Need Duluth/Superior Info PLZ! (Abrams, Winter: section 8, for sale, rental) - Wisconsin (WI) - City-Data Forum

leeloo · 05-01-2007, 12:56 AM

Have been offered employment in Duluth/Superior area - good job/great pay but must relocate. Is it better to live in Duluth or Superior? What are the people like? Best areas/apt communities to rent in? Thanks!!!!!! Moving from a community of about 250,000 people.....

Delaneyland · 05-01-2007, 08:34 AM

I don't know where you are moving from or what you are looking for, but both Duluth and Superior have their good and bad points. In my humble opinion, Duluth is turning into a pit of crime, section 8 housing, and government debt that will further degrade the quality of life for its citizens for years to come. Superior isn't too far behind, at one time it had more bars per capita than any other city in the USA. I don't know if it is still true or not. There are plenty of areas on the outskirts of both cities that I find really appealing. Wisconsin has higher property taxes and gas taxes than MN but lower sales tax. I moved out of Duluth a number of years ago and watch its decline from 25 miles south.

leeloo · 05-01-2007, 01:18 PM

Thanks Delanyland....would be relocating from Sioux Falls. I was hoping for a more upscale environment but what I'm hearing from people is that the area is very blue collar and other than the climate - that I wouldn't like it. The rental housing I have found online is almost all income based or section 8. I hate to pass up this job but ya gotta like where you live.

AnonymousCoward · 05-01-2007, 09:40 PM

I haven't lived in Duluth, but I have visited that area somewhat frequently, and I had to add my non-resident perspective. True, from what some of the local people are saying the city has issues, and it is unfortunate that crime appears to be on the rise, but the region that Duluth/Superior is in is also one of the most scenic in the Midwest. Duluth has really done some nice work in the canal park area over the past 10 years or so. Heading north of Duluth, along the north shore of Lake Superior is the kind of scenery you would expect in down-east Maine, not in the Midwest. And speaking of Lake Superior, the neighborhoods along and near the lake look really nice to me, as does Cloquet, as does the UM-D area, as do a lot of the areas surrounding the two cities. It is not as if this is a crowded metropolis surrounded by suburbs, there appear to be plenty of houses for sale, with acreage, just outside of Duluth and Superior.

GreggB · 05-01-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeloo

Thanks Delanyland....would be relocating from Sioux Falls. I was hoping for a more upscale environment but what I'm hearing from people is that the area is very blue collar and other than the climate - that I wouldn't like it. The rental housing I have found online is almost all income based or section 8. I hate to pass up this job but ya gotta like where you live.

I lived in Rapid City and am somewhat familiar with Sioux Falls. I also lived in Wisconsin and am somewhat familiar with Superior and Duluth. If anything--Duluth would be more similar to Sioux Falls, than would be Superior. Superior is a old city, rather drab and dilapadated. Was through there like 3 times, the last time about 5 years ago. Was NOT at all impressed with Superior. Duluth, at least on the surface, looked rather appealing. Real nice lakefront, some beautiful parks. The downtown seemed somewhat vibrant, was really "Hilly"--kind of like a little San Francisco. I noticed some nice neighborhoods in Duluth with interesting homes, but also saw some pretty crappy areas. Winters up there can be BRUTAL, especially when an East wind blows off the lake. I don't believe that I would want to live up there, but Duluth was a nice place to visit. Good luck to you. BTW---I LOVED living in Rapid City for the 3 years I was there. Really is a most appealing city!!

golfgal · 05-02-2007, 05:15 AM

I think you will find that Duluth is quite different from Sioux Falls in appearance. It isn't as clean/nice looking as Sioux Falls but it is MUCH more scenic. You won't see the number of new developments in Duluth that Sioux Falls has. If you have been through Sioux City, IA, Duluth is similar to that, very industrial looking.

As for the make up of the populations in Duluth vs Sioux Falls, I think you will find a similar population structure with some of the not so nice areas in Duluth comparing to the areas on the north end of Sioux Falls (12th St. area). Duluth will be similar in that there are a couple colleges/universities, it is the regional medical center as well.

Delaneyland · 05-02-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeloo

Thanks Delanyland....would be relocating from Sioux Falls. I was hoping for a more upscale environment but what I'm hearing from people is that the area is very blue collar and other than the climate - that I wouldn't like it. The rental housing I have found online is almost all income based or section 8. I hate to pass up this job but ya gotta like where you live.

There are nicer places to live than Duluth proper, if you look at some of the communities outside the city limits you'll probably like many areas you see. I don't know if you've got your heart set on living in the city or not. Seems like a lot of folks that don't live here concentrate on wanting a view of the big lake and unless you've got a pile of money or want to live on the hillside, that just won't happen. My wife and I enjoy country living, she drives 20 minutes to Duluth for work every day (which I don't think is terrible) and we've got the luzury of living on 38 acres in a 2800 sf house that would be quadruple the price if we were closer to the city. If you are interested, I could give some information on the outlying areas. A friend of mine moved here from Des Moines 3 years ago and he seems to like it but he'd like it hotter in the summer, me, I'd die in the heat of Des Moines.

leeloo · 05-04-2007, 07:52 PM

Thanks everyone so much for the info thus far. I'm very attracted by the scenery and especially the climate - hate hot, humid weather in the summer. Does anyone know what a "tank heater" is?

GreggB · 05-06-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeloo

Thanks everyone so much for the info thus far. I'm very attracted by the scenery and especially the climate - hate hot, humid weather in the summer. Does anyone know what a "tank heater" is?

A"Tank Heater" could be several different things. What is it in reference too??

Drover · 05-06-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreggB

A"Tank Heater" could be several different things. What is it in reference too??

When I hear "tank heater" I think one of three things:

1) A home furnace run on oil, which is typically stored in an underground tank right near the house;

2) A hot-water tank?

3) The heater in an A1 Abrams tank that keeps its crew cozy during winter combat exercises