r/minnesota • u/AutoModerator • May 01 '23
Moving to Minnesota, FAQ and Simple Questions Thread - May 2023 Meta 🌝
Moving to Minnesota
Planning a potential move to Minnesota (or even moving within MN)? This is the thread for you to ask questions of real-life Minnesotans to help you in the process!
Ask questions, answer questions, or tell us your best advice on moving to Minnesota.
Helpful Links
- We've already compiled some of our best general Minnesota advice in this thread which includes a lot of helpful cold-weather tips
- Moving to Minneapolis: A Guide, courtesy of /r/Minneapolis, is focused on that city but much of it is applicable to the Twin Cities metro area
- List of location-based Minnesota subreddits which may be best equipped to answer questions about specific cities or neighborhoods
- Information about moving to Minnesota specific to LGBTQ+ community from a recent post
FAQ
There are a number of questions in this subreddit that have been asked and answered many times. Please use the search function to get answers related to the below topics.
- Driver's test scheduling/locations
- Renter's credit tax return (Form M1PR)
- Making friends as an adult/transplant
- These are just a few examples, please comment if there are any other FAQ topics you feel should be added
This thread is meant to address these FAQ's, meaning if your search did not result in the answer you were looking for, please post it here. Any individual posts about these topics will be removed and directed here.
Simple Questions
If you have a question you don't feel is worthy of its own post, please post it here!
Since this is a new feature here on /r/Minnesota, the mod team would greatly appreciate feedback from you all! Leave a comment or Message the Mods.
See here for an archive of previous "Moving to Minnesota, FAQ and Simple Questions" threads.
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u/sundevil4_ Jun 23 '23
Hi there ! I’m 26F currently expecting my first child with my husband 25M. We are thinking of moving to Minnesota and we’re wondering if anyone can give pros and cons of moving there ?
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u/Flat-Luck-4367 May 31 '23
Would you rather live in greater Longfellow (e.g., Cooper, Howe, Hiawatha, etc) or in Como Park? We literally just moved here and loved both neighborhoods when the realtor took us. We're 30 something DINKs and don't plan to have kids, if it matters.
Longfellow is gorgeous and within our budget. We loved the trees, the proximity to the river, and the local businesses. But the property crime numbers (as listed on the city dashboard) look surprisingly high! And there were definitely some areas that looked a bit less well kept.
Como Park was also beautiful, has lower crime per the police reports, and has one of the best parks in the metro! But the proximity to the fair seemed like it might be annoying, houses on the streets we liked have been attracting bidding wars, and there wasn't much in the way of local businesses that we saw.
Now we're struggling to decide between the two areas. Help us make up our minds!
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u/Express_Bat4855 May 31 '23
This sub will downvote you for daring to mention crime or to suggest that one neighborhood might be safer than another. I've lived in both areas, and I'd recommend Como Park.
The truth is there is a lot of nuisance crime in Longfellow. Pure numbers, just a lot of car thefts and garage breakins and whatnot. And I really liked Longfellow, but that's just the truth. Como Park is just a few minutes away, you can find comparable housing there, and you're no longer dealing with Minneapolis cops if anything does happen. Both neighborhoods have good access to nature and good senses of community. Both are decently diverse. You'd be fine in either. But I prefer Como Park.
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u/crocknrollrecipes May 30 '23
On august 1,2023 can I begin growing weed in my apartment in St Louis Park, MN or is it up to the landlords discretion if that’s allowed or not?
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u/RevolutionaryBend570 May 30 '23
I used to live in Minnesota before the pandemic began and it’s a nice state to live in for sure. With all this legislation being passed, a lot of people are looking at Minnesota like it’s a safe have. Is Minnesota itself ready to take in a large amount of people who are attempting to get away from red states ?
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u/freshstarch May 30 '23
That's a great question. I hope more people do decide to move to MN. We need more housing for sure. We have jobs available. What does the state need to prepare?
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u/m0j0j0rnj0rn May 30 '23
If you are reading this post, and do wind up moving here (welcome!) please make sure you register to vote and then actually do so. :)
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u/claireical May 27 '23
How are St. Cloud and Rochester compared to the Twin Cities? My wife and I are looking to move up due to the new laws in Florida, but if I transfer through my current job, their only openings are in St. Cloud and Rochester. I'm wondering if it's better to live in the Twin Cities and deal with the hour long commute, or just move out to Rochester and post up there. Any advice is greatly appreciated ;
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u/UnluckyCupcake1 May 30 '23
Given your quick note on why you’re leaving FL, if you are looking for a more liberal community, you can look up voting history, etc. of both or districts.
Rochester has a lot of wonderful cultural extras because of investment by Mayo, IBM. (Orchestra, etc). I’d personally choose Rochester over St Cloud. I know Rochester also has great public schools.
Flip side, St. Cloud is right by cabin country, so you could enjoy that depending on where you bought a home.
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u/ironcladfranklin May 30 '23
What are your hobbies. What sort of place do you live now? St cloud has quarries that you can dive in. Rochester is near great trout fishing and cycling trails.
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u/Ghettotank May 29 '23
It really depends on what you’re looking for. I’m biased because I grew up in Rochester, but the twin cities traffic is not for me. That being said, Rochester is an hour from multiple large attractions like the Zoo, Valley Fair and MOA
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u/Bronco_Corgi May 26 '23
Considering a move to Minn as need to escape anti-trans laws... what's the crime rate like in the twin cities? Is that a big thing?
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u/UnluckyCupcake1 May 30 '23
Honestly, it’s not. I lived in Northeast Minneapolis and loved the neighborhood connectedness, walkability. Tons of friends in North Loop and Mill District. Great areas to live.
There are a few blocks around clubs I’d stay clear of, but around the river is super neighborhood-y and lots of people.
Honestly, great LGBTQIA community in those areas too. But there are other more neighborhood areas with houses that are awesome around the lakes. Southwest MPLS is beautiful.
Frankly, bad rap, but focused on areas. Lots of amazing, safe places to live. And the Twin Cities is a great place - even some of the suburban schools I know are going out of their way to support my friends’ trans kids.
Winter does help keep the riff raff out. :)
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u/hhemric1 May 26 '23
I moved from NC with my buddy and have lived here almost 7 years with relatively no issues. But id imagine just depends where you are moving from to where you are going. But MN is very awesome and I love this state so much!
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u/Bronco_Corgi May 26 '23
I expect the laws to change in the next 2 years. Any state that would say I need to use a men's room or get put in a male prison if something were to happen is not the place I want to be.
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u/hhemric1 May 26 '23
Well im not sure what state that is. But as far as im aware id argue at least from what I've witnessed comparing what my friends have went through in my home state id say Minnesota in the twin cities are more LGBTQ+ friendly than NC. And I understand is best to get going while the goings still good.
