Nice place but mundane. - 11/14/2018

St Paul is a nice city to live, especially for raising a family. I am a transplant, moving here 33 years ago at the age of 26. I am self employed in the remodeling trades and this trade keeps me in St Paul, as the winters are very harsh , long and boring. Whereas spring it's starts picking up and then summer and fall gets too busy to enjoy any of it, plus you have to pay for the long winter, save for the upcoming one. It's a never ending cycle that keeps us tradespeople stuck in this part of the country. The people here St Paul are Minnesota nice, which means pleasant on the outside, very very reserved, seldom gregarious and not big fans of trying things outside their comfort zones. For many, vacation means going up north, where they hunt, fish or hang out at the cabin. Not that there's anything wrong with that , I do it too, but I see it as something that you need to do if you don't want to go nuts. Once here, you kind of stuck here. Nearest big city is Chicago 7-8 hrs away by car, long boring drive at that. Winters are tough. It gets really really cold, and unless one is into winter sports, winter is horrible. It gets dark at 4:30, heating bills are high, salt ruins your car, you fall hard on the ice at least twice in your life, shoveling snow is a forced workout. Most people get a nasty cold. Work dries up, more fender benders, back to layer upon layer of clothing. I think this is a probably a great state if you are born here, but if not, it's really tough to fit in and even after more than 3 decades here, I still cant come to call myself a Minnesotan.

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Would Move If I Could! - 7/11/2018

I have lived in Minnesota my whole life and I’m 50+. As you get older the humidity is unbearable and the mosquitoes seem to get bigger?! I can count on one hand how many “clear, blue skies” we have had. When I traveled to Colorado recently, I see what I’ve been missing, blue skies, sun and no humidity!! Then you have the MN winters, cold and colder, snow and more snow. Maybe the only pleasant time to be outside might be the fall.

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Home - 6/28/2017

The MPA community is the most at home I have ever felt.

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Great Liveable City - 5/18/2014

Love St. Paul...however, it's been a pretty rough winter!

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Great opportunities for education - 2/18/2012

Minneapolis and St. Paul are both homes to wonderful colleges and universities. They come in all sizes and emphases. They accommodate new freshman looking for full time school and housing as well as mid-career people looking for continuing education opportunities.

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Nice - 7/16/2011

Nice

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The Good and The Bad - 11/13/2010

I've lived in Minnesota my entire life (39 years) and my family has been here for generations. Although I've travelled the world I will always be a permanent Minnesotan. I lived in St. Paul for 25 years. Saint Paul is an amazing city, much easier to navigate than Minneapolis. Public transportation is simple and straight forward. Lots of people are now opting to use bicycles year round (yup, even in snow) and the city has made adjustments along streets to accommodate those who choose to bike. St. Paul has a long bike path along the Mississippi that extends to numerous other cities in MN. There is a lot of culture, from the diverse ethnic groups of people living in the city to the cultural entertainment provided by the Landmark center, Science museum, Ordway Theatre, Festival of Nations. There are Irish, German (septoberfest), Hmong, Mexican (cinco de mayo), Italian, Norwegian, etc... cultural events year round. It doesn't matter what season it is. St. Paul winters offer the "winter carnival", holiday lights in the park, ice sculptures, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sliding, and snowshoeing. If you prefer staying indoors during the winter DT St. Paul has lots of shops connected by a skyway system so you never have to step outside in the cold. As with any large city you will find low crime areas of St. Paul and high crime areas. You will find low income areas and high income areas. Some areas of St. Paul are more historic, such as the railroad island neighborhood on the East Side of St. Paul and the Grand Ave/Summit area of St. Paul which has the longest stretch of Victorian homes of anywhere in the country. Some Minnesotans are nice and some not-so-nice, just like most anywhere else. People are people... The weather: summers can be hot and humid, average is about 80 in the summer and 20-30 in the winter. Sure, St. Paul has hotter summers and cooler summers just like warmer winters and colder winters (yup, St. Paul has seen -20 days). The hottest part of summer is going to be late July and August, the coldest part of winter will be January and February. St. Paul has lots of lakes with beaches, lots of walking and biking paths, lots of shops from antique to trendy. Cost of living will also vary, depending on the area of St. Paul you choose to live. The trendier areas like Grand, Summit, St. Clair will cost a pretty penny but W. St. Paul and East St. Paul, being more run down are less expensive, averaging about 120,000/home.

