Moving to Minnesota - where to live?

Edina.

Mendota Heights, MN. Runners World in early 1980s said running on hwy 13 Sibley Memorial Hwy is one of best urban running environments in U.S. Also, good running along Mississippi River between Lilydale Pool & Yacht Club and Harriet Island. Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, MN has a good ski program.

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But in all seriousness, would recommend somewhere in northern MN. With global warming snow is more of a dicey proposition down in the MSP area.

Stillwater or Edina

Minneapolis or Duluth. Duluth if you want to emphasize nordic skiing, as the climate up there is more reliable in winter.

Avoid the suburban schools (Stillwater, Edina, etc.) mentioned above unless you want your kids to only be exposed to other people who are exactly like them. These schools produce great test scores but very little in terms of real world education. Minneapolis Washburn is a public high school with a great running program, good academic reputation, but much more diversity than the Edina/Stillwater/Wayzata types. If you move to Minneapolis, consider targeting that area.

If you are looking for more of a small town feel Stillwater and White Bear lake are nice areas with stronger programs. If you like more of an urban feel Edina is your best bet. Wayzata, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie are all wealthy western suburbs that are always good and take their high school sports very seriously. Basically follow the money and you will find solid cross county programs. Stillwater is my personal favorite. If money is truly not an issue the lake Minnetonka area is probably the most desired place to live in MN.

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Check out Red Wing, Lake City, and Wabasha

Highland Park neighborhood in St. Paul is a great area with a highly competitive cross country and Nordic ski program at Highland Park senior high. This past season, the boys were 3rd in the state meet for cross country with Oliver Paleen as the individual state champ and the girls took 2nd in the Nordic state meet last February. Girls Nordic is ranked 1st in the state going into the state championship and the boys team is ranked 3rd.

On top of that, the school is diverse and academically strong. You'll end up having a much more fulfilling experience there than you likely would at a "rich suburban school" like Stillwater or Edina.

The Highland Park area is right up from the Mississippi River and the trail access is pretty incredible for an urban area. The running community in St. Paul is also top-notch.

Below Average wrote:If you like more of an urban feel Edina is your best bet.

Urban feel? Edina?!

Do not listen to this person. Edina is an extremely wealthy suburb that feels exactly like an extremely wealthy suburb. Only move there if that is what you are looking for.

biased perspective wrote:

Highland Park neighborhood in St. Paul is a great area with a highly competitive cross country and Nordic ski program at Highland Park senior high. This past season, the boys were 3rd in the state meet for cross country with Oliver Paleen as the individual state champ and the girls took 2nd in the Nordic state meet last February. Girls Nordic is ranked 1st in the state going into the state championship and the boys team is ranked 3rd.

On top of that, the school is diverse and academically strong. You'll end up having a much more fulfilling experience there than you likely would at a "rich suburban school" like Stillwater or Edina.

The Highland Park area is right up from the Mississippi River and the trail access is pretty incredible for an urban area. The running community in St. Paul is also top-notch.

Admittedly I prefer and live in a rural area. I used to live in this neighborhood and It’s by far my favorite area in Minneapolis and St. Paul. You can say you value diversity all you want, but there is just as many rich white people here as any of the other areas mentioned.

By “urban” meant crowded and close to amenities...probably not the best word to use I suppose.

You should check out a town called Little Canada...the name would obviously be a joke for you and your family, but that general area--suburban St. Paul--will have a nice small town feel while also being within the Twin Cities area. Other St. Paul suburbs to check out are North St Paul, Oakdale, Woodbury, Eagan, Apple Valley, Afton, Stillwater. St Paul itself also has a small town feel in places but is getting a little sketchy. South Minneapolis is a pretty bland option, but otherwise I would say that Minneapolis as well as the northern suburbs (the Brooklyns) will be too sketchy and its suburbs (Minnetonka, Edina, Lakeville, Bloomington, etc.) will have too much of an American "McMansion" feel for a Canadian

Also the OP said he has money and is looking for strong cross country programs. Edina and Wayzata are the obvious choices.

Avoid the burbs but go to one of the most gentrified areas in the state huh? I am sure that is better. Plenty of diversity in Bloomington which I would say is also worth a look. Great schools with great gifted and advanced programs and great athletics programs. Easy access to the Minneapolis and St Paul. I am not sure about nordic ski programs but Hyland park has lots of XC ski trails for which they make snow and maintain all winter. Plenty of good places to run too.

biased perspective wrote:

Highland Park neighborhood in St. Paul is a great area with a highly competitive cross country and Nordic ski program at Highland Park senior high. This past season, the boys were 3rd in the state meet for cross country with Oliver Paleen as the individual state champ and the girls took 2nd in the Nordic state meet last February. Girls Nordic is ranked 1st in the state going into the state championship and the boys team is ranked 3rd.

On top of that, the school is diverse and academically strong. You'll end up having a much more fulfilling experience there than you likely would at a "rich suburban school" like Stillwater or Edina.

The Highland Park area is right up from the Mississippi River and the trail access is pretty incredible for an urban area. The running community in St. Paul is also top-notch.

Highland Park is a great neighborhood. It's not nearly as ritzy as some of the suburbs people have been throwing around, but it's a safe neighborhood where people take care of their properties. That said, Highland Park's high school is not really that good (nor are any of the St. Paul public schools). I grew up a few blocks from Highland High school.

If I were moving to MN, I'd probably live in South Minneapolis, near the chain of lakes. Great running, beautiful homes, pretty quick drive to anywhere, but you can actually get places on bike, which isn't so feasible if you live out in Eden Prairie. Property taxes aren't great, but homes are pretty affordable.

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