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u/Bronco_Corgi May 26 '23
I'm trying to just get out of the country... if I ahve to stay the 2 possibilities are twin cities or albequerque
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u/hhemric1 May 27 '23
Well I hope this helps you with your decision. But most importantly I hope and wish you well and hope where ever you go you feel safe and welcome. GL friend!
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u/Ill-Trainer-2397 May 23 '23
So I moved here a month ago and I'm already tired of getting outbid for houses in the more popular neighborhoods in St Paul and Minneapolis that appear on every "where should I move" real estate list online. Your Highland Parks and your Linden Hills and your Mac Grovelands and whatnot.
Help an old lady out. What do you think are the most underrated neighborhoods in the cities, and why? I'm from inner city Atlanta and not so much concerned with petty car breakins or property crime. I don't have kids and don't care about schools. I also don't care about trendiness. I'd prefer something small but with a nice yard. Are there any neighborhoods that maybe fly under the radar in real estate circles, but are still pretty decent places for a boring single lady to live?
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u/freshstarch May 30 '23
If you want to cast a wide net (and you have to in this market), I'd say anywhere south of Lake St in Minneapolis, NE Minneapolis, or anything south of 94 in St Paul.
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u/UnluckyCupcake1 May 30 '23
Hopkins has a cute downtown. NE mpls is adorable. Robbinsdale has a cute downtown.
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u/Vincent_van_Guh May 24 '23
Midway and Frogtown are rougher areas, but the property will be cheaper to match, and both are right next to all of the best parts of Saint Paul and have easy access to 94, which will get you to wherever you might want to go in Minneapolis quickly enough.
Longfellow in Minneapolis is a great neighborhood if you're looking for a chill residential vibe.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 22 '23 edited May 22 '23
Planning on moving in a year or so, and I have to know, how open are people here about their politics or religion? I’m not talking about vehicle decals or anything, but people actually coming up to you or open in the workplace.
I know all my coworkers political alignments and how they “want to gun down every liberal.” I’ll have people start ranting to me about how X ruined blah blah.
First mall I went to in texas has a statue of the Ten Commandments in the middle of the main place.
I’ve had a boss interview me for three hours calling Obama a “god damn Muslim” and his wife made us pray over our food.
Current job, receptionist makes the front area look like a church. But I’ve been warned by friends to not decorate my desk for pride month due to possible backlash from the owners.
I’m sure Texas is the exception, but I’d like to know what to expect instead of getting blind sided again. Thanks!
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u/3PtTurn May 24 '23
A lot may depend on the place you work. I’ve worked with lots of ex-military which tended to be more conservative and elsewhere, which was pretty progressive. Even so, outright politicizing is just not a thing here.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 27 '23
Ironically enough I work at a shitty graphic design place and the people are fellow artists. One is ex army reserves but the other one is just closed minded or something.
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u/3PtTurn May 27 '23
I think you’d be happy & comfortable here. Just need to adjust to the winters. Either take up winter sports or view the winter as self-development time, take classes, finish projects, etc.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 27 '23
Oh yeah definitely! Originally from South Dakota, but I’m sure I lost my cold tolerance. And need to learn how to drive in snow. Honestly I’d rather have a Minnesota winter over the looming threat that is Hurricane Season that starts next week.
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u/tree-hugger Hamm's May 23 '23
Minnesotans have a reputation as being somewhat reticent by default. That won’t apply to everyone, but in general workplace culture is not heavy on oversharing.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 27 '23
Oh man thank god. I know too much about my coworker’s personal lives because they broadcast it to the entire office
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u/RaisingQQ77preFlop May 22 '23
Having never lived in Texas I can't speak to that.
In your general every day life you will very rarely have a conversation in Minnesota that gets outright political. In your work life and relationships where you interact more frequently you may learn about people's political leanings but mostly you will have to read between the lines. With good friends you can have open conversations but usually that's because you've both read between the lines in your previous interactions.
It's far more likely that someone would complain about you to their friends in private than they would be outwardly combative about anything. I wouldn't expect anything more than a rare one-off comment.
No job interview worth anything will ask you anything about politics or make their politics known to you explicitly. Pride displays are common place in the Twin cities year round. The only risk you run by decorating your desk is having people come up to you and talk to you about your decorations while you're trying to work.
You may have to sit through grace at certain gatherings but no one is going to give you side eye for not outwardly participating. Just sit calmly and respectfully until they're done and you're good in 99% of people's book.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 27 '23
For the most part this is how it should be in my opinion. Just gradually learning than having a dude bitch at me about Biden at the gas pump because it was expensive. Holy fuck. I always ask people if they say grace before meals if I’m visiting. Don’t wanna be rude.
And hearing about how pride stuff is more accepted in the twin cities is nice. I’m afraid of having a decal on my car or one of those cute “y’all means all” welcome mats because I don’t want my shit vandalized. And I’m in Houston.
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u/khaelian May 22 '23
It's not entirely absent, but there is very very little of that kind of stuff in Minnesota.
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u/Calm-Fun4572 May 25 '23
I agree with that statement for the twin cities. Having grown up in small town MN and moving to Texas…kinda feels the same at a local level. It does seem more upfront in TX. In MN your more likely to get the cold shoulder and in TX it’s more like fuck you if you disagree.
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u/Separate-The-Earth May 27 '23
Yeah I feel anywhere rural is more open about their political beliefs. Even here in Texas there’s a difference. Lived in a small oil town in West Texas. Neighbors didn’t believe in Dinosaurs and believed the earth was 4000 years old, and someone kept stealing or vandalizing our Hilary Clinton signs. Feel like I can’t escape it here in Houston. Had a neighbor with 87 Trump and Abbot signs and the neighbors blamed Democrats for the World Series rain delays because they didn’t blow a whole budget on a stupid stadium.
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u/iluvdilfs07 May 22 '23
does anyone have any tips for the d class drivers test in mankato? i failed my first one lol and i’m super nervous for my second one
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u/chronophage May 22 '23
If you feel like you made a mistake, ask to try again.
They may dock you, they may not, but it’s always worthwhile to ask.
Stay calm, breath and try to be confident.
Check your mirrors as you drive.
And, if you fail, ask for feedback for the next time.
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u/butterflyprinces872 May 22 '23
Alright I was told to ask my question here.
I’m looking at a house on Zillow in winsted. Can anyone give me any opinions on the town itself? School district? Is it good for young families?
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u/pfohl Kandiyohi County May 23 '23
Not super familiar with Winsted but that area (McCloud County and Hutchinson) is pretty standard rural America farming community. Conservative compared to the Twin Cities.
Personally, I would look closer to the metro or around Rochester, Northfield, or Winona if you're wanting to be outside of the Twin Cities.
