Should You Move to Minneapolis?

Advantages & Disadvantages to Life in the Twin Cities Metro Area

© Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Sep 12, 2007

The Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area-- a great place to move, or not? Most Minnesota natives are very "patriotic" about their state, so if you ask them, they'll tell you that it's a darned good place to live. But other people start shivering at the mere thought of living in one of the coldest places in the United States. In other words, some people love Minnesota, and some people hate it. Here are some advantages and disadvantages to life in the Twin Cities.

Great Things about the Twin Cities

• Lots to do. Minneapolis is filled with cultural attractions, kid-friendly activities, and, of course, the Mall of America. If you're into big cities, there's two of them, and if you like things quieter, there are rural areas within thirty minutes of both downtowns.
• Natural beauty. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and its suburbs have taken pride at preserving the northern setting. You're never far from a beautiful lake or an inviting park. And if you get sick of the cities, it's a short drive to quaint and tranquil tourist destinations such as Duluth and Stillwater.
• Education. Minnesota public schools regularly visit the top of national rankings. In addition, most districts in the Twin Cities practice open enrollment, so if you're not happy with your neighborhood school, you may be able to send your child elsewhere if there's room. The Twin Cities are also home to quite a number of higher learning institutions, from the sprawling University of Minnesota to prestigious private schools like Macalester College.
• Civility. Minnesotans are very helpful. If your car gets stuck in the snow, people will run out to give you a hand, and they'll be more than happy to give you directions. They'll also make small talk in the grocery line, which is quite a surprise to visitors from the East Coast. There's a heavy Scandinavian influence in the area, and you can tell, because people are mellow and polite.
• Reasonable cost of living and a healthy economy. Of course, this partly depends on where you come from, but cost of living is much more reasonable than on the coasts. Housing prices exploded a few years back, but they're coming down again.
• Increased diversity. Minnesota used to be a pretty homogeneous state, but although that's still true in many places, the metro area itself has diversified in recent years. There's been an influx of immigrants from Southeast Asia, Russia, and Africa.

Not So Great Things about the Twin Cities

• The weather. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise--the winters are dreadful! Here's what the locals have to say about Minnesota winters.
• "Minnesota Nice." People in Minnesota are very helpful and civil, but they're not necessarily warm and fuzzy. Transplants are sometimes frustrated by how difficult it is to make friends, as it's common for natives to make friends in elementary school, keep them for life, and not look for new connections. And sometimes people are so polite that they don't tell you what how they feel to your face, but talk about you behind your back and get even in passive-aggressive ways. Everybody is different, of course, and not everyone is "Minnesota Nice," but it's something to keep in mind if you prefer people who are outgoing, blunt, and very friendly.
• The traffic. Traffic was pretty bad in the Twin Cities before the most important bridge in the region infamously broke, and since the 35W bridge collapse, you can imagine the mess. The public transit system is far from adequate for a large metro area--although there's a popular new light rail line that's headed for expansion.

See also:

St. Paul and Minneapolis suburbs

Cheap flights to the Twin Cities

Things to do in the Twin Cities

Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis

Downtown Minneapolis

The State Capitol in downtown St. Paul

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis

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