North St. Paul quality of life -am I missing something?
Alright, Poverty rate is 9.8%, which is pretty low. Average temperature is around 47--F, so expect cold winters. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Any advice would be great. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes
7 Replies
Skylar Diaz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 49, moved here 8 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Maple Ridge and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for families. improving vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Tampa, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
34 upvotes
seattle_austin
glad someone said it
34 upvotes
Xavier Morris
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
34 upvotes
Sebastian Wood
as a local I can confirm
31 upvotes
Emily L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in retail. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Declan
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 2 years. Moved from Houston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Uptown schools are decent. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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