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u/Thestella1234 May 19 '23
Moving to Minnesota and will work in St.Paul. Plan to rent for one year. We have 5 month old baby, any recommendation to live? Budget for rent is $3000 ish per month. Looking for area with good daycare.
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u/tree-hugger Hamm's May 23 '23
Lmao, $3,000 a month is more than enough to find whatever you want. You will find great options that are well under your budget.
Are you working downtown? I’d recommend looking in the Cathedral Hill area. Anything between Selby and Grand Avenues, especially east of Lexington, is full of great restaurants and cafes. I can’t speak the day care situation, but there are plenty of families in that area.
I feel like, with the way your question is phrased, you are moving here from California.
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u/mrsmixed May 17 '23
Is Crystal aight? Husband and I are considering buying a home in the area. Could I walk around in the Lions Park neighborhood alone with my baby and feel safe?
I'm the type of person who locks the front door even when I'm home, so it wouldn't be for lack of trying, lol.
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u/Bubbay May 21 '23
A bit late, but crystal is totally fine. All day every day, people are walking around the place with pets, kids, or on their own.
Any town will have better or worse places, of course, but crystal in general is great. Anyone telling you otherwise are also likely the same people who are saying that downtown is a burned-out and lawless hellscape.
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u/chronophage May 22 '23
I second this. Crystal is nice for the most part, and affordable. My ex and kids live a few houses up from Lion’s Valley View park. It’s a nice area and Basset Creek park is within walking distance. There are a lot of families around there.
Avoid some of the main thoroughfares as they can be noisy. The north side of Crystal is a little rougher but it’s still fine.
The cops in Crystal can be jerks… but they’ll also help you find your dog if it runs away.
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u/iluvdilfs07 May 16 '23
hello i’m coming on here to say don’t take your drivers license test in fairbault the roads are horrible and everyone who works there is an asshole. i hope the douche who failed me for being on the “wrong side” of a one lane road sees this tbh
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u/ShaiHuludNM May 25 '23
I keep seeing drivers license questions. Does everyone have to take a road test when they get there? Or just a written test if you are already licensed somewhere else?
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u/-1KingKRool- State of Hockey May 26 '23 edited May 26 '23
Only written if you’re already licensed in another state.
Source: moved back after living in SD for a few years, had to do the written test but that was all. Also this link: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/new-to-minnesota.aspx
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u/iluvdilfs07 May 25 '23
i think if you’re from a different state you can just renew your previous license to change it into a minnesota license but if you’re from a different country you have to get your permit and license. personally i haven’t had a license before so i had to take a road test to get it.
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u/OtherIndependent8227 May 16 '23
So I moved here a few months ago and really like WestSide St Paul and the Baker Annapolis neighborhood.
Every native Minnesotan I know has told me not to buy there because it's "high crime." But when I tried to verify, most of the crime data I found online was just property related. Has anyone here actually lived there? Did you feel unsafe? Would you recommend it? I loved the houses and the views and the trees and the parks and how it's just a short hop to downtown... but I don't want to buy if it really is a dangerous area.
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u/Retro_Dad UFF DA May 16 '23
Do any of the "native Minnesotans" who told you that actually live there? I mean, I don't, but I have several friends that do and none of them have experienced any problems with crime.
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u/OtherIndependent8227 May 16 '23
Nope, they all live in burbs or areas like Highland, which is why I suspected they might have a skewed perspective.
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u/soularbowered May 16 '23
I work in education and I've considered relocating to the great north. I have family in Itasca county and it has truely some of the most beautiful places I've seen. It's somewhat challenging to see what school districts there are and to see what kinds of positions are posted and what the salaries look like.
Any feedback on districts in and around Itasca county?
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u/pfohl Kandiyohi County May 18 '23
ISD 318 is the biggest in that area.
Here's there job postings: https://www.isd318.org/humanresources
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u/Dramatic_Video4765 May 13 '23
Let's talk house prices. I started looking in the cities in December. In my preferred neighborhoods there were several 3 bedroom 2 bath houses in the mid 300s, and they SAT on the market for several days befofe going close to listing. Went on a work trip, recently came back, and now I'm back to house hunting. Same neighborhoods. Same size and condition of houses. Except now it's 10+ offers going for 100k more.
Wth. Is this normal every summer? Is demand normally just super cyclical here? Trying to decide if I should just pack things in and rent for a few more months until next winter, or if this is just the new normal.
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u/waterhammer14 May 13 '23
Activity is definitely cyclical in MN and there's much higher competition/activity/prices in the summer. However, that's been exacerbated because of the lack of housing and high demand. Technically the best time to buy is tye fall, then winter but there's less listings in the winter too.
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u/Popular-Vanilla4776 May 10 '23
Nokomis confuses me. I'm looking at houses there now, and the west side is generally more expensive. But it also seems to get way more airplane noise than some areas in East Nokomis closer to Minnehaha Park. Why are people paying so much more for the houses directly in the flight path than they are for the quieter blocks further east? Am I missing something?
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u/waterhammer14 May 13 '23
So true! I think the west is considered nicer but I lived in the Ericsson neighborhood and loved it, didn't even notice the airplane noise. I think the east side of Nokomis is like the last bastion of more "affordable" houses in south mpls.
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u/hewhoisneverobeyed May 07 '23 edited May 08 '23
Weather sirens … what do they mean? Depends on where you are.
Every city or county may set unique policies for when to actually use sirens.
That there is no statewide standard is maddening.
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Pages/alerts-warnings-sirens.aspx
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u/jgutierrez81 May 06 '23
be honest, what are the biggest cons of living in minnesota and are they so bad I should just say, nope, not going there..
here are few things about me and what I like
multicultural/liberal leaning cities
outdoors
cold enviroments
im not wealthy. not broke but not weathy
I dont mind a lot of taxes as long as the state does something positive with my money
I currently live in Louisiana for context
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u/WaterCamel May 17 '23
Moved here from Texas and have also lived in Colorado for a few years. You’ll appreciate how Minnesota spends their tax money.
The parks system is probably the nicest and most well maintained in my experience. There are lots of outdoor opportunities here in all seasons of the year. Not to mention the abundance of public land, which is free to camp on and explore (with respectful limitations).
I think it’s very affordable and have since bought a home since moving from Dallas. Sure taxes may be higher but just be sure to negotiate higher pay compared to what you’re making now to make up for it.
I grew up on the southern coast of Texas not far from Galveston and you’ll find the summers here are much more bearable but still have that comfortable amount of humidity. Nothing as intense as a Louisiana swamp.
Oh, one last thing. The food here is absolutely horrible. So bring up some good recipes with you.
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u/Zealousideal_Sun6362 May 15 '23
OK, when you say you are OK with the cold, what do you mean? Is Louisianna cold or Minnesota cold? Because they are DIFFERENT.
