Seward (Mpls) - Nestled southeast of the river, Seward is right between the U of M and the VA, with easy access to I-94 east and west, and Hwy 55 north and south. It's a comfortable neighborhood for young families and young professionals, with plenty to do and see within walking distance. If you'd like to consider commuting by bike when it's comfortable, and driving when it's not, Seward would be an excellent choice. 

Merriam Park (StP) - Merriam Park is surprisingly quiet and comfortable given it's pretty ideal geography within the Twin Cities. It's a combination of single-family homes and apartments, many of which house St. Thomas and UMN students. It's mostly residential, without as many restaurants, etc. within walking distance as some other areas.

Highland Park (StP) - a fun and desirable neighborhood in west St. Paul, Highland is ideally situated for a great combination of short commutes, walkability within your neighborhood, and fun things to do. Unsurprisingly, this also means it's on the more expensive side of your options.

Midway (StP) - many of us would argue that Midway is completely underrated. It has some gritty bits mixed in with some really wonderful neighborhood blocks, the fairly new MN Loons stadium is here and the green line train runs through it. Between the train and I-94 accessibility, your commuting options are great. The comfort and safety of the neighborhood is variable block by block, but in general look towards the west and north of the area for a more comfortable feel. We recommend that you avoid being less than a block off University.

Longfellow (Mpls) - Longfellow is an expansive neighborhood from Seward on the north end all the way south to Minnehaha and the VA. The closer you get to the river, the more gorgeous it is. Hwy 55/Hiawatha Ave is the main arterial street that connects the neighborhood up to 35W and the U of M, and down to the VA. Regions is a bit less convenient from here, but still a totally reasonable drive down 55 and then up Hwy 5 in St. Paul.

North Loop (Mpls) - this is where the cool kids hang. Lots of restaurants and activities. Whether its the youth or the walkability or the name, North Loop reminds me of Chicago's near north side.

Downtown West (Mpls) - the cool part of downtown. Theaters, restaurants, bars, sports venues. It's all here, but with the expected price tag.

St. Anthony Park (StP) - do you want to live in a small town while also living in the city? Nestled between the north sides of St. Paul and Minneapolis is this adorable, family-oriented, kinda artsy little community that is both centrally located and sort of a little world unto itself.

Seward (Mpls) - lots of young professionals and young families live in Seward, just southeast of downtown Minneapolis. It's bikeable to campus and has lots of independent coffee shops, a co-op, bars, and restaurants. It has a homey, community feel, and there's plenty to do without resorting to a car.

Longfellow (Mpls) - just south of Seward, Longfellow is diverse, and has lovely commercial areas along Lake St. It includes Minnehaha Park, with all its gorgeous running/biking trails, playgrounds, and of course, Minnehaha Falls. The closer you are to a commercial hub, the more walkable it is.

Whittier (Mpls) - right in central Minneapolis, Whittier is convenient to almost everything. It is part of the larger Powderhorn community of central Minneapolis, which is overall fairly diverse with lots of restaurants and shops. Whittier is on its northwest corner, and is home to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (locally known as Mia), which is free to visit! Also housing the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a Waldorf School, Japanese School, and the Whittier International Elementary School, which uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), and includes Spanish language instruction. Whittier residents tend to be thoughtful, engaged citizens.

Midway (StP) - Midway is part of the west side of St. Paul. It is mainly a working class community, and has an active Hamline-Midway Coalition of neighborhood activists constantly working on a widely varied list of projects to maintain and improve the neighborhood. It is home to the MN Loons soccer stadium and the Green line, so you have very easy access to lots of places. Some blocks feel grittier than others, so we do recommend checking out your potential home in person to get a feel for the immediate area. Generally, living a few blocks in from the major streets is better than along them, and the northwest is more comfortable than the southeast portion of the neighborhood. Multiple colleges and city life are all meshed together in Midway, and you can find some excellent food and peruse the Midway Used & Rare Book Store as often as you'd like. If you're an experienced city dweller, definitely consider Midway!

Northeast (Mpls) - traditionally an area of working class immigrants, Northeast maintains a visible Eastern European influence. Kramarczuk's Deli is famously amazing, and Surdyk's Liquors and cheese shop is a community staple. The contemporary immigration to the area includes more Somalis, Ecuadorans, and Tibetans, among the more local migrants of U of M students and a growing African American population in the area. Northeast has all the benefits of a diverse immigrant community, but also a feeling of stability, with many families staying within it boundaries for generations once they arrive.

Brooklyn Park (Northwest suburb) - Brooklyn Park sits north of Minneapolis and is the Twin Cities' most diverse suburb with a majority-minority population (39% white, 29% Black, 19% Asian/PI, 8% Hispanic). The next most diverse suburbs are nearby Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights, followed by Maplewood on St. Paul's east side. One-quarter of Brooklyn Park's population was born outside the US, and 1/3 of residents speak a language other than English at home. It has tons of trees and green spaces, and an active, vibrant community. If you're looking for diversity in a near suburb, Brooklyn Park is excellent!

Prospect Park (Green Line, Prospect Park stop) - if you want to be in the middle of all the action, Prospect Park fits well. Right next to the U of M's East Bank, it feels youthful and vibrant. It has some well known restaurant/bar hot spots (Malcolm Yards, Surley Brewing, O'Shaughnessy Distillery), and an incredible view of the Minneapolis skyline. 

Midway (Green Line, Snelling & University or Hamline stop) - so named because it's one of the most central neighborhoods to the whole Twin Cities, Midway provides easy access to campus and both downtowns. You want to look for homes a few blocks off the main arteries, as comfort is variable block by block. If you're a soccer fan, enjoy living right by Allianz Field! We recommend this neighborhood only to more experienced city dwellers. There is a lot to love here, but the neighborhood also has familiar urban issues with public drug use and homelessness, particularly right along University Ave. A couple blocks in from University, you can find some very comfortable places to live!

Longfellow (Blue Line, Lake St Midtown stop) - located fairly centrally in Minneapolis, Longfellow neighborhood is ethnically diverse and is overall pretty residential and homey feeling. Right near the train station can feel a bit grittier than eastward, so consider looking a few blocks away from the station.

Standish (Blue Line, 38th St stop) - part of the larger Powderhorn area, Standish is west of Hwy 55, north of Lake Hiawatha. It has a very active community of people who love it, and it feels homey, but still has things to do along the main stretches. The homes are mostly century homes, and the neighborhood feels established. There's a golf course and lots of biking options.

Falcon Heights/Lauderdale/Roseville (North Suburbs) - The St. Paul Campus of UMN is in Falcon Heights, as is the annual State Fair