Best Towns Outside Twin Cities for Living (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: house, school district)

[mr roboto]

Just a heads up re:Lake Elmo. That town is going through hellish internal local battles. 2 camps have set up hardline stances - pro growth and anti growth. The Met Council is trying to encourage even development across the area and certain faction in Lake Elmo are fighting it hard.

Google Lake Elmo City Council. Their meetings are apparently very conflict-laden.

[Minntoaz]

Originally Posted by SciFiNerd1

My wife and I absolutely love Minnesota every time we visit the state. We are very interested in living in a smaller town/city outside the Twin Cities (not exurbans).

We do not want to live too far out because of culture and activities in the city plus we might work in the Twin Cities.

What are your recommendations for smaller towns preferably less than 35 miles from the Twin Cities? Affordability with good schools and easy commute will be a plus.

Here is the list I have so far:

Stillwater
Northfield
Faribault
Hastings
Cottage Grove
Minnetrista
Victoria
Waconia
Norwood-Young America
Cologne
Lino Lakes
Centerville
Hugo
Columbus
Forest Lake

Stillwater- best city of them all IMO though it could be a terrible commute if you're working in DT Minneapolis
Faribault- very far away
Hastings- good little town but again could be a bad commute
Victoria- kind of out in the woods, not close to a lot but pretty and affordable
Waconia- nice small town feel, semi-affordable housing but at least an hour commute to DT Minneapolis
Hugo- Nice ared, new developments and affordable
Forest Lake- would be like an hour or so commute everyday. Small town and doesn't seem like there is much to do... subjective of course.

[Stanton1433]

Livability is very subjective but I would cross off Cottage Grove, Lino Lakes.


Based on my initial thoughts, Victoria and Stillwater are my choices. Victoria is an affluent suburb near Lake Minnetonka and is in the ritzy southwest metro corridor yet close enough to major roads to get into downtown in 45 minutes to an hour. Stillwater has such historic charm and a certain level of upscale feeling but does not have the snobbiness that a Minnetrista or a Victoria might have.

[TxTnVtMn]

I'd take a hard look at Excelsior.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by mr roboto

Just a heads up re:Lake Elmo. That town is going through hellish internal local battles. 2 camps have set up hardline stances - pro growth and anti growth. The Met Council is trying to encourage even development across the area and certain faction in Lake Elmo are fighting it hard.

Google Lake Elmo City Council. Their meetings are apparently very conflict-laden.

Oh, goodness yes. Great little town in the way of seriously-funded growth. Some City Page articles are fairly accurate of the battling, from what my friends up there say.

[srsmn]

I'm having a hard time picturing what the OP wants. Most of those towns listed are suburbs with a mix of old, small town or rural character and large tracts of new development.

Minnetrista and Cottage Grove, to me, are particularly suburban.

That being said, one could possibly add Carver, Monticello, and maybe even Elk River to the list.

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by SciFiNerd1

My wife and I absolutely love Minnesota every time we visit the state. We are very interested in living in a smaller town/city outside the Twin Cities (not exurbans).

We do not want to live too far out because of culture and activities in the city plus we might work in the Twin Cities.

What are your recommendations for smaller towns preferably less than 35 miles from the Twin Cities? Affordability with good schools and easy commute will be a plus.

Here is the list I have so far:

Stillwater
Northfield
Faribault
Hastings
Cottage Grove
Minnetrista
Victoria
Waconia
Norwood-Young America
Cologne
Lino Lakes
Centerville
Hugo
Columbus
Forest Lake

Prescott and Hudson are nice as well. They are in Wisconsin, which I hear has better taxes.

[Unsettomati]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Addams

Prescott and Hudson are nice as well. They are in Wisconsin, which I hear has better taxes.

Most families making under $200k/year will pay less of their income toward taxes in Minnesota than in Wisconsin, provided they are homeowners. This largely due to property taxes in Wisconsin, which are the highest in the Midwest and fourth-highest nationally. For most incomes, this more than compensates for Minnesota's higher income and sales taxes.

That said, I certainly wouldn't let some difference of a few hundred dollars annually be the deciding factor in which side of the river I live. I'd live where I want to live. Life's too short.

[SciFiNerd1]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Addams

Prescott and Hudson are nice as well. They are in Wisconsin, which I hear has better taxes.

I have heard that the property taxes are higher in WI than in MN. It is a huge factor that I didn't pick Wisconsin even though I love the city of Madison.

[SciFiNerd1]

What are your opinions about Hopkins, MN? I see that the area is well-known for diversity and affordability (rentals) compared to many suburbs in Twin Cities.