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St Paul, MN - 11/1/2010

Minnesota is a great place to experience the four seasons. Lots of lakes and trees. This year autumn has been great, but some years are not as warm. Winter seems longer the older I get so we are thinking of moving to a warmer climate. The Twin Cities offers a wealth of culteral activites along with lots of traffic. We would also like a city with less population when we retire. I am about 3 1/2 years from retirement and my wife and I are starting of thinking about places we would like to live that are warmer with less population and lower states taxes.

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Not all its cracked up to be... - 6/27/2010

There is this notorious buzzz around the cities~ saying how there are many cultural events. Dont be fooled people, there isnt. This has to be one of the most boring places to live. The out door activities are geared towards certain segmants of the population (i.e. white people). Even the state fair this year finally announced they will have a hip-hop act this year. The reason for not having this type of performer in years past - "it caused a lot of problems in the past." On many levels there is potential to have a great place to reside. But many minnesotians stick to the montra of "Minnesota Nice" which in turns means "Minnesota passive aggressive". The acceptance is given once you are judged.... Now if you are not intrested in actual progress movement in life, growth in culture and overall living a vivid life - worth talking about... Move here. Thsi place is excellent for those who decide to settle and want to just be.... Most important the healthcare field here pays very well... But for me money isnt everything. I know all cities have the good and the bad ~ but this place talks more about what it dreams to have that what actually exists... When I see all cultures accepted and fully integrated into many segments of this society - than and only than will this city be great Till than the middle class still stomp on the lower class and Blacks still dominate a crime war zone of north minneapolis, and tons of the Hmong culture still live on a giant hill by regions hospital Culture and diversity - Yeah if that means you desire only to assimilate to a very norweigian society... Sad to say but very true

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Craft Beer Culture In Minneapolis/St. Paul - 2/11/2010

The craft beer culture in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is thriving. It isn't quite as developed as cities like Portland, Seattle and Denver, for example, but it compares very well to these cities and most other major metro areas. There are numerous breweries and brew-pubs in the metro and out-state areas that are very serious about providing high-quality and interesting beer (i.e., they are creative and most frequently change their line-ups seasonally). The volume of craft beer events (beer fests, beer dinners, etc.) is such that you can typically find something going on during any week. If craft beer holds an interest for you, I think you will be satisfied, if not delighted, with Mpls/St. Paul as a vacation or permanent destination.

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More To See - 7/22/2009

Saint Paul, capital city of Minnesota, has a reputation as the "quieter" of the Twin Cities. Although this reputation is well deserved in some respects, when it comes to recreation, Saint Paul is easily the equal of Minneapolis. Whether you are interested in museums and theater, or cycling and boating, St. Paul offers numerous cultural activities such as the Minnesota Historical Society, Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts to name a few. The city also has enough lakes, parks, biking and walking trails, and golf courses to fill the entire summer. Spring and fall provide some of the greatest views and venues for observing nature in the upper midwest. In the winter, hockey reigns supreme in Minnesota and St. Paul is home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild who play at the Excel Energy center which has sold out every home game in the franchise's history. Never a dull moment in St. Paul!

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Reasonable Cost of Living - 5/18/2009

Overall, the cost of living in St. Paul, MN is very reasonable. Utilities, groceries, etc. are cheaper than I have experienced on the East Coast and in Seattle.

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Expect to be Stranded! - 4/29/2009

Do expect to be stranded and go home with horrible migraines from the horrible public transit system in the Twin Cities. Basically you spend more time waiting for a bus to arrive than yo udo anything else during the day. I was trying to cut costs by taking the bus instead of my car, as an experiment for a year. I made it 3 months before I had to quit because I was just spending so much time waiting on a bus or walking miles upon miles to get to the next pick-up spot that I just couldn't do it anymore. I've lived in Portland OR and other medium sized cities before and the Twin Cities are just shameful with how bad their transportation is.. it's really sad.

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Need Info - 6/24/2008

Can anyone tell me how good the mass transit system is. I'm thinking of selling my car and moveing there from Jonesboro,Ar.

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Beautiful Place to Live - 10/11/2007

One thing that is great about living in Minnesota is the changing seasons. Fall is my favorite season because the state is covered in trees and you get some amazing color from the changing leaves. Lately the fall can be a little chilly, but winters have been relatively warm compared to winters 20 years ago. Summers for the most part are warm, but 100 degree days are rare. With the numerous lakes in the state, there is always somewhere to take a summer swim or take a boat ride.