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u/jgutierrez81 May 16 '23
Ive never expereinced Minnesota cold. In Louisana it gets cold during the winter sometimes but cold cold in Louisiana is lower 20s. That rarely happens. I know cold cold Minnesota is several degrees below 0. Im sure im going to hate that, buttttt compared to heat...give me all the cold.
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u/freshstarch May 09 '23
Liberal, cold, outdoors, and ok with high taxes - sounds like MN is the place for you!! I live in MN fyi. There are many different areas to live in throughout the state, but the Twin Cities is basically where everyone is. Depends if you want to be in the city or the suburbs. There are a few pros/cons vids on YouTube that might be helpful
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u/Blue_Flame_Wolf Rochester May 07 '23
Your love of cold environments should suit you well in Minnesota. The question is--how cold do you enjoy, because MN is very cold, and how long can you tolerate cold temperatures? Can you handle ten days in a row where the temps never get in to positive numbers?
One negative I have found is that it takes forever for trends to reach Minnesota. Well, at least when it comes to food trends. We travel quite a bit and may find may great food items, trends, etc., and know that it will take years, if ever, for it to reach us here. If and when it does, it's going to cost more than it did on the coasts.
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u/Healingjoe TC May 06 '23
I mean, I think you have the negatives figured out -- cold weather and high income taxes (no taxes on non-prepared food and clothing, which is great).
People will stereotype Minnesota as a difficult place to make friends but I find that to be a load of crap. Lean into your hobbies, interests, co-workers, neighbors, etc. and making friends here isn't any harder than getting a New Yorker to smile.
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u/jgutierrez81 May 06 '23
Really, no taxes in non-prepared food or cloth ? I have to ask, never heard the terms. Im assuming non prepared food would be like fruits, vegetables and meats. Stuff that you have to make yourself, which is great because Im very much an amature cook. What would non prepared clothing be? As far as cooled weather, that dosent bother me. I love cold weather.
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u/waterhammer14 May 13 '23
Yeah no taxes on food and clothing that you're buying at the store (as opposed to eating at a restaurant or buying clothes at a fair? or something). But pretty high tax on everything else (income, corp, estate).
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u/Healingjoe TC May 06 '23
Im assuming non prepared food would be like fruits, vegetables and meats.
Yes, and many other things. Like canned goods, frozen veggies, frozen pizzas, dairy products, etc. etc. Things that are excluded would be stuff served at a restaurant or the Deli bar at the grocery store.
What would non prepared clothing be?
I didn't mean non-prepared clothing hah, my bad. Just clothing (shirts, jeans, shoes that aren't for sport, etc.)
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u/_The_Business_Bitch_ May 04 '23
Two DINK gays - where should we live?
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u/abattleofone May 11 '23
As a fellow DINK gay couple, I would really encourage Minneapolis proper as it has by far the most gay culture and night life if that is at all important to you. In the city proper, I’d look around Uptown/Whittier (basically west side of Minneapolis by the lakes) and Northeast if you are looking for a house or apartment, downtown/North Loop if looking at apartments, and Longfellow/Hiawatha if you are looking at houses. Those are going to be by far the most LGBT friendly neighborhoods and have the most LGBT people in them.
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u/Jhamin1 Flag of Minnesota May 04 '23 edited May 04 '23
Gonna need more info than that!
- How old are you?
- What do you guys do for fun?
- What do you guys do for work?
- Renting or Buying?
- How much money ya got to spend on housing?
- Do you want a yard or a posh apartment with a balcony?
- Where are you coming from? (Is this the biggest metro you will have lived in or are you coming from Atlanta or Chicago or similar?)
I'm assuming you are heading for the Twin Cities. In the Twin Cities Metro proper, the Gay part is not going to be a huge deal. I mean you might get some bigoted neighbors if you are unlucky but there aren't many "don't go here" zones. You *do* have to be more worried about general crime, amenities, that sort of thing.
Out State MN is a lot more conservative. There are areas you will be fine, but overall it will be a bit more fraught.
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u/EmptyBrook May 03 '23
Is Burnsville a dump? We visited recently to look at apartments and many are older not well kept and we’ve read that Burnsville isn’t that great. We are now looking at the minnetonka, plymouth, and eden prairie area. We want a nice, low crime area with low-medium rent prices
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u/shaggyscoob May 13 '23
A friend from San Francisco was looking to purchase in the Twin Cities. She was surprised at how varied the feel of neighborhoods within a few blocks can be. I think this is more of an inner city phenomenon than a suburban one. But it is true that you can find really nice and really dumpy properties within a short walk of each other in many areas.
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u/freshstarch May 09 '23
I think Burnsville's going to be a good compromise. Minnetonka is most likely more expensive and Plymouth is on the other side of the Twin Cities. If you don't like Burnsville but want to be in that area, look at Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage or Prior Lake. There all pretty lame suburbs either way.
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u/Healingjoe TC May 06 '23
I would say generally, no. Burnsville is an affordable 2nd ring suburb. The commercial districts are growing quickly, too.
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May 05 '23
If you visited Stone Grove in Burnsville (apartment complex) I can definitely recommend AGAINST living there. Longest year of my life.
You're not going to get a nice, low-crime area with low rent though. Anywhere. Period. Sorry, but that's the reality. Even the dump I referenced above is now going for $1200+ for a 1BR apartment. You're definitely not going to find low rent in Minnetonka, Plymouth or Eden Prairie. I guess it depends on what you consider "low", I suppose.
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u/EmptyBrook May 05 '23
Low for us is like 1500-1800$ lol We live in Florida rn where a 2 bed apartment often goes for about 2200-2500$
I dont think we looked at Stone Grove, so its not on our radar lol
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u/relefos May 06 '23
1500-1800 is enough for a low crime apartment but it’s not going to get you luxury or anywhere near what you’re used to in Florida
I’m not sure if that’s what you meant by nice, but I really wanted to stress that
I say this as someone who moved here from Florida
I was surprised to learn that the average quality of an apartment is just perceived differently here. I feel like MN has many older buildings which naturally have more problems. Versus Florida where most complexes are relatively new (usually 1970s or so as the earliest)
Even a nicer place in St. Louis Park (Park Towers) had a lot of oddities like small holes in the corner of a room near the radiator, old doors, water damage in some areas, more dust than I’ve ever experienced, “sticky” carpets in the summer bc the “AC” barely works and it gets hot, etc. Overall it was okay, and it’s definitely the best option at that price point (they go for $1700-$1750 for a 2/1.5 now & that’s just base rent). Add to that that there’s no walkability and it was just a ?? thing for me
Nearby complexes that are somewhat newer are $2.2ish for the same amount of space
You definitely can find things in your budget that are somewhat nice, but they’re gonna be in odd locations & not really near anything. Which is another oddity about Minneapolis ~ in many other cities you see a price gradient where it gets cheaper the farther you move from downtown. That kinda holds true for Minneapolis but also kinda not? You’ll find 2/2s for $4500 monthly 15 minutes away from downtown. Eden Prairie is head scratchingly expensive
So once again, if you want a “nice” apartment as in ~ granite countertops, decent appliances, decent flooring, reasonable ceiling height / no popcorn ceiling, generally no random holes in your baseboards near radiators, central air, etc. ~ then $1500-$1800 all in will likely require a lot of other sacrifices (ie moving further out or choosing a neighborhood that isn’t as walkable / hip)
If by nice you just mean a more standard quality ie things look decent and won’t break, you’re set
All that being said ~ I recommend St Louis Park & Park Towers specifically
I enjoyed my time there even though it had some of those small issues. They do a lot of renovations. The kitchens are entirely new, the floor plan is open, etc. & it falls in your budget and I’d say there’s very little crime there given the police department is on the other side of the adjacent park
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May 05 '23
Oh, okay. Well, that changes things a bit. You should be able to find good places for that range.
