Single Parent Relocating to MN (Minneapolis, St. Paul: rentals, home, job market)

[MeowBarkLovers]

Hi- looking to relocate to MN - few questions ---
- St. Paul or Minneapolis - which would be best for a single parent?
- teaching industry - plentiful jobs or reductions? --- public school or charter schools
- if not teaching - which other industries are in demand or top fields in minneapolis or st. paul?
- any resources - what organizations or associations would be good for getting advice or suggestions?
- neighborhoods - whether st. paul or minneapolis - which neighborhoods are most affordable and have ok/good schools?
- anything else that would be helpful to know?

[gopherviking]

How old are you kids? What are you looking for in a school? Some schools have a focus, like arts or STEM.
As for living - what do you want? Size? Yard? Close to transit?
Job market is good overall . Special ed is in demand, according to my teacher friends. I would directly call schools and look online for openings. https://jobs.mpls.k12.mn.us/

[pvoyd]

If you are looking at teaching public vs. charter schools, my unscientific sample shows that the latter pay their teachers significantly less the former.

[MeowBarkLovers]

thank you @ pvoyd for heads-up on public vs charter school pay...great info.

@gopherviking - i would like to be in city of minneapolis or st. paul. i would be renting until i brought a home. wanting to know neighborhoods that are in city and close to transit and are affordable yet fairly safe.

right now, not too picky on schools, just something with a ok rating is fine until i'm settled in.

any other job markets in demand right now in the twin cities?

[gopherviking]

I would look into Powderhorn Park, CARAG, Lyndale, Longfellow neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Highland, Mac-Groveland, but there may not be too many rentals there.

[pvoyd]

Originally Posted by MeowBarkLovers

any other job markets in demand right now in the twin cities?

Not sure whether you are interested in "trades" jobs, but in my experience, it is not easy here to find a competent and reliable auto mechanic, residential building contractor, electrician, HVAC specialist, plumber.

Good tutors at all levels and music teachers also appear in demand (we could not find a saxophone teacher at all in the SW suburbs). I am not sure what the tutor pay level is. We paid a retired piano teacher $40 for a 1.5 hour lesson at our home (45 minutes per child.)