Moving to St Paul in August -Best Neighborhoods?

I live in St. Paul and it is wonderful. We live in highland Park. You really get that small town feel in the big city. We can walk to the neighborhood coffee shop/bakery/groc. store/parks. I love it here. Neighbors are nice and friendly and LOTS of families with small kids.
Other places in St.Paul Macalester/Groveland area.

My order of preference would be:

1) St. Anthony
2) Highland
3) Mac/Groveland
4) Desnoyer/Merriam Park
5) Como

Lauderdale, Falcon Heights and the southern part of Roseville are also very nice and convenient too.

Try the Como Park area close to the zoo....

Stay away from the East side, Rice Street, Maryland etc.

I live in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. The Saint Paul campus of the U is in the neighborhood. I love it here. It is very convenient to both downtowns and very neighborly. It also has a small shopping district with a grocery store, post office, independent bookstore, wine shop, a few restaurants, gift shops, dry cleaner, etc. It is very much a walking neighborhood and the #3 bus runs right through it, connecting both downtowns. There is also a Lutheren Seminary in the neghborhood so many of the residents are either affiliated with the U or the seminary, either as professors or students.

This is the neighborhood organization's website.
http://www.sap.org/modules/AMS/

I grew up in California and find it difficult to find a truly diverse neighborhood in Minnesota. (We are a "mixed" couple, I'm bi-racial Japanese-American and caucasian and DH is caucasian.)

For a family friendly neighborhood, you can't go wrong with Como Park area or Hamline Midway (in April voted best family friendly neighborhood by readers of MN Parent Magazine). Both are urban neighborhoods of St Paul, not too far from the U and close to shopping, parks, schools, etc.

Here's the article:
http://www.mnparent.com/articles/2007/03/30/features/feat...

I live in St Paul on the city North End and the neighborhood I live on is VERY SAFE and its very Diverse. Good Luck with your search!

I was also going to suggest St. Anthony Park. I have a couple of family members who live in that area and I love the neighborhood!

I want to put in a good word for the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood. We bought our house in the neighborhood 2 years ago and couldn't be happier. The elementary school is fabulous (out performing MANY suburb schools); so many families live in the area and are involved and invested not only in their kids but also in the neighborhood itself. Many of our neighbors are professors (St. Anthony Park is right next to the UofM St. Paul campus and there is a campus connecter bus to the Minneapolis campus).

I know this has all been said, I just can't say enough about the area. I know another mom mentioned the shopping area, which is great, but there is also a wonderful little library and a co-op in the neighborhood that are very nice to have around. Plus, St. Anthony Park is equidistant from both downtowns (I don't know what your husband does but everything is on the bus line as well). The house prices are right in the middle of the St. Paul range, but worth so much more.

Hi S.,
Please consider NE Minneapolis, it is very close to the U in St Paul and the distance is much shorter than any suburb or even parts of St Paul (look at a map, you'll see that the St Paul campus is very close to Minneapolis). It is an "up & coming" neighborhood so you can buy for pretty inexpensivly and it is an extremely safe neighborhood. My husband & I just purchased a house and that neighborhood was in strong running for us (we settled on a SE neighborhood home).
I think the reason it is so safe and inexpensive is because older people are starting to move out of their homes and settle into suburban townhomes or assisted living homes.
Also- our realtor is excellent. Let me know if you would like her name (she helped us a TON at closing, our lender "forgot" the origination fee on the truth in lending and she faught tooth and nail with her OWN company to get us the origination fee cleared up for us).
Congrats on your new job- good luck with the house hunting!
M.

I think any of the nicer suburbs around the cities (Woodbury, Oakdale, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Stillwater, Edina, Maple Grove, Blaine, etc.) would have plenty of what you are looking for and I would hope most people are mature enough to not care about the racial makeup of your family. I am sure anywhere you will run into a bad few people here and there, but for the most part I don't think you will have a problem. Minnesota is a great place to live.

Welcome to Minnesota! I live near Como Park and love it. Rosville mall is not far and we really like the Midway Cub because it has more selection. My husband works at the U of MN with computers, in the summer he rides his bike to work and takes the bus in winter. Best of luck on your move. If you have other questions about this area or need a real estate agent (I really liked the one we used) let me know!
A.

