The perfect place to live in Minnesota (Alexandria: luxury, schools)

[oconnorcm3]

We are going to retire to Minnesota because of the excellent services that are provided...paid for by high state tax revenue. I have lived overseas for many years where 42% taxes (or higher and don't forget that the items that you purchse already have a 21% VAT (value added tax) built in to the price) are the norm. While we haven't had to pay income tax while overseas, we have bought products that had the VAT built in to them, making them much more expensive. The services that one receives overseas (with high tax built in) are frequently not great either.

Give me a state with high tax and I know that I'll have a better chance of receiving good services.

[AVguy]

Originally Posted by ddldave

i used to live in eden prarie when i was a kid. a very very nice neighborhood. now i live in apple valley, nice neighborhood too but i think eden prarie was better.

Wow, I have the exact same experience and agree completely. It's hard for me to put my finger on why, but I have always preferred the west metro to the south metro.

[Lindenin]

West Metro has soul.

[MinnesotaGirl]

I would vote for towns like Owatonna, Red Wing and Duluth for vacations and sightseeing. However, there is no place like South Minneapolis. There are libraries, coffe shops, grocery stores, parkways and public parks.wading pools all within walking distance. We live just over the border in Richfield and spend all of our time eight short blocks north and love S. Mpls-if only we could pick up our house and move it.....

[catluvr]

Did anyone say Eagan yet? My pick far above anything else.

[catluvr]

Originally Posted by oconnorcm3

Give me a state with high tax and I know that I'll have a better chance of receiving good services.

Spoken like a true Minnesotan. This is why I left. 1. It's not always true (taxes equal better services) 2. Because of the good services (that are free to others), I can't afford to live here anymore.

I had to move to a place for more opportunity to keep my hard earned money.

[cavewoman]

Anything close to Northfield????

Help Under an hour commutt and under 200,000?????

[SlyFrog]

Originally Posted by catluvr

Spoken like a true Minnesotan. This is why I left. 1. It's not always true (taxes equal better services) 2. Because of the good services (that are free to others), I can't afford to live here anymore.

I had to move to a place for more opportunity to keep my hard earned money.

I would say it is not true, in fact.

I was joking with someone about that yesterday, how having lived in five different states, all with different tax rates, I really do not see a hell of a lot about Minnesota that is different services-wise. All I see is a higher tax burden.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by cavewoman

Anything close to Northfield????

Help Under an hour commutt and under 200,000?????

Do you mean a commute TO Northfield under an hour? What about looking in Nerstrand (town of 215 people though). Kenyon would be an option. That is a cute little town that is well kept and an easy commute to the cities and Northfield.

[kuan]

Originally Posted by SlyFrog

I would say it is not true, in fact.

I was joking with someone about that yesterday, how having lived in five different states, all with different tax rates, I really do not see a hell of a lot about Minnesota that is different services-wise. All I see is a higher tax burden.

ECFE, $18/3 year boat registration, clean water act, lifetime fishing licenses, $35/year ski license, roads with shoulders, 72 state parks, free zoo with free parking, free museum passes for the public, free camping on the lake superior water trail, $45 to register your snowmobile, reciprocity agreement with other states on college fees, actual clean restrooms at roadside rest stops