Has Anyone Moved to Minneapolis from Boston or other big city?? (Austin: crime rate, neighborhoods)

[BrandonSouf612MPLS]

Minneapolis has a great skyline from the interstate. It has many great/fun neighborhoods like Uptown, Lyn-Lake, South Side, Dinkytown, Etc. Minneapolis in my opinion since I live here is great but boring as hell without having money at hand. Biking here is so awesome but the streets can suck at times and the small city gets very boring to ride in. I love spending time in the outskirt cities such as Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Robinsdale but I am from the northern Hennepin County. North Minneapolis is very ghetto for Minneapolis but nowhere near as rundown as Detroit, and D.C. but not even close to the murder rate in New Orleans. South Minneapolis has bad neighborhoods too which also run along East Lake St and a neighborhood called East Phillips right out of Riverside on Cedar Ave close to the Triple Rock Social Club and The Hub Bike Co-Op. St Paul is fairly ghetto too considering you're more likely to get mugged in St Paul's downtown then Minneapolis at Night. University is rundown coming from Downtown St Paul but get's better further down. I recommend if you can afford it not live directly in Minneapolis. I recommend cities like Brooklyn Park, Bloomington, Richfield, and New Hope. All cities I lived in and like the most.

[MSPLove]

Originally Posted by jzak1972

If you want to find an old world feel in the city, Minneapolis is not your place. It is a city in the middle of fly-over country, basically a Chicago wanna-be that has absolutely atrocious winters. So now if anyone wants to rip into me on this board, go ahead, but that's my opinion.

As someone who has lived in Northwestern Wisconsin most of her life, and has visited the Twin Cities more times than she can count and considers it a second home...

I agree wholeheartedly with the first sentence. Not much of an "old world" feel there. But it has a vibrant little arts scene.

I've never been to Chicago though, so I cannot say anything about it being a "Chicago wannabe."

[rogead]

I moved from Minneapolis--to Boston--and back to Minneapolis. I've never heard of anyone here looking to be like Chicago (or any other city). Firstly, Minneapolis is a big city. Like most American cities, it simply isn't as big as Boston (which, by CSA, is about twice its size). That size difference factors into many of the comparisons between the two. You will find virtually every urban amenity--functioning at a very high level in each city, it's just that Boston's size gives it more variety from which to choose.

The similarities:

Both cities have vibrant cultural and fine arts scenes; both cities have healthy economies, with relatively low unemployment rates; both cities are very well educated; both have excellent healthcare resources. I don't think either has an astonishing downtown, but it's clear in either downtown that you're in a big city. Both cities are great for bicycling (Minneapolis a little better) and walking (Boston a little better).

The differences:

Boston is more traditionally "urban" in its layout and attitude, while Minneapolis is a synthesis of Eastern cities (population density, transit, etc) and Western cities (sprawling, automobile dependent). Boston has a much more complete and efficient transit system. Light rail in Minneapolis is still in its infancy.

Minneapolis has one very large university, and several small liberal arts colleges (mostly in St Paul). Boston has numerous major universities. This results in a very high number of college students in Boston at any given time, which, in turn, contributes to a livelier night life.

Politically, both cities are generally thought of as being liberal, but Boston has always impressed me as having more of a Democratic Party style of liberalism, while Minneapolis has a more progressive "Green" atmosphere (among other things, MSP has the highest concentration of food co-ops in the country).

Boston's neighborhoods are much more ethnically distinct from one another; while the neighborhoods in Minneapolis tend to be more ethnically diffused, although some parts of St Paul remind me of Boston in that regard.

Minneapolis has a significantly greater number of large corporate headquarters. Although I'm not part of that scene, my take is that it gives Minneapolis a more conservative corporate culture.

The parks/lakes of Minneapolis can't be matched by Boston, although the latter has the advantage of being on The Atlantic Coast.

The cost of living in Minneapolis is much lower.

Boston has an amazing amount of relevance to early American history, and it's done a good job of preserving that history. Minneapolis's history is generally of more recent regional importance, and much of that has been destroyed.

Minneapolis is both colder in the winter, and hotter in the summer. Although seasonal snowfall amounts are usually fairly close.

The wider streets in Minneapolis make both driving and parking (particularly in residential neighborhoods) considerably less stressful. Related to that, Minneapolis seems more laid back as opposed to Boston's faster pace.