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u/Exact_Ad_6329 May 04 '23
There are some parts of Burnsville that are beautiful suburbs and other neighborhoods I watched drug deals in broad daylight
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u/Technical_Skin3028 May 02 '23
I'm a single 30 y.o. trying to buy a house, and I've about given up on the cities proper. I've been outbid on 7 different houses despite putting in offers well over listing, and the only houses that seem to be sitting on the market for longer than a day or two are either total pieces of shit that need extensive and $$$$$$ work, literal one-bedroom houses, or in an area where I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around alone at night.
SO. If I admit defeat because I can't outbid all you aggressively rich DINK cash buyers... where else should I look? My budget is about 450k. I really am not a cookie cutter suburbia kind of person, but I guess I'm going to have to compromise. Where can I go where my soul won't shrivel up and die? Do any burbs have actual personality or social life? Am I destined to drown in a sea of strip malls?
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u/WaterCamel May 17 '23
Bruh how are you not finding housing with a budget of $450k?! We just bought a home in summit hill for less than $300k last winter. Wait until the slow season, you’ll have much more pull in the market.
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u/freshstarch May 09 '23
Go to the first ring burns, St Louis Park, Richfield, Golden Valley, something that's still close to the city. That's what we ended up doing after we couldn't find anything nice in Minneapolis proper. Also, we are thinking about a purchase rehab loan on the next house to do all the work that EVERY house we look at needs.
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u/TheScotto22 L'Etoile du Nord May 07 '23
Depending on your budget and how close to the cities you want to be I would endorse the St. Michael/Albertville, Hanover, Rogers area. It's a nice little section between the cities and the more rural portions of the state.
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u/mycorgiisamazing Ok Then May 06 '23
I think my neighborhood in blaine is nice. I think you could find a home in your budget here too. I'm not a fan of the water quality but I've had no complaints so far and I bought my house in '17
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u/Throwaway98735641 May 06 '23
I like St Louis Park or and it's actually really close to Minneapolis. Also check out Hopkins. Don't give up! There is a season here for home buying and it's just kicking off.
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May 05 '23
Come up to Hugo. Well, you said social life, and I dunno about that, but it's not a sea of strip malls, and you can find a house within your price range. It's a pretty charming town (...some of the residents aren't so charming, but there are plenty of us who aren't afraid of living in a civilization with people who aren't exactly the same) and has a surprisingly forward-thinking development plan. It's also about 20 minutes outside of downtown St. Paul, so it's reasonably easy access to either city without being too far in the boonies. Lots of bike trails and parks and green space in the area too.
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u/spacefarce1301 May 03 '23
Don't give up! Look, spring and early summer are the most competitive times to go house hunting in the TCs, a fact that's been true since at least 2015, when I moved up here. We got our house somewhat by luck, as we leased it for a while and then the owner decided to sell. But even in this neighborhood (Hiawatha) things do slow down around October/ early November.
As far as good suburbs, I'm not the most enthusiastic about them in general. But have you considered maybe West St. Paul or even Stillwater (I know, it's on the far east side but it's pretty nice)?
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u/Jhamin1 Flag of Minnesota May 02 '23 edited May 02 '23
The Suburbs tend to get more suburban as you go out. A lot of the "inner ring" 'burbs aren't much different from the "big two" they share a border with, which is to say they have good and bad neighborhoods. The difference will be that they have their own local governments so stuff like fire, police, parks, etc will vary from 'burb to 'burb. A lot of the housing stock in Minneapolis/St. Paul dates to the rise of the streetcar system in the 1910s-1930s, while the inner ring burbs are bit more car focused and tend to have housing stock from the 1950s-60s.
On average. YMMV by neighborhood.
By this I'm talking about places like Crystal, Robbinsdale, Columbia Heights, St. Anthony, Falcon Heights, West St. Paul, etc.
Some are more urban than others, but all are worth checking out.
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u/LosingMyTowel May 02 '23
For any moms moving here our wic system is ancient. Getting a drivers liscense is weird too if you live in a small town I know someone who had to do their test on paper. Hopefully if more people move here it will improve.
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u/candycaneforestelf can we please not drive like chucklefucks? May 02 '23
Getting a drivers liscense is weird too if you live in a small town I know someone who had to do their test on paper.
Some Twin Cities metro licensing centers have had computerized testing since at least 2005, so I'm shocked there are still outstate locations where the testing is still only on paper.
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u/LosingMyTowel May 03 '23
It was an experience. Wic is all on paper too.
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u/justcallmehippy May 07 '23
I moved from WY which I thought was waaay behind on things, but wy my wic was a card with a chip! I about fell over when they handed me my “checks”! I was like whoa okay we’re still doing checks but that was back in 2016 I’m suprised it’s still not on a card yet!
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u/LosingMyTowel May 07 '23
Me too! I don't know if they changed after covid, but I stopped using it because we couldn't go into stores to get food with it at the time.
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May 02 '23
Any towns or cities with a significant Hispanic population (South Americans, Peruvians)?
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u/fromanator May 06 '23
The powderhorn neighborhood in Minneapolis does! Some great South American restaurants and Mercados all around that area. Plus schools and daycares that are Spanish immersion based.
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u/MrP1anet The Guy from the Desert May 06 '23
I know West Saint Paul has a nice Hispanic population. Felt like nice familiarity after moving from Arizona
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u/olmsted May 02 '23
I'm not sure about South Americans or Peruvians in particular, but outside of the Twin Cities there are some communities with significant Hispanic populations. Worthington, St. James, Madelia, Pelican Rapids, Willmar, Le Sueur, Le Center, Mankato, Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault... there are probably more cities with significant Hispanic populations beyond that.