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Love St Paul!!! - 5/14/2007

I have lived in MN all my life, and I love it here. I was born and raised in St. Paul until age 8 when my family moved about 25 min away to a suburb of St. Paul. As soon as I turned 18, I moved back to St. Paul where everything is within walking/biking distance. I live in one of the higher-end neighborhoods (near historic Summit Ave where all the houses are worth millions), and it is pretty safe, although some not-so-classy areas are very nearby so there is still crime, but where isn't there crime? Yes, I suppose the weather in colder than in most areas of the U.S., but you get used to it. Nothing feels better than a nice, sunny day after a long winter. The river is kind of a central area for nice homes. There are lots of paths and sidewalks, and it seems there are always plenty of people out running, biking, rollerblading, walking, etc. It is so gorgeous here in the fall too. The leaves are absolutely breathtaking. I do plan on moving out east in a few years because I would like to experience life in a different place, but I feel that I will be back to MN eventually. Compared to Minneapolis, I would say that St. Paul is better. It is safer, cleaner, and a little slower-paced, but Minneapolis people never agree. They also claim that Minneapolis is much easier to travel around, but if you know a few of the major streets in St. Paul then you basically know your way around the whole city. I would definitely recommend St. Paul to people who enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and still want the convenience of the city.

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More laid back than minneapolis - 10/20/2006

As a sibling in the Twin Cities, living in Saint Paul stands as the more quiet sister to minneapolis. in contrast it is cheaper, quiter, and slower paced. Many people say downtown is dead in at night despite attempts to transform it into mini-minneapolis. The east side is course and gritty, but the south west is like an idylic small town. Summit Avenue is a stately and historic boulevard that runs through the western center half of the city. Saint Paul is interesting and has a lot of nooks and crannies. It was built around the rivers and railroads which run through the area creating pockets of community and unusual topography. People from grid-based minneapolis can get hopelessly lost and fear crossing the river lest they drive around aimlessly and have to miss supper. A large influx of Hmong, Somali and Latinos in the last 10 years have changed the city dramatically with mixed results. An explosion of condos have been blanketing the city as well. Overall, it is OK. You could do worse, I s'pose. It is very midwestern and is kinda backward in some respects - but not like Duluth. There is the cold, snow and ice in the winter, which proves too much for the lazy - who do not live here. Transplants often complain that the people are nice but stand-offish. Indeed, it can be difficult to make friends here. Don't expect someone to accept your dinner date unless you offer several times! "No, thanks" is a genetic habit around here.

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More laid back than minneapolis - 10/20/2006

As a sibling in the Twin Cities, living in Saint Paul stands as the more quiet sister to minneapolis. in contrast it is cheaper, quiter, and slower paced. Many people say downtown is dead in at night despite attempts to transform it into mini-minneapolis. The east side is course and gritty, but the south west is like an idylic small town. Summit Avenue is a stately and historic boulevard that runs through the western center half of the city. Saint Paul is interesting and has a lot of nooks and crannies. It was built around the rivers and railroads which run through the area creating pockets of community and unusual topography. People from grid-based minneapolis can get hopelessly lost and fear crossing the river lest they drive around aimlessly and have to miss supper. A large influx of Hmong, Somali and Latinos in the last 10 years have changed the city dramatically with mixed results. An explosion of condos have been blanketing the city as well. Overall, it is OK. You could do worse, I s'pose. It is very midwestern and is kinda backward in some respects - but not like Duluth. There is the cold, snow and ice in the winter, which proves too much for the lazy - who do not live here. Transplants often complain that the people are nice but stand-offish. Indeed, it can be difficult to make friends here. Don't expect someone to accept your dinner date unless you offer several times! "No, thanks" is a genetic habit around here.

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Need info. - 8/6/2006

I may be taking a job transfer to the Roseville, but thinking about living in Hudson or roberts, WI since you can get a little newer and more sq.ft for your money. How long will my commute be? I usually leave between 6-630 a.m. Ideally I would like to keep my commute under 45 minutes. Are there any other cities anyone would suggest? I think homes in the TC and surrounding burbs are 25-50k over priced that is why I am looking outside the TC. Can anyone give me the inside scoop on the housoing market? I have heard homes prices have dropped in the past year. is this true?

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quality of life - 6/7/2006

excellent place to live--good schools, medical and educational facilities, cultural activities, BUT too cold in winter...

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