Cambride, MN info??? (North Branch, Forest Lake, Cambridge: violent crime, elementary school, living)

[Mark S.]

Anyone have any firsthand knowledge of Cambridge?

We hadn't really been considering it, but then a job opening came up. I'm a bit concerned about the crime stats though. Violent crime is below average, but property crime is very high for such a small town. That sometimes tends to indicate a drug problem in the area.

So how is Cambridge? Is it a safe community for families? Is there a gang presence in the schools?

[T.S.]

I spent the last couple years nearby in North Branch. We drive to Cambridge for some shopping and stuff like that. No gangs in the schools that I am aware of. There are many meth lab busts around the Cambridge area because it is somewhat rural and people think they can get away with it there. Not really anything that you see or need to worry much about though in my opinion. I would consider most of it safe for families, especially the new developments.

[Mark S.]

Thank you for the input!

Meth is a nationwide problem right now. I'm not concerned with it in that I'm afraid my kids will get into it or anything, but it does become a problem when addicts resort to crime to finance their habit.

Any idea why property crime is so high? There seems to be a lot of burglaries and larcenies in the area. Is that the crackheads stealing to finance their addiction? Is it bored local teens? Any clue?

What is North Branch like? I hadn't heard of that, but looking on the map, I see that it isn't too far from Cambridge.

[restlessinmn]

One of my husband's family member's lived in North Branch many years ago and always speaks fondly of her time living there. They lived on a few acres. That was at least a decade ago, though. I can't comment on what's going on there now.

I hear about meth a lot on the news here in the Twin Cities. You hear about theft to support the addictions, etc... I, luckily, have not had any first-hand knowledge of a meth-related crime.

It's my uneducated opinion that meth 'labs' are going to be found more in the rural areas where they chemicals are more readily available and the smells associated with the production are going to be less noticible (i.e. farmland). Meth use and the associated crime is going to be everywhere. The best thing to do is report any suspicious behavior even if it's from the "nicest" of neighbors.

[T.S.]

I know labs get busted around there, but I don't think the crime is from drug addicts trying to fund their habits. The crime is most likely from bored local teens breaking into cars and stealing 4 wheelers, stuff like that.

North Branch is about a 15 minute drive from Cambridge. It has more people than Cambridge, but less big box stores/fast food places. North Branch has more of a small town feel in my opinion, even with the higher population. It also has a good location just off I-35 so you can be in downtown or at the airport within 45 minutes if traffic is not bad. Crime is low as far as I know and have seen. My younger brother and sister both went to the schools for a couple years before graduating and I never heard anything bad about them, except for a policy of lowering students grades if they take too many days off, even if the days are excused by their parents. It just got a new fire station, library, and elementary school in the past year or two. There is just 1 locally owned supermarket in town, but Cambridge and Forest Lake are both 15 minutes away with most big names stores.

I am moving away this week. I want to be in a suburb closer to a major city for work. North Branch might be a good option for you though if you are working in the area.