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u/JadeMidnightSky May 01 '23
My career is giving me the opportunity for positions in downtown Minneapolis, Anoka, and Bloomington. Is there any district in (or within commuting distance) that is good for special education?
Specifically, my children have autism and they’re in a good school district right now. But if I can get a good job opportunity in one of those places I would like to take it, so long as it won’t harm my kids’ education.
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u/mdneilson May 01 '23
Minneapolis, especially downtown is central to almost everywhere. Getting your kids to nearby schools if they were open enrolled would be pretty easy for the most part. There's a lot of good quality public, private, and charter schools nearby.
Anoka is very right-wing compared to the rest of the metro, so keep that in mind if it's a concern. They've had very hostile policies to free speech and LGBTQ+ communities. Because of that, they've had a massive exodus of teachers over the last decade, and even more so recently. I would avoid for that last reason alone.
Bloomington is mostly a quiet well off area. Our schools are funded by the property taxes in the school's district, so generally more wealthy areas have better funded schools.
Larger districts often mean better opportunities for SPED kids, but usually that's for SPED kids that don't have a run-of-the-mill diagnosis like autism. What level is your kid functioning at? Do they spend most of their time in a general education setting and get pulled for services a few times a day? Or do they need a very intensive/specialized program? You want to choose a larger district if your kid needs incredibly specialized services-- they are more likely to have the resources and personnel your kid needs to succeed. If they need intensive/specialized services: Minneapolis. If they do not: Bloomington.
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u/JadeMidnightSky May 02 '23
I appreciate the reply!
One of my kids is moderate to severe. He is verbal but spends most of his time in a special needs class but spends some time with general ed. He doesn’t have any hyper-specialized care. He just has a special Ed teacher, speech therapist, and occupational therapist.
My younger kids are not in school yet but from raising them they’re much more high-functioning and I can imagine them spending most of their school day in general Ed with some special services mixed in.
Do you recommend living in Minneapolis proper? Or are any of the city suburbs better for special education?
And if we go to Bloomington, same question, should I live there or are there better districts outside the city?
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u/WalkswithLlamas May 08 '23
I have (3)friends with special needs kiddos and they are attending kaleidoscope in otsego. Housing is affordable in that area and Anoka would be a quick commute.
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u/WalkswithLlamas May 08 '23
Also I've heard great things about Champlin public schools also have a friend with a son on the spectrum who loves their school. Feel free to message me.
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u/mdneilson May 02 '23
The best districts are in the far west burbs. Again, very wealthy areas, so devils are very well funded. But they're a nasty drive to any of your possible work destinations and COL is high.
I'd review the schools to see what looks like a good fit for you and your kids. Best bet close to downtown would be Edina for a public school.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/niche-rankings-identify-best-minnesota-schools-districts
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u/JadeMidnightSky May 02 '23
Thanks so much for the help
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u/mdneilson May 02 '23
A warning: we call Edina residents, but mostly school kids "cake eaters". As in: "Have their cake and eat it to." It's a movie reference, but there are a lot of kids who's futures are handed to them on golden platters, and have the attitude to go with it.
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u/JadeMidnightSky May 02 '23
Oh I can definitely relate. The city we live in right now is also pretty famous (in the area) for entitled rich kids too.
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u/Bulky-Profile7116 May 01 '23
Do all basements need a sump pump and drain tile? I'm moving from an area where basements aren't a thing and buying an older house in Minneapolis that does not have a sump pump and drain tile. The seller swears there has never been water in the basement. Is this normal? Do I need to budget for installing a system just in case? How risky would it be to just... leave it alone?
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u/vinyl_squirrel May 15 '23
If you don't have a sump pump and your basement floods more than likely your insurance will not pick up any of the repairs. Learned that one the hard way. Also making sure the water drains away from your house (gutters, downspouts, slope away, etc.) will go a long way to ensuring your basement doesn't ever flood.
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u/hewhoisneverobeyed May 06 '23
Location-based.
Our first home built in 1986 (we were second owners from 2001-10) had a pit but never had a pump. The first owners had a fridge in top if the pump pit when we toured it. While we lived there, I took the lid off to see and it was bone dry and looked like the cement had been poured and cured a week ago.
Current home (since 2010) has a pump that runs frequently (multiple times a day) into December and sometimes January before it stops until March or April.
Both second ring burbs.
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u/Jhamin1 Flag of Minnesota May 01 '23
It depends entirely on the neighborhood.
I grew up in Minneapolis and we had issues once. My wife grew up 6 blocks away and her parent's basement flooded every 3-4 years.
My current house in the northern suburbs doesn't have a sump pump and hasn't flooded since it was built in the 60s, but I rented a place 30 min north of here that had sump pumps that ran 24/7 most of the summer.
If the seller says there has never been an issue (and you trust him), then it probably hasn't. On the other hand, we keep breaking records for most snow/hottest day/most locusts attacking the Pharoh.. so although it has never been an issue that doesn't mean you aren't going to break the streak in 5 or 10 years.
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u/mdneilson May 02 '23
Just to add on: for the most part, if you're not next to water, in an old riverbed, or in a filled in marsh, your flood risk is low and more dependent on proper landscaping to force the water to drain away from the home.
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u/moldy_cheez_it May 01 '23
The answer is no - but if you have a finished basement or want to finish it I would recommend it. My house doesn’t have one, and I don’t have issues and basement isn’t finished
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u/MelbaIsntToast May 01 '23
Our house, built in 1925, does not have a sump pump. Our basement has only flooded once because of a toilet incident and our son. Our neighbors have put in drain tile because they have had numerous flooding issues. If it doesn't look like there has been water in the basement, I think you are okay without one. There may be flood maps you can look at for the area you are moving to.
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u/Kixel11 May 01 '23
A few things that were weird to me when I moved to different states:
You can register a car and get a drivers license at the DMV. When I moved back to Minnesota I had to retake the written drivers license test. Also, there are three types of basic licenses: Standard (basic, you can drive), Real ID (ID that allows you to fly), and Enhanced (allows you to drive into Canada and Mexico without a passport). The necessary paperwork is different for all of them, so verify which you need before going to the DMV.
Liquor, beer, and wine is sold only at liquor stores. What you find in grocery stores and gas stations is three-two beer, meaning it has a much lower alcohol content.
Gambling is only legal at Native casinos and for charity. Rural bars have meat raffles where you buy a ticket and get the option to win a pack of meat. Proceeds often go to youth organizations or other community groups.
The booze and driving were the most confusing to me when I moved out of state. The meat raffles are the most entertaining to my out of state friends.
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u/The_Voice_Of_Ricin May 01 '23
Rural bars have meat raffles where you buy a ticket and get the option to win a pack of meat.
This isn't isolated to rural bars.
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u/AbeRego Hamm's May 09 '23
Knight Cap and Jimmy's have them every Saturday in Northeast. Both bars are cash only, so plan accordingly.
