SperlingViews - Duluth, Minnesota

The city of Duluth is being run my the unions, they place their people on the city council and the public unions get what they want. The school board built new schools at a cost of 430 Millon dollars (inc interest) with out a vote of the people. The winters are VERY long.[read more...]

I just read a review about Duluth from a former Duluthian to my chagrin. Evidently she must be talking about Georgia. Duluth, Minnesota is has one of the nicest summers of any city I have ever lived in. I know this because I am active all summer long. There are few bugs along the bay, and Lake Superior and the bugs that live in our forests go to sleep early as the cool evening sets in. Unlike Minneapolis, our humidity is low. San Francisco is the Duluth of the west coast. We have all their beauty with far less people. Duluth is really a city within a park. You can walk along our rivers and creeks within the city or enjoy one of the longest man-made land masses in the U.S., Park Point. We have a fabulous lake walk as well. Our people are hard working and most, other than my relatives, can fix anything. The folks here are self-sufficient and genuinely Minnesota Nice. Rather than saying "you all come back you hear", they grab a shovel and help you clear your snow. We also have a fabulous University for Seniors housed at the University of Minnesota. Over 300 people attend classes. In our land, 60 is the new 40. People are very active late in life. I row with 3 others and our average age in the boat is 67. My mother in law dates a 90 year old skier. We have come to expect this way of life.[read more...]

I do not always like the climate of Duluth, but despite how cold it gets, people get outside to play. Lots of hiking in the summer, run or walk along Lake Superior on the Lakewalk any time, and free outdoor skating rinks dot the city in the winter. When there is enough snow, there are some small (12k) ski trails that will get your heart rate going without a long drive. Summer is most pleasant with cool breezes off the lake and an abundance of sunshine.[read more...]

I was born and raised in Duluth. The winters are brutal; the summers are hot 24-7. The flying bugs are unforgiving and relentless. The most god awful place I have ever lived. If it were not for a few relatives I have left there I would never go back. Duluth ------NOT! [read more...]

I have lived here only for a few months, but I must say that I am disappointed. Other than the waterfront, Duluth is old, tired, worn and in decline. It is not a terrible place to live, but I can say that no one lives here without a very good reason - usually a strong job opportunity or family connection. The people here are not friendly (at least by the standards of the South, Southwest and Midwest where I have lived previously) and the area itself is suffering from an ongoing downtrend in population, economics and really society as a whole. Lastly, I was stunned at the cost of living here, particularly housing. Virtually no new housing has been built here in the last 2-3 years. No builder wants to get on the hook for a house they cannot sell. My advice would be not to move here unless you first secure a good job and get a true familiarity with the area.[read more...]

The winters are long, long, long. The summers are beautiful. It's tough to find a job and the area is culturally lacking in diversity. On the upside: the lake, outdoor treks in summer, a varity of colleges, definitely a buyers market as far as housing goes, and okshopping/restaurants/hospitals. On the downside: the length and deep chill of winter, lots of college kids, lack of jobs, the length of the winter makes seasonal depression an issue for some, and there are plenty of closeminded "backwater folks" in town. It's a place of extremes; temps in the winter can be -50 and the summer can hit over 100. A person can live here happily with a die hard love of all season fishing, 4 wheeling, hunting, hiking, and snow blowing. Also, make sure you have a job before you move here.[read more...]

Duluth is absolutely glorious in the summer. The sun shines, the breezes off the lake are usually cool and you can be outdoors comfortably without too much effort. Duluth is likewise glorious in the winter if you like snow, wind and cold. The good news is, it's not *that* much worse than Minneapolis-St. Paul. And, take it from me, global warming is real. This winter is the first one in as long as I can remember that resembles the winters of my youth, forty years ago. Generally, they're not as long, they're not as cold, they're not as hard.[read more...]

God's country, but politics in the state are too liberal.[read more...]

Want to compare cost of living Duluth vs. Twin Cities[read more...]