S.,

Welcome to St. Paul! The city of St. Paul is actually very diverse with many neighborhods 30% African American, 30% Caucasian and 30% Asian (according to the school district's demographics). When you move to the first tier north east suburbs of the Twin Cities, it becomes 80% Caucasian. If you are looking for newer big box stores and homes built in 1950's and newer, you'll need to look in the suburbs (Roseville, Shoreview, Blaine). If you enjoy an urban feel with more diverisity and with smaller locally owned stores, look at the St. Paul neighborhoods of Mac - Groveland, Croscus Hill, Como Park, Highland Park (homes generally built between 1920 - 1950). As for churches, MN has a lot to choose from (lots of Lutherans here).

I live in the Como Park neighborhood and LOVE the diversity and the great community feel but we don't have a great local grocery store. I drive to the suburbs for that.

-Jo

Congratulations on your job! MN is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Welcome! I've read the other responses and pretty much agree with them all. There are many great areas to live here. You may want to individually contact some of the people who have responded to talk to them more. The areas close in such as St. Anthony and Como are REALLY nice places, but with a much different feel than a suburb such as Woodbury. Good luck and best wishes!

I suggest Lauderdale. It is a wonderful city located between Minneapolis and St. Paul and close to both U of MN campuses. We are a mixed family with a biracial (and bilingual) child and LOVE the ECFE programs in the area. Also, Lauderdale is part of the Roseville area schools - great school district! Congratulations on the new job and I wish you and your family the best of luck for your move and new life in the cities.

Hi S.
There are many diverse neighborhoods in St. Paul. It depends on what you are looking for. If you would like to give me more information on what your preferences are, I could email you homes that meet your criteria. You will be able to see what you can get for your money and I could give you some advice on different areas.

You can email me at ____@____.com and I will set you up on a personalized search that will get sent right to your email.

Please feel free to call me directly at ###-###-####.

T. Snyder
Summit Realty
###-###-#### Direct
###-###-#### Fax
www.TheSummitRealtyGroup.com
____@____.com

S.,
I live near the U of M campus in St Paul, I live in Lauderdale which is a small (pop. 2300) city between St Paul and Minneapolis. I also have a diverse family, I am caucasian and my husband is african american. Lauderdale is a nice area with a diverse neighborhood. I think you will find the Twin Cities to be a really nice place to raise a family. I also really like the Como area and St Anthony or St Anthony Park. Good luck to you!

I would say St. Anthony Park is wonderful if you can afford it! It's next to the St. Paul campus of the U of Mn, near the Minneapolis campus, and is one of the few self-contained neighborhoods in the Twin Cities where you can walk to the library, post office, cafes, etc. Many professors live in the area. Good luck!

I live in Highland and love it here, unfortunately my landlord is selling the house we live in so we have to move. Highland is quiet, the crime rate is almost nothing, I am with an African American man and I have a bi-racial child, we have never had any problems with anyone here.
I read in an earlier post you were told to stay away from rice/maryland but I would suggest you stay away from the selby/dale area also, and frog town for sure is a keep away!! If you fall in love with a place on the East Side just make sure the numbers are above 1000 and it's better but not the greatest. I have a website for you to go to, I used it when searching for a house (before waiting for a year) it shows you how many criminals will be around you...I think it's a must have when you have children. It tells their conviction how close they are to you and the schools in the area...the site is http://www.familywatchdog.us/Default.asp . Good luck with your search, feel free to contact me if you like.

H.

PS...another good thing about Highland is it's only about 15-20 minutes from the MSP Airport AND the Mall of America

Hi S.! If you don't mind a bit more of a drive (only about 2-5 mintues!), think about crossing the river. I am Caucasian and my husband is Chinese, and we live in the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights area, right across the river from many of the suggested neighborhoods. We have always felt comfortable as a bi-racial couple raising two bi-racial children. While many of the St. Paul neighborhoods have charming, character rich older homes (and spendy price tags) the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights offers larger yards, newer homes and some better deals. It can still be spendy over here, but I feel after looking at homes in both places, you get more for your money in this area. It addition, there are many private schools in our area, and you are really close to St. Paul's private and charter/magnet schools, if that is something you are interested in. This area has a bit more of a suburban feel, but that seems to be changing for more of an pseudo-urban feel, plus, again, you are close enough to St. Paul and Minneapolis to access those unique places. Good luck with your search!

Welcome!