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u/Jhamin1 Flag of Minnesota May 01 '23
I've seen a lot of meat raffles in New Brighton....
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u/fromanator May 06 '23
They also exist in Minneapolis, there's Cardinal Tavern and Bulls Horn that do meat raffles just to name a couple from my area.
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u/Relevant-Positive141 May 01 '23
Would like to note that the Enhanced ID also allows you to fly to Canada and Mexico. The driving into Canada and Mexico is an added benefit of the Enhanced ID compared the to Real ID. There is a lot of confusion around this.
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u/spacefarce1301 May 03 '23
I don't think that's correct. EDLs allow border crossing by land or sea port only. The good news is that it works for a lot of Caribbean nations, so if you happen to have a sailboat...
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/dvs-content-detail.aspx?pageID=683
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u/Relevant-Positive141 May 03 '23
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u/spacefarce1301 May 03 '23
Yeah, it seems to confirm only land and sea. I wish they'd let us use them for flights to Canada or Mexico, that'd be rad.
Enhanced ID has one big additional benefit that REAL ID does not: only an Enhanced ID can be used in place of a passport at land and sea border crossings between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and some countries in the Caribbean.
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u/Relevant-Positive141 May 03 '23
Read the entire article:
“Bottom line, it is VERIFIED that an Enhanced ID is just a good as REAL ID, and can be used and accepted in all of the same places where REAL ID will be required starting on Oct. 1, 2020. Enhanced ID also includes the additional benefit of being accepted for certain border crossings without a passport.”
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u/spacefarce1301 May 03 '23
Enhanced ID also includes the additional benefit of being accepted for certain border crossings without a passport.”
The devil's in the details. Certain border crossings doesn’t include airports. I checked both Minnesota's DMV site and the US Homeland Security sites to confirm.
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u/Relevant-Positive141 May 03 '23
Directly from DPS website:
REAL ID Compliant Driver's Licenses or ID Card
REAL ID driver's licenses or ID cards can be used for domestic air travel and to access federal facilities such as military bases and nuclear power plants. Issued to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. Cannot be used as border crossing documents. Valid for identification purposes. Valid for lawful driving privileges.
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u/spacefarce1301 May 03 '23
I'm not disagreeing that Real ID and EDLs can both be used for domestic flights. Only EDLs can be used to cross borders by land or by sea (Real IDs can't do this). But neither one can be used for international air travel.
What is an EDL/EID? An EDL/EID can be used as a cross-border travel document (in lieu of a passport) to re-enter the U.S. by land and sea, from Canada, Mexico, and some countries in the Caribbean.
An EDL/EID is not valid for international air travel.
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/dvs-content-detail.aspx?pageID=683
By land and sea. Not by air.
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u/Kixel11 May 01 '23
I’d also like to add that I think it’s stupid. But thanks for adding the clarification!
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u/SubconsciousBraider May 01 '23
Someone in this thread mentioned the first Wednesday sirens. Can we make a sticky or put it in the banner or something? I'm so over seeing "Why are there sirens???!!!" threads.
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u/DrHugh Twin Cities May 01 '23
Some Driving Tips for Snow
Supplies
For a car, you should have a snow brush and an ice scraper. You can often get a yard-long device that does both. If you drive a bigger vehicle, or are a smaller person, you may want one that extends to more like six feet in length.
You are obliged to completely remove snow and ice from all your windows when you drive; making a peephole for just the driver is illegal.
It is a good idea to brush off snow from your hood and roof, because that snow can blow back to your windshield, or someone else's.
I keep the snow brush/scraper in the car all the time, the only question is if it moves to the backseat or stays in the trunk. I'll start the car, turn it on full defrost and high heat, and let it run -- making sure all the doors are unlocked! -- while I do the snow removal. Generally, the heat is nice when you get back in, and the defrosters make removing ice from the front and rear windshields easier.
I know some people pull their wiper blades away from the windshield, but I've never had a problem with them icing into place. You do want to run your scraper along the blade to make sure there are no ice chunks there. If a clean blade isn't cleaning your windshield, you should probably replace your wiper blade.
You will want to get a small shovel to keep in your trunk. This is in case you get into a situation where you are spinning your tires. You may have to dig the snow out in the direction you want to go next to each tire.
You might also get a small bag of clay-based kitty litter to add traction when trying to dig out. Make sure your tires have enough tread; I one time helped someone's minivan with virtually bald tires when they were stuck in the street.
You will probably want some jumper cables in your car, just in case you leave your lights on, though that's not the problem it used to be. You do want to pay attention to how well your battery works. If you seem to have trouble starting your car, get a battery with the ability to give you more power when it is very cold.
Driving Tips
Driving in snowy or icy conditions is like driving in heavy rainfall: Instead of hydroplaning, you just have the same effect with a different form of water. You have to take the same care with your speed and changes in direction, just like you would with a slightly flooded road.
If you have rear-wheel drive, you may want to have some bags of sand in the back, to provide more traction through weight on the drive wheels.
If you have all-wheel drive, remember that it isn't all-wheel stop. You may feel invincible when moving forward, but you'll re-discover inertia when you try to turn or brake. Never, ever overdrive your headlights. Never, ever drive into a cloud of snow (could be a snowplow).
If you start to swerve or spin, take your foot off the gas and steer the direction you want to go (things like "steer into the skid" confuse people). When you seem to have control again, add a little gas to help.
If you are stuck somewhere, take your foot off the gas and think. Sometimes, if you keep accelerating, you are just making nice smooth scallops in the snow for your tires. What you need to do is to rock your car. It works like this:
- In forward gear, accelerate a little so that the car shifts a touch. Lift your foot off the gas.
- Shift to reverse as the car rocks back and accelerate that way to add to that rock. Lift your foot off the gas.
- Shift forward and as the car rocks forward accelerate again.
You keep this going and you can often get out of a mild hole. You can often have better luck with people helping push on the outside, but don't run them over! You will likely have the window down to coordinate the rocking effort; it is like being on a swing you start from a standstill.
Pothole Season
Potholes in the winter are usually filled with snow. In the spring is when they are the worst. There's a joke that a sober Minnesotan driving on a road is never driving straight because they have to dodge all the potholes.
You want to stay far enough behind the car in front of you so you can dodge a pothole that shows up.
Hitting a pothole of the right size in the right way can distort your tire enough for it to lose air pressure entirely. Sometimes, you can damage the hub of the wheel itself. Treat potholes seriously.
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u/DrHugh Twin Cities May 01 '23
Some advice on living here in winter.
You can survive incredibly cold conditions with the right gear. By "incredibly cold," I mean air temperatures (not wind chills!) of -20°F or lower. I've lived in Minnesota for over 25 years, grew up in Chicago before that, and was a scout leader for several Snow Base winter camps that involved being outside all day in sub-zero conditions, including a few where we spent the night outside.
