St. Louis vs. Minneapolis?? (Washington, Maryville: violent crime, houses, employment)

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by PacEyeDoc

Thanks for all the info - it's always nice to get some different perspectives. As for your questions....I'm from San Diego, California so I won't say that the winter cold isn't factoring in. I've lived in Ithaca,NY which has quite a winter season, though so I'm not totally unfamiliar with bone chilling cold. I'm looking mainly to live in a nice suburb area that's close to the city so I'm not completely out there with families of 5 and soccer moms. I'm definitely not a downtown type. I've heard a lot of negative comments about St. Louis, more than Minneapolis so that's why I posted, but it seems like the people who live there absolutely love it. In fact, most of the negative stuff comes from people who don't live there so I'm starting to think it's largely unfounded and maybe related to the reputation of East St. Louis more than the city as a whole. As for the Minnesota nice thing, I've definitely wondered about how significant that problem is for transplants - sounds like it can be pretty ugly. Right now I"m definitely leaning towards St Louis, but we'll see..
Thanks again to everyone who posted!

I'm thinking the same thing. As someone from the general area, but having never lived there --- we did tend to associate St. Louis with East St. Louis.

But now that I live in the south -- I understand what it is like to miss culture of a true city! I'm looking forward to learning St. Louis and checking out museums and history that was always sort of in my backyard but that I never paid attention to except for when I read Huckleberry Finn!

I also think it will be nice to be a shorter distance drive to Florida which will come in handy in March and April. But there will also be nice opportunities to go the Ozarks and other natural areas near there. Plus some of my favorite cities are within a reasonable driving distance: Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Southwestern Michigan (my favorite beaches in the US!)....and places I've yet to check out.

And I'm really just looking forward to driving back out to the middle of Illinois and some cornfields and watching some Thunderstorms roll in but you can do that in Minnesota too!

[Central Illinois 1]

I think that overall, the areas have more similarities than differences. But I think that the biggest trade-off is between living in a generally more progressive area (at least politically - e.g., Twin Cities) versus much, much better weather (St. Louis). I would personally pick STL, primarily because of the weather.

[skrizzle]

Originally Posted by PacEyeDoc

Hi everyone. I'm hoping there might be a couple of people out there who have lived in St. Louis and Minneapolis and could give me some feedback on the comparisons between the two cities. I've never lived in the midwest, but I have to choose between the two cities pretty quickly here. I'm single, early 30s, caucasian, and pretty mellow. Not at all into bar/club stuff or crazy night life. Just wondering if anyone knows which city is generally easier for transplants to get their feet planted. Thanks in advance!!

I don't think it matters based on what you put.... do you prefer it a bit colder? Minn, if not... STL... tho STL still gets cold, just not MPLS cold, or as long.

I prefer MPLS by a long shot, but I prefer it for reasons you probably don't care about. The people are friendlier, in fact I'd say they are the friendliest people in the Midwest i've ever seen... MPLS has a nicer downtown... more parks. It doesn't have the race issues that STL does, but then again MPLS also is pretty much a white city.

But really if none of thats a concern, they are both typical cities with typical stuff to do... so just consider cost of living (STL wins), weather, etc...

If you ar eposting on STL you should ask more specifically about STL, ask about Minneapolis forums specifically about it, then go to the general forums and ask about both cities, because it's obvious you post on the cities forums you will get some bias from the residents.

[stlcitygirl]

St Louis is nothing like East St Louis, it's sad that some have that perception. The cost of living is great, and if you have kids there is a ton of stuff to do, and a lot of its free.

[stlcitygirl]

Originally Posted by skrizzle

I don't think it matters based on what you put.... do you prefer it a bit colder? Minn, if not... STL... tho STL still gets cold, just not MPLS cold, or as long.

I prefer MPLS by a long shot, but I prefer it for reasons you probably don't care about. The people are friendlier, in fact I'd say they are the friendliest people in the Midwest i've ever seen... MPLS has a nicer downtown... more parks. It doesn't have the race issues that STL does, but then again MPLS also is pretty much a white city.

But really if none of thats a concern, they are both typical cities with typical stuff to do... so just consider cost of living (STL wins), weather, etc...

If you ar eposting on STL you should ask more specifically about STL, ask about Minneapolis forums specifically about it, then go to the general forums and ask about both cities, because it's obvious you post on the cities forums you will get some bias from the residents.

As someone that is NOT from St Louis, I have never quite got the perception of people being rude. I've never noticed them being different than any other city I have lived in or visited. This is just my opinion, but most of my transplant neighbors agree.

Skrizzle, correct me if I'm wrong, but arent you from Kansas City. How can you comment on two cities you dont live in?

[skrizzle]

Originally Posted by stlcitygirl

As someone that is NOT from St Louis, I have never quite got the perception of people being rude. I've never noticed them being different than any other city I have lived in or visited. This is just my opinion, but most of my transplant neighbors agree.

Skrizzle, correct me if I'm wrong, but arent you from Kansas City. How can you comment on two cities you dont live in?

LOL I like how you ask me how I can comment on cities I don't live in, yet ignoring rgb123s comments on STL since they are positive.

I'm not knocking STL, i'm stating my preference. I can comment because i've been there tons, i've got friends who live there and go to university there. I've also been to MPLS tons. I've been to both in the last 4 months.

There is a reason STL has the perception as having rude people... and almost anyone i've known who has visited has the opinion, but of course that isn't everyone and its also a generalization, there is no way to prove this to be right or wrong.

A lot of people in STL like to say they are a more east coast feeling city, that goes along with it... many people find those on the east coast to be less hospitable then west coast.... hence you hear its more laid back.

