Wayzata vs Excelsior, which is better for living? (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: apartment, public schools)

[AlexZaz.]

Hello, I am moving to the Minneapolis area in a few months for family reasons, and I like Wayzata and Excelsior. What do you think is the best place for my criteria?

Here are my criteria:

Public schools

Walkability

Restaurants and daily needs (stuff like a grocery store or a hospital nearby)

Cost of living (home prices are not a big deal to me since my budget is high, so I am looking into stuff like local taxes and grocery store prices)

My job is remote so that isn't a factor.

Thanks,
Alex

[wamer27]

This might be tough to pick. Seems Excelsior is an old downtown area, while Wayzata is a new trending downtown. Do you want old or new? Guessing housing stock probably fits the downtown stock…

[jmgg]

If I had unlimited funds, it would be Wayzata. The town with the lake front is gorgeous.

[wamer27]

Originally Posted by jmgg

If I had unlimited funds, it would be Wayzata. The town with the lake front is gorgeous.

Yep, it’s as close as we get to a nice Orange County city. I wonder if everyone just gets used to the trains rolling right through downtown? Railroads are the most powerful industry/entities in country, those trains will always be traveling through, it’s making sure housing has thick enough walls to block it out.

[SkyLark2019]

Wayzata is really cute. Very scenic.

[jennifat]

Excelsior and Wayzata are basically the same thing, both being wealthy Lake Minnetonka suburbs. Excelsior is more walkable and has more Victorian Era charm, while Wayzata is more bougie with pretentious shops and tacky faux-historic architecture. Otherwise, there isn't much of a difference between the two in the criteria listed.

[SkyLark2019]

Originally Posted by jennifat

Excelsior and Wayzata are basically the same thing, both being wealthy Lake Minnetonka suburbs. Excelsior is more walkable and has more Victorian Era charm, while Wayzata is more bougie with pretentious shops and tacky faux-historic architecture. Otherwise, there isn't much of a difference between the two in the criteria listed.

I did not feel Wayzata was tacky....

I thought it was a cute, a rare suburb that looks nice in wintertime.

[GraniteStater]

Orono and Minnetrista are similar to Excelsior and Wayzata.

[601halfdozen0theother]

If it were me I'd live in Minnetrista, because of the museum and gardens. I don't like Wayzata; too much traffic.

[jennifat]

Originally Posted by SkyLark2019

I did not feel Wayzata was tacky....

I thought it was a cute, a rare suburb that looks nice in wintertime.

I didn't say the entire community is, just some of the architecture.

It's a weird hodgepodge of odd office parks, strip malls, mega-complexes that try to emulate European ski villages, apartment blocks with giant private lawns facing the lake that don't serve any purpose, and a set of railroad tracks running right along the lakefront – and that's all just on the main drag. Not exactly brimming with charm, but it's still a nice place.