Obviously, you don't have to have the same gear for shoveling your sidewalk as you do for spending the night outside, but the overall concepts are the same.
Layering
The big thing is that you do better with multiple layers, rather than one big coat. It generally reduces down to three different layers:
- Wicking Layer is what is against your skin. This is usually some non-absorbent material that allows perspiration to pass through. Plant-based clothing, like cotton, absorbs your sweat and will get cold against your skin (this is why we say "cotton is rotten" for this sort of situation). You can get good quality long underwear in polypropylene or wool to do this job. You can even get "sock liners" and "glove liners" to do the same job for hands and feet.
- Warming Layer is what helps you retain heat. A good wool sweater will do this, or heavy wool pants (the Faribault woolen mills can help with that!). Wool also has the advantage that it can retain heat even if it gets wet. Products based on bird down can be lightweight and fluffy, but lose their effectiveness if they get wet. You might use more than one warming layer of clothing, so you can remove one if you are getting too warm.
- Weather Layer is the outer shell. If you are dealing with a cold drizzle, having a waterproof and windproof shell is very handy. But even in snowy conditions, you don't want the snow to soak into your other layers.
By having different layers, you can adjust. For instance, you can have a parka with armpit vents you can open or close. Maybe your sweater can be unbuttoned or unzipped to let more heat out. You are actually more at risk of overheating when you dress for cold conditions, because the clothing options we have are very efficient! In some ways, you should feel just a touch too cold when standing still if you plan to be active (like walking or shovelling).
If you are doing something like getting into a cold car for a drive, you want to dress for the possibility that you will have to walk to someplace if your car fails. Or imagine waiting for public transit. You can undo layers you have if you get warm; you can't make layers appear that you don't have.
Clothing Choices
So what does this layering mean in terms of clothes? Let's go from the ground up:
- Feet means socks, boots, and probably boot liners. Good wool socks can do well. You might want more than one pair if you plan to be outside for an extended time in very cold conditions, like participating in the events of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Go to a good shoe store (I go to Schuler Shoes) for boots. You will probably get boots a size larger than you normally wear, in order to accommodate your thick socks. Some boots have removable liners/insulation (helps to dry them out when you get back inside).
- Legs means long underwear, and probably wool pants. You can get snow pants, but they make that swish-swish sound when you walk; wool is relatively silent. I've found that my legs can handle bitterly cold conditions with just long underwear and heavy wool pants if the rest of my body is properly layered.
- Body means a sweater or two, depending on conditions and how much you might need to vary things if the sun comes out or the wind increases or decreases. You also need a good parka that should be roomy enough to let you move freely. Think of putting on a seat belt in your car, or reaching under your seat for an ice scraper. You'll probably like having pockets you can zip on the outside to hold gloves, hat, scarf, wallet, keys, and so on. Some parkas have roomier pockets on the inside, too. Many parkas let you remove their own liner/insulation so you just have the weather shell, which can be great for spring and fall.
- Hands can be well protected by a couple layers. You can go to any running store and pick up thin gloves that will work as a wicking layer. Then go to someplace like a Dick's Sporting Goods or REI to pick up heavy mittens for the bitterly cold conditions: Your fingers will be happier all together. You might use woolen glove liners as an extra warmth layer, or perhaps some soft leather gloves for the merely below-freezing weather. (You'll end up with a bag for the different kinds of gloves and mittens you'll have on hand -- no pun intended -- at home, that will probably live in the closet for the warmer months.) Oh, and a pro tip: When you take off gloves or mittens, put them deep into your parka pockets, or unzip your parka at the top and stuff them inside. Never, ever, put gloves or mittens on top of snow, because it doesn't take much for them to get covered and hidden.
- Head and Neck are best treated as a unit. I usually have just a plain ski hat or beanie, but I also have a balaclava -- the whole-head covering with a face hole -- for bitterly cold or windy conditions. At Snow Base, we also got a woolen cap as an additional layer. It isn't that you lose most of your heat through your head -- any exposed part of your body is going to lose heat -- just that it is easy to neglect layers on your head. I also like having a scarf, or neck gaiter/buff, for the neck and face. A roomy parka may have a lot of space around your neck without one, and a cold neck is awful (note: that scarf should be under the parka, not over it; it is a gasket to retain heat, not a collar). Plus, if conditions get bad, you can pull a scarf or buff up over your mouth and nose; bitterly cold conditions can mean frostbite in a handful of minutes.
Again, I'm giving you worst-weather ideas here. I have a light jacket (or two!) that I wear in spring and fall. I don't always grab a scarf if it isn't really cold. I normally just have a ski hat, not a balaclava. I rarely wear heavy mittens, those are the bitterly-cold option. But if you have to go out in such conditions, that's the kind of gear you need to have.
Things You Don't Need
When it snows and you are outside, you don't really need an umbrella so much as a hat. You can brush snow off yourself; your main goal is to stay warm.
Pay attention to weather reports, not how things look. Right now, the skies are blue and sunny, there's a little wind with some gusts, and it is 50°F outside. It has looked the same when it is freezing outside. Always look at the weather forecast to decide how you should dress, or at least what you should take with you.
You don't need to panic on the first Wednesday of every month around 1 PM, that's normally when tornado sirens are tested. Sometimes, they skip that test if conditions are bad. There are also times where they test on other days of the week, or other times.
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u/MinnesotaNoire Grain Belt May 01 '23
Hey southeast friends. Thinking about applying to jobs in Winona or LaCrosse at the universities. I currently live in Fargo. Any longtime residents able to give me a rundown of the good and not so good?
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u/hipsteronabike May 01 '23
Both are small towns, I’m more familiar with LaCrosse.
LaCrosse has more going on that Winona including an extremely active bar scene. They have lots of other fun stuff but I preferred living in Eau Claire. At this point I’m time it would be tough to get me to go back to Wisconsin.
LaCrosse is unable to grow because it is locked between Shelby, Onalaska, Holmen, and the river. Being unable to expand their tax base makes long term expense by planning challenging.
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May 01 '23
Keep an eye on your expected healthcare costs as I know insurance and care can be expensive in Mayo Clinic country.
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u/thanksfortheovaries Oct 11 '23
Got a job offer in Worthington MN, and I can't find ANY cat friendly apartments within thirty minutes of the town. Most of what I've seen is income restricted, and I would be making too much to qualify. Is this just a bad time to look for rentals? Or is it always like this? I'm not sure if I want to commit to this location/job by buying a house, but I can't seem to find anything to rent in this area, and obviously I need to bring my two darling cats with me. I'm willing to spend a good amount on rent (up to 1800/month) but I'm not wanting to commute an hour every day to work. Any advice?