First post here. I'm a remote worker and With a population of 53,256, Minnetonka is a smaller city. Homes are going for about $456,200 on average. Crime rate is something to consider -Minnetonka sits at 55.1 per 100K. The unemployment rate is 1.5%, which is pretty low. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The suburbs are where most families end up. Looking forward to hearing from you all. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
6 upvotes
26 Replies
jose_fan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 41, moved here 10 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Old Town and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- West: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Miami, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
39 upvotes
Angel Ramirez
interesting, hadn't considered that
39 upvotes
Savannah Garcia
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 3 years. Moved from Atlanta for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is improving - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are pretty good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Chain restaurants dominate. Bugs and humidity in summer. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Sarah M.
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
37 upvotes
Jacob Castillo
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
James K.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
36 upvotes
Kevin S.
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
35 upvotes
Everly Myers
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
33 upvotes
Riley M.
glad someone said it
32 upvotes
Joan S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Maple Ridge. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in finance. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Natalie M.
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great craft beer places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
30 upvotes
Joseph Parker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Luna Long
+1
28 upvotes
Savannah R.
literally same
23 upvotes
Addison M.
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Willow J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Alexa D.
haha yep pretty much
20 upvotes
seattle_miles
I work in hospitality here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Autumn Green
been saying this for years
17 upvotes
dallas_eliana
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Sunset) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
11 upvotes
Jackson E.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great seafood places. it's been a really good experience overall.
8 upvotes
Isabelle F.
I've lived in South for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Strong job market in several industries
- The walkability scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
wild_weston54
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
5 upvotes
Lucy
it depends on the neighborhood
4 upvotes
Santiago
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
2 upvotes
stlfan2021
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 13 years. Moved from Charlotte for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is decent - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are average. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Property taxes are high. Road conditions need improvement. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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