Commute from North Oaks vs. Minnetonka/Wayzata (Minneapolis, Plymouth: big house, construction)

[HMY624]

Husband is starting a new job just up the street from the Metrodome (sorry- don't know the new name)- was considering North Oaks but concerned about the commute. It is easier to commute from there or the Wayzata/Minnetonka area? I assume neither have access to public transit?

[gophers1991]

It's easier (and probably slightly quicker) to get to the metrodome side of downtown coming from North Oaks/35W. But I would still choose the Wayzata area over North Oaks if those are your options.

[Apple Tree]

Wayzata is a very quick, straight shot to DT Mpls. It is one of the hidden gems in terms of commutes. Figure 12-15 minutes on 394, and add whatever time it would take to get to your house to 394. Most folks in that area have 20-minute commutes point-to-point.

Right now is a bad example....394 is under construction.... but normally it is very good.

[HMY624]

Comparing the two areas, why would you prefer Wayzata over North Oaks?

[northsub]

There are express bus routes from downtown Wayzata to downtown Minneapolis. Although that would likely be a headache because you would need to go through the entirety of downtown Minneapolis to get to the Metrodome area. That might double your commute time.

From North Oaks you could easily get to the Shoreview Community Center. There's an "express" route from there to downtown Minneapolis, but it's kind of slow (40 minutes) and drops you off a ways west of the Metrodome. I would probably drive a bit further to the County H park and ride. It's a 15 minute ride to the Metrodome in the morning from there. However, the evening commute would require you to take the light rail or other transit a bit west and then a 25 minute or so ride (different routes into/out of downtown Minneapolis).

Both transit options will not offer much in terms of time flexibility.

[BryaninMSP]

My wife commuted from North Oaks to downtown Minneapolis with no problems. 25 to 30 minutes each day, about the same as what it takes her now from Blaine.

[Kayekaye]

The biggest problem with living west of the downtown area for me was always the Sun. Right in your eyes driving in the morning to downtown and again right in your eyes going home at night. I never liked that and picked the North Oaks to White Bear Lake area to drive to downtown and even Edina for work. Would have been closer living in the West area but just never liked all the sun in my eyes.

North Oaks is beautiful with a few groups to join and the golf club, private lake. Wayzata has many more lakes and restaurants.

[PullMyFinger]

Originally Posted by HMY624

Comparing the two areas, why would you prefer Wayzata over North Oaks?

There is really nothing but big houses in North Oaks. Wayzata is in the middle of everything, comparing the two is pointless. Wayzata has their own school district, NO I believe is White Bear Lake area schools but most of the kids from NO go to private schools.

One offers quick access to everything, the other peace and quiet but sitting in traffic to get to work. What is your choice?

[northsub]

Originally Posted by PullMyFinger

There is really nothing but big houses in North Oaks. Wayzata is in the middle of everything, comparing the two is pointless. Wayzata has their own school district, NO I believe is White Bear Lake area schools but most of the kids from NO go to private schools.

One offers quick access to everything, the other peace and quiet but sitting in traffic to get to work. What is your choice?

Yes, Wayzata has it's name on a school district. But, isn't that district largely parts of Plymouth? That's like claiming Mounds View has its own district. Incidentally, Mounds View is the district that contains most of North Oaks.

I'm skeptical that most North Oaks kids go to private schools. Where would they go other than somewhere small for religious reasons?

Blake even has a campus in Wayzata, presumably because a fair number of kids in Wayzata do go to private school.

[BryaninMSP]

Originally Posted by PullMyFinger

There is really nothing but big houses in North Oaks. Wayzata is in the middle of everything, comparing the two is pointless. Wayzata has their own school district, NO I believe is White Bear Lake area schools but most of the kids from NO go to private schools.

One offers quick access to everything, the other peace and quiet but sitting in traffic to get to work. What is your choice?

In my experience (growing up in Shoreview and North Oaks), North Oaks kids go to public school. Most of the homes in NO are in Mounds View, the ones on the east side go to WBL, but there's a difference in home price for Mounds View vs. WBL.