Reviews & Comments
Northfield, MN
If you don't have kids in school, don't come here -
1/6/2018Nice, scenic little town along the banks of the Cannon River. Quaint, charming downtown which is easily walked. A variety of overpriced antique and specialty shops. A couple coffee houses and mediocre restaurants.
Northfield is home to two private colleges. If you take the number of college students out of the popular, Northfield seems largely populated by the elderly. Indeed, its nickname is the "Norwegian Riviera". Seniors enjoy a large active senior center, renamed "Fifty North" in January of 2018 and a number of convenient retirement housing options. They contribute to the notably bad and slow driving in town also.
As of 2018, Northfield has a Cub grocery and Target, both of which are pretty standard and poorly run. They have a food co op which boasts ridiculously, stratospherically high prices, and an Aldi's. The main employers are the 2 colleges, the hospital and whats referred to as "the Malto Meal Company", which does deliciously perfume the town when it making its flavored cereals. There are worse smells.
The townsfolk have mostly lived here for years, or are college professor transplants. I was warned by a long term resident "there are 2 types of people here. The snooty college folks and the regular people". I have found she was right. And seldom do the twain meet. Moving here in my late 50s, I have found it almost impossible to forge new friendships. Everything, oddly, seems to be done in groups here. Book clubs, volunteering, work out groups and the ever popular yoga cliques. When inviting someone to coffee at one of the local coffeehouses, they seemed almost stunned and usually say " I never go there" or something to that effect. No one seems open to forming a new friendship that is one on one. Its always an invitation to join one of their clubs. Everyone seems to keep things quite superficial here and I have heard that comment from several past Northfield residents. So if you are retired and have other friends in the metro area, I guess you're ok. Nurture your own previous friendships as you will not be making any new ones.
The taxes are extremely high here. You have a housing choice of living in a modestly priced home which is need of expensive updating or buying into a newer neighborhood, which is what we opted to do. Low crime rates which you would expect in a town full of old folks.
About 45 minutes to Minneapolis. 15 minutes to Faribault which doesn't have much going on either but is a cheaper town.
Bend, OR
In 2012, Remains "Poverty with a view" -
9/26/2012Having lived here one year, moved from the Midwest, and having lived in several states, I agree with those readers who term Bend "poverty with a view". Beautiful town, high desert with mountains half an hour away. Boringly beautiful.You can count on sunshine almost every day. Doesn't warm up til July, summer consists of July through September, if you are lucky.
The town is divided into the retirees and wealthy, usually those who tele-commute to work in other states, and those fighting to keep food on the table. You might have a chance if you are in the medical profession or have the money to start a restaurant.
Bend is the first place I've encountered 'age-ism' when applying for jobs. There are literally hundreds of people lining up for part time, no benefits jobs. Almost everything is part time here,IF you can get it. Unemployment and underemployment rampant here. This is a very youth and fitness oriented town. Anyone over 45 is going to have trouble landing work. There are bicyclists and runners everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE, a dream come true to the eco/green/fitness freaks in their 20s and 30s. Bend's traffic is awful, roundabouts full of bicyclists everywhere, very poorly planned. The amount of runners and bicyclists actually make driving hazardous and there are many unfortunate collisions with autos every year.
There is a small airport in Redmond, about 18 miles north of here, otherwise the closest major airport is in Portland, about 2.5 to 3 hrs north, across mountain passes. Forget it in the winter. You are stuck unless you can pay the extra to puddle jump from Redmond.
Bend is an oasis in the high desert of Central Oregon, contributing to the lack of jobs, there are few surrounding towns of any size that offer employment.
For the wealthy and well off retirees, or possibly those in the medical field, professional athletes or idealistic young fitness freaks, Bend is a wonderland. For the average person, its a dead end. Its a very transient town, with people constantly moving in and moving out. I can't wait to get out of here. Like living in a campground only with no money. Fortunately my partner is one of the well off retirees and pays the bills because if I were trying to survive on my own out here, I'd be living out of my car.