Regardless, if your only viable way to be a qualified judge of a city is if you live there and have lived there for quite sometime, then you might as well tell the majority of C-D to ****. I've never linked in Helsinki but it's still my favorite international city based on my time there, and never lived in Paris but still think the people are douchebags from my short time there.

I've been to STL more then MPLS and based on my time in both I would say they are pretty average cities, but I prefer MPLS because it is more my atmosphere, and even though STL i've probably been to more, MPLS has still managed to never come off as rude, the people are pretty damn cool and laid back, that IMO goes a long way. I basically told the OP if weather isn't a concern pick STL cuz it has a lower cost of living, cuz none of the things that matter to me matter to the OP.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Saint Louis does have some culture (not what I'm use to) and the crime rate is relatively isolated to a few particular areas that normal people really have no business going into in the first place. Yes the LOCALS do love it here. Its the transplants that have problems - and I'm not the only one.

Forest Park is a bit like Balboa Park and set up the same way. Winters are not that bad (compared to New York). And this summer hasn't been too crappy.

But if you are coming from San Diego and enjoyed evey thing San Diego has to offer you really should rent first and make sure that this is where you want to be.

You might want to look into where I live (Lake Saint Louis), Which has has a bit more of a California vibe going on and a good mix of families- It is a bit out there (35 miles from downtown). There are no soccer moms and minivans in my neighbor hood. If you like being outdoors and like Equestrian activities, golf, boating, fishing, sailing and a generally healthy lifestyle I would recommend it. On the downside no other amenities as far as Museums, galleries and non-franchised restaurants. The nearest Trader Joe's and Whole Food markets are 20 miles away.

BTW: I am not homesick. I have lived in various places, including Pittsburgh and West Virginia and never had a problem with adapting to the local environment. My accent is still slightly tinged with West Virginia from the time I spent there. I just never lived in the midwest. I'm not used to.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by skrizzle

If you ar eposting on STL you should ask more specifically about STL, ask about Minneapolis forums specifically about it, then go to the general forums and ask about both cities, because it's obvious you post on the cities forums you will get some bias from the residents.

I've been trying to keep my threads more positive but I still get edited by the moderators the minute you post anything negative about the fair city of Saint Louis. Or the fact that it is very hard on transplants. I've made a lot of friends here (albeit transplants lie myself) and I really do enjoy where I live. It is just dealing with the area outside my little fiefdom that I have issues with.

Go to the Orange County and Los Angeles boards almost everything is left in Warts and All. It reveals a much clearer picture of what living in there is really like.

[stlcitygirl]

[quote=skrizzle;10349680]LOL I like how you ask me how I can comment on cities I don't live in, yet ignoring rgb123s comments on STL since they are positive.

I dont want to seem like I am insulting you, because that is not my intention. I didn't ignore his because they are positive, I just pointed yours out because I have seen you on here before dissing St Louis. As a non-resident, I'm not sure how accurate of response you can give. I didn't comment on the KC board about the guy wanting to know the difference between Denver and KC because I don't live in either of those places. I have been to both cities extensevely and I have a ton of friends in both places. However, I don't know the ins and outs of the neighborhoods so I leave that to the people that actually live there.

[skrizzle]

[quote=stlcitygirl;10350243]

Originally Posted by skrizzle

LOL I like how you ask me how I can comment on cities I don't live in, yet ignoring rgb123s comments on STL since they are positive.

I dont want to seem like I am insulting you, because that is not my intention. I didn't ignore his because they are positive, I just pointed yours out because I have seen you on here before dissing St Louis. As a non-resident, I'm not sure how accurate of response you can give. I didn't comment on the KC board about the guy wanting to know the difference between Denver and KC because I don't live in either of those places. I have been to both cities extensevely and I have a ton of friends in both places. However, I don't know the ends and outs of the neighborhoods so I leave that to the people that actually live there.

If you've been to both you should comment...

That person was actually asking for comparisons between distinct neighborhoods of Denver and KC.... if the OP was asking for comparisons between distinct hoods in STL and Minneapolis I wouldn't have posted anything.

How accurate of a response I give is based on what i've seen in both places and my experiences. Is that accurate? Who knows.... how accurate is a residents response which is full of bias, especially since most people posting on C-D about their own city usually love it.

A perspective of a city from people who have experienced it but don't live there is important, especially when its being expressed to other people who also don't live there and are planning to experience it. I'd say just as important as those who do live there... why? Cuz a resident knows the ins and outs of a city, but are biased (especially on these forums, and i'm guilty of it myself) because of their own feelings, and sometimes don't see what other people see.

If you are used to your own city and have your group of friends how often do you go out and interact with strangers? A non-resident visiting the city is going to do that more often usually.... which is probably why many people i've known NOT from STL go there and think the people are rude.. where as someone living there is more interacting with their own crew if ya know what I mean.

Thats just 1 example... so is anyones response REALLY accurate? No they are based on their own perspective and shaped by their way of thinking, that includes you and me. But from the perspective they are coming, they are accurate, especially if person looking for an answer shares some or part of that perspective with the person giving an answer.

If you want to tell the OP how i'm flawed and my way of thinking is wrong or whatever, go for it.... but someone asking questions on a forum should see the perspective of other people not just all the positives people want to say about it. I could go on and on about things good about KC, and then flip it around and say look, we got the worst sprawl, most of our burbs are boring and look the same, our city hates itself and half of the people in the burbs don't know whats in the urban core, our transportation is weak, we are poorly located for weekends to get away to another city (everything 3-4 hours is Omaha, STL, Branson LOL).. etc... but 9 out of 10 times i'm probably gonna list off all the positives and ignore the negatives. Someone outisde may see those negatives more then I do and bring them forward.

/end rant LOL