Woodbury is a popular spot, great stores, upper class (but not outrageous) property taxes are suppose to be cheaper, great schools. Oakdale is nice, good schools, close to shopping, upper to middle class, White Bear is nice.....schools are good, a little over populated for me. Maplewood is nice, the area is widespread, schools are good, close to lots of places, Vadnais Heights is another growing suburb, good schools, etc.
I favor Woodbury! I have a daycare, started one about 3 years ago when my first grandchild was born. Was in sales for the last 25 years.
If you have any questions, I would be happy to help and answer any of them, email me at ____@____.com
Again a warm welcome to Minnesota,
S.

Hi S. and welcome to St Paul! I think you will enjoy it. There are some great neighborhoods. If you go to the city of St Paul website www.stpaul.gov you can get an idea of the area I would recommend. South of 94 (the major highway connecting St Paul to Minneapolis) anywhere from Cretin Avenue and all the way East to downtown St Paul. Summit Avenue is really nice-this is where the "mansions" are. If you are looking for a large, nice, older home, this is where you would find it. Cathedral Hill, Macalester-Groveland, Merriam Park, Summit Hill, Ramesy Hill, Hamiline-Midway- these are all some of the neighborhoods I would recommend. At the website you can go the to "residents" section & go to "district councils" and get some information on each of the neighborhoods.

You will find it diverse and friendly (at least I do!) and there are so many great things about this area. The Twin Cities offers SO much- arts, entertainment, lakes, great outdoor and indoor events- you will not be bored. You will find a lot of couples just like yourselves! (I am Caucasion and my husband is from Kenya, so we are one of them!). I would definitely recommend St Paul. It is clean, quiet, with parks & trails and people take pride in city-living.

I wish you the best of luck in your move and I know you will love St Paul. The U is a great place to work! Welcome!
D.

My husband and I lived in Highland Park for many years and loved it. Unfortunely, it is a bit spendy so we can't afford to buy there. Libraries, coffee shops, home owned shops and bakeries, organic groceries, the River Parkway walking and biking path, private schools, beautiful old homes and trees, fun restaurants all within walking distance. Also, it leaves you about 10 minutes from both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. Feels a little suburban (safe and treey), with all the convenience of city living. The people there are fairly diverse and very forward thinking. Best of luck and welcome! The Twin Cities are a great place to live!

Dear S.,

First, let me say welcome!! And as an alumni of the University of MN, I am honored that your skills will be supporting the education of the students attending our Big 10 college (what is your area of education?).

I hope your move and transition to our 10,000 Lakes states goes well. We have many summer activities so if arriving in August you will be just in time for our "MN Get Together" our State Fair, which is in St. Paul.

As far as neighborhoods go, I am definitely not the most up-to-date on my knowledge of the city, but from past experience, I believe these areas still may be worthy of considering -- the Summit Avenue Area and Highland area.

In the meantime, I am going to forward your notice to a very wonderful Real Estate Assosciate of mine, Michael Tierney. He is a very professional, hip, MN native that would love to offer his knowledge of the city and perhaps help you find some homes in an area just suited for your family.

Here is his contact information in case you want to beat me to my notice to him:

Michael Tierney
Edina Realty
###-###-####
###-###-#### (c)
www.michaelptierney.com
email ____@____.com

I trust his experience and up-to-date knowledge of the twin cities would be more valuable than my past experience. Plus he would be better at learning more about your religion, shopping needs, cultural activities to really evaluate the right neighborhood that offers you what you might want.

Let me know if I can offer any further opinions as you become more familar with our metro area.

S.

Hello Welcome to the Twin Cities. My family and I just moved here from D.C. I can't really give you any suggestions on areas to live as we are still struggling ourselves. But, if you do want to meet up sometime, please let me know. I find it hard to make friends being a stay-at-home mom. I have 4 month old and 2 year old both girls.

Again Welcome! B. Herndon email- ____@____.com

Hello
I sugest the West Side of St. Paul or even West St. Paul. These neighborhoods are next to each other but one is in Ramsey Co and St. Paul and the other is in Dakota co. I LOVE the West Side and would recomend living here to anyone that asked. It is a deverse place with many nationalites and income levels. The neighborhood is south of downtown(just across the river), about a 5 min drive but doesn't feel like you are in the city. There are lots of shopping (all kinds) nearby as well as the Science Museume and Childrens Museume. Also if you are in the city of St. Paul you can choose from any St. Paul Public School (there are 48 elementary schools). Hope this helps. Good luck in your move. J.