I've never had any children; but my impression is that Minneapolis has a better K-12 public school system, and is perhaps a better place to raise a family (slower pace, more parks, bigger yards, etc).

Two great cities. Putting minor (IMO) subjective opinions aside, I'm perplexed by anyone who likes one and dislikes the other. They're different, but not in off-putting ways.

[wtfci]

You will not like Minneapolis if you love NYC and you live in Boston.

I'm from Chicago and moved to the Twin Cities two years ago. My wife and I moved here for the cost of living, great education, and vast metro region that is close to almost every outdoor activity you can dream of. We moved here to start a family.

There really isn't an urban lifestyle in the twin cities. City planners are trying to build that, but it will be decades until that plan is realized.

[Minnesota Spring]

Originally Posted by wtfci

You will not like Minneapolis if you love NYC and you live in Boston.

I'm from Chicago and moved to the Twin Cities two years ago. My wife and I moved here for the cost of living, great education, and vast metro region that is close to almost every outdoor activity you can dream of. We moved here to start a family.

There really isn't an urban lifestyle in the twin cities. City planners are trying to build that, but it will be decades until that plan is realized.

Urban lifestyle compared to cities on the east coast- No. Urban lifestyle compared to the rest of the Midwest outside of Chicago - Yes.
Other than Chicago and the Twin Cities, that doesn't leave you with a whole lot of options - other than I suppose KC's plaza and Cleveland.

[minneapolis612]

My wife just moved to Minneapolis from Boston. She lived downtown in Boston (and also worked at a law firm) and we currently live downtown Minneapolis.

When comparing the two downtowns I think that MassVt hit it on the head where Minneapolis is more spread out. You will miss your Dunkin Donuts, taking the T to fenway or Mikes Pastries, and good professional sports teams. But you will also grow to love Caribou Coffee, the Light Rail, and our outdoor activites.

I still do my favorite things in Minneapolis that I did in Boston. Run by the river, hang out in Loring Park (boston common), and go to sporting events.

I think it will depend on what area you choose to live. Life styles between living downtown and out in the burbs in Minnesota is completely different.

[JButlin]

Is Minneapolis' downtown compact and walkable? Looking on google maps I see there is a British pub there!

[MplsTodd]

Originally Posted by JButlin

Is Minneapolis' downtown compact and walkable? Looking on google maps I see there is a British pub there!

The downtown core is compact, as major office buildings, hotels and retail is clustered together by the skyway system. The walkability of downtown is an interesting question because, on one hand, the skyways make walking around downtown extremely easy. One can walk through the downtown core without ever putting on a coat in wintertime. There are scores of little restaurants,retail services and a decent amount of shops within the skyway system. But the skyways have also hurt streetlife, though NicolletMall and a few other areas make for interesting walks.
The edge of downtown has become more interesting over the past decade or so, as areas like Loring Park, the Warehouse District/North Loop and the Central Riverfront have experienced lots of new development. The challenge for downtown isto successfully link all of these areas together, then it will truly become a walkable downtown!

[sondra_finchley]

Hey JButlin - you moving here from the UK? Brits Pub downtown is a bit of a pastiche of a British pub, but they've got a load of flat screens (and a bowling greens on the roof) so everyone who cares tends to congregate there for the big football matches. Beer selection could be better for sure, especially as there are many bars in both cities that have wide varieties of specialist craft brews on tap. There are quite a few Brits floating around town here, mostly in the tech sector or IT jobs, so you won't be alone.

[rlh725]

Originally Posted by jzak1972

It is a city in the middle of fly-over country, basically a Chicago wanna-be that has absolutely atrocious winters. So now if anyone wants to rip into me on this board, go ahead, but that's my opinion.

someone must've had a bad day. Minneapolis is not going to compare to MAJOR U.S. cities, one would be mad to think that, but it's never crossed my mind Minnesotans are trying to be Chicagoans or New Yorkers. LOL.
I've lived in much bigger cities and one thing I've learned.. no matter how much there potentially is to do, you'll find a few places you favor and, more often than not, will probably end up going to those same places. Maybe that's just me.
Minneapolis can be fun, certain MSP neighborhoods and the suburbs are relatively quiet, the lakes are beautiful, winters are cold, summers are HOT. It's what you make of it! Rent a place until you decide if you like it - if you don't, on to the next place!