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We are torn between picking seattle vs minnetonka area. We are hoping CD forum members can help us decide. Here is the current situation we are in...
We are in the process of accepting an offer from a company. we can choose either Seattle or Minnesota. Pay would be same irrespective of location, i believe.
Background: we are family of 3 (Myself and wife, both working, and a 2 yr old) of Asian(Indian) origin.
Moving from : Fairfield county(CT)
Finances: We make about 300K+ but not really big spenders.
Preferences (mostly in preference order):
Good school district(s)
Quality of living
Family friendly
Progressive area (Nothing to do with politics. We just want to be in a place where everyone is accepted and my US born son should be seen as US citizen like everyone else)
Taxes
Quality housing
Weather
Near by Costco(Addicted ) and Indian grocery store
Avenues to save tax free for College etc..
Plans to rent in the beginning and buy a house bit later.
I hope this will provide enough details for you to provide an informed advice.
Thanks in advance...
** Sorry for multi posting. first time poster on CD
Guess it depends on whether you prefer to be by the ocean/mountains or lakes. Seattle is of course a big city, Minnetonka is an area just outside the Twin Cities, so while not that urban in itself its close enough to the urban centre of Minnesota that it doesn't make as much of a difference.
Minnesota is very accepting, and more diverse than people who never been seem to think (at least around the cities). I personally prefer the climate of Minnesota over the Pacific Northwest. Especially if you're gonna be in Minnetonka. The winters allow you to ice skate on the lakes, the summer... well if you like boating or anything related with water, they're perfect as they're hot enough to go in the water but they're still cooler than most places further south. Seattle is a lot of gloomy overcast skies and rain. Winters are mild but more damp, summers are pleasant but in my opinion, not hot enough. It depends on what you prefer. I'm sure cold weather isn't too bad for you if you're considering either place.
Really, depends on your lifestyle. Both places are great, though I haven't been to Seattle yet, seldom here a complaint. I was up at Lake Minnetonka just a few weeks ago and its a gorgeous area, though one of the more expensive places to live in Minnesota, as there's a high demand to live close to the water.
If you want Minnesota, it appears that the 2 school districts in the state with the highest Indian percentages, Eden Prairie to the south and Wayzata to the north, sandwich Minnetonka. Both are very good school districts as well.
Hopefully, others will chime in with more information.
We are torn between picking seattle vs minnetonka area. We are hoping CD forum members can help us decide. Here is the current situation we are in...
We are in the process of accepting an offer from a company. we can choose either Seattle or Minnesota. Pay would be same irrespective of location, i believe.
Background: we are family of 3 (Myself and wife, both working, and a 2 yr old) of Asian(Indian) origin.
Moving from : Fairfield county(CT)
Finances: We make about 300K+ but not really big spenders.
Preferences (mostly in preference order):
Good school district(s)
Quality of living
Family friendly
Progressive area (Nothing to do with politics. We just want to be in a place where everyone is accepted and my US born son should be seen as US citizen like everyone else)
Taxes
Quality housing
Weather
Near by Costco(Addicted ) and Indian grocery store
Avenues to save tax free for College etc..
Plans to rent in the beginning and buy a house bit later.
I hope this will provide enough details for you to provide an informed advice.
Thanks in advance...
** Sorry for multi posting. first time poster on CD
well i think Washington State has no state income tax so that is a consideration.I dont know if you would like the constantly cloudy,wet, and gloomy Seattle climate.I dont know if Seattle has a large indian population or not but wikipedia said 0.8 percent but idk if thats right.
well i think Washington State has no state income tax so that is a consideration.I dont know if you would like the constantly cloudy,wet, and gloomy Seattle climate.I dont know if Seattle has a large indian population or not but wikipedia said 0.8 percent but idk if thats right.
Most of the Asian (particularly Indian) population lives east of Seattle.
Just looked at the home prices in these towns. i am not sure of we can afford that much. spending 50% my our income on home is bit too much to swallow .
did the salaries raise enough to cover the 100% increase in home prices?
Guess it depends on whether you prefer to be by the ocean/mountains or lakes. Seattle is of course a big city, Minnetonka is an area just outside the Twin Cities, so while not that urban in itself its close enough to the urban centre of Minnesota that it doesn't make as much of a difference.
Minnesota is very accepting, and more diverse than people who never been seem to think (at least around the cities). I personally prefer the climate of Minnesota over the Pacific Northwest. Especially if you're gonna be in Minnetonka. The winters allow you to ice skate on the lakes, the summer... well if you like boating or anything related with water, they're perfect as they're hot enough to go in the water but they're still cooler than most places further south. Seattle is a lot of gloomy overcast skies and rain. Winters are mild but more damp, summers are pleasant but in my opinion, not hot enough. It depends on what you prefer. I'm sure cold weather isn't too bad for you if you're considering either place.
Really, depends on your lifestyle. Both places are great, though I haven't been to Seattle yet, seldom here a complaint. I was up at Lake Minnetonka just a few weeks ago and its a gorgeous area, though one of the more expensive places to live in Minnesota, as there's a high demand to live close to the water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ckhthankgod
If you want Minnesota, it appears that the 2 school districts in the state with the highest Indian percentages, Eden Prairie to the south and Wayzata to the north, sandwich Minnetonka. Both are very good school districts as well.
Hopefully, others will chime in with more information.
Minnesota has everything that we are looking for, except weather and taxes. weather is not too much of concern but that ~10 upper tax tier is hard to swallow. between 35+% fed, ~10% state and ~10% SS and FICA, i feel like working hard to grow in career is less rewarding. want us rather spend time with family etc, i guess..
Just looked at the home prices in these towns. i am not sure of we can afford that much. spending 50% my our income on home is bit too much to swallow .
did the salaries raise enough to cover the 100% increase in home prices?
If Bellevue and Redmond is too expensive, then look South to Renton and Kent. Stick to the eastern portions of those cities as that's where the good schools/districts are.
The housing market situation in the Seattle area is very challenging though.
IMO You are picking between 2 great areas. I would love living in either of these areas. I absolutely love Seattle and Minnetonka areas. And I love the attitude of the people in these areas as well.
Seattle is breathtakingly beautiful with an awesome urban core, abundant outdoor sports, and some of the coolest nature ecosystems around - alpine, rainforest, ocean... I love it there.
You're not going to be able to change Minnesota weather and taxes, but is there a possibility you could learn to appreciate it? Minnesota is beautiful in all seasons. After living in that area, I've come to love skiing, skating, snowmobiling, winter hikes... and the sport of hockey. You would be in the youth hockey epicenter if any of your kids have an inkling for the sport. Some of the best hockey players in the world trained in this area!
Also, though taxes are high in Minnesota, services are good, such as some of the best public schools in the U.S. I remember when my healthy friend had her healthy baby and the community nurse would just make house calls periodically to see if she needed any help - apparently this new mother program was funded by taxes. Like that would ever happen in my town. The MN communities are very school/family supportive.
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