you have been here in the Winter and know what it's like. When I moved here, Winter was my favorite season. Now I despise it! Winter in Utah and Winter in Minnesota are 2 different things.

Minneapolis is a big city. If you are going to work there, you will be in traffic every day. If you are going to work in Maple Grove, I would suggest you live just a little bit north, close to Elk River and out of Hennepin County(taxes). Maple Grove is itself a nice area. Schools are good in most of the burbs. You will still have some traffic but it's not as bad as CA. In Maple Grove, you will have free parking too! You are lucky your job isn't downtown. Maple Grove isn't tiny and just about anything you want is there.

Good luck!

[TimtheGuy]

I would live right in Maple Grove. Great up an coming suburb. For cheaper housing I agree with Yellow...look a little bit to the North. However, since you are a professional I would stay right in Maple Grove.

You will find MN public schools to be top notch all over the metro and statewide for that matter.

[sfw1979]

"""Though, San Diego is a nice city (as claimed my many peoples), my family and I do not like it. The main reason is crowd, traffic and of course unimaginable real estate cost. Everywhere I go in San Diego, the parking is a problem. On top of that, my car was stolen and recovered after a week. """

I lived in SD for three years and can't agree more. You can't beat the perfect weather and beaches and all the fun stuff to do but man oh man you can't afford a house to save your life and like most places in Cali so crowded...

[dbf32771]

I live in Maple Grove. Maple Grove is an awesome city. It is growing by the minute (perhaps too much). I lived here since 2002. It hasw grown tremedously. The schools are fine (just a large school district -I am a teacher). Due to the fact that everyone loves Maple Grove, it has gotten very crowded. The traffic is a terrible. Maple Grove is a nice place to live. Another nearby areas (which are just as nice) are Plymouth. Plymouth is just south of Maple Grove. It's practically a sister city of Maple Grove. About 5 miles north is Rogers and Elk River. Those towns are smaller, but are growing bigtime. Rogers and Elk River are great places to live.

[Minnehahapolitan]

I would not live in Elk River or Rogers. That is at least 10 to 20 miles in some of the worst traffic in the metro. Personaly, I would go for Maple Grove. Alot of shopping, convenience, etc. that Rogers and Elk River just don't have. Just my opinion

[Jaxx99]

You'll love it in Minnesota.

Maple Grove or Plymouth would both be great choices. You can't go wrong. if you work this right, you'll give yourself a 10 minute commute.

[warmweather!]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

I would not live in Elk River or Rogers.

I would say you might like Rogers if you are in to smaller suburbs. Also I agree with Minnehahapolitan, DON'T go to Elk River. Elk River is a growing suburb/ghetto. There's quite a bit more crime there-between the "gangstas" and rednecks there. There's also lots of drugs there. It's also kinda far from the rest of the metro and you might drive awhile in rush hour from Maple Grove to Elk River.
You may consider Rogers though.
However, I myself would stay right in Maple Grove!!! It's an absolutely wonderful suburb! It is about 15 miles to downtown Minneapolis. It has about 60,000 people(growing like crazy). The lakes are spectacular! The parks are plentiful, great, and there are paved trails winding all over town. Pretty much every store and restaurant you can imagine is there. Traffic gets pretty bad sometimes but if you live, work and shop there it's fine, and traffic is just a small price to pay for a great town. Pretty much all Minnesota schools are good. Maple Grove is kind of expensive for housing, but it's WAY cheaper than San Diego! Also, Plymouth is nice, but I'd just stay in Maple Grove if that's where you work plus I like Maple Grove more. Oh but FYI: WINTER IS COLD!!!!!! No question about it. I've seen -25 plus windchill pretty much every winter!!!! But some people actually enjoy it- not me. However summer is hot and wonderful. Today it was 90, sunny, and I'd say perfect. Just visit Minnesota to check it out! You may love it, you may hate it!

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Ramba

I have lived about 6 years in Utah. I love Utah, due of its natural beauty particulary snow-covered mountains and lot of national parks. Due to my compulsary employment relocation, I moved (under force) to San Diego in last summer. Though, San Diego is a nice city (as claimed my many peoples), my family and I do not like it. The main reason is crowd, traffic and of course unimaginable real estate cost. Everywhere I go in San Diego, the parking is a problem. On top of that, my car was stolen and recovered after a week.

I am seriously considering to move out of California/San Diego. I am an engineer. I am getting a offer form a fortune-500 company in Maple Grove, MN. I am considering to relocate to MN. Is it a good move? My question is, If I have a job in Maple Grove, where I can live to avoid traffic? My kids are going to elementary schools. What are the best place to live (or buy a house) which has a nice public schools?

I agree it's good to stay in Maple Grove.

I lived in San Diego for seven years and really liked it, although I did get bored after all that time. Yes, RE is high and that's a definite drawback. Having said this, for me, San Diego beats any place in MN hands down. And the winters? BRUTAL. Don't move there if anyone in your family is prone to seasonal affective disorder. One of the major reasons I've been gone from there most of my life is I couldn't handle the never ending gray and depressing days in winter. Literally, I was depressed from November through March or April. I can barely stand going back there for visits.

Good luck.

[Jeremy R]

I actually work in Maple Grove, and let me tell you, this community is growing. Travel around Maple Grove is not bad at all and it is only about 20 minutes from downtown. Maple Grove is a really safe neighborhoods with schools usually within a short 5 minute drive. You can find homes in Maple Grove ranging from $200,000 all the way up to the millions.

If there is anything else I can help you with or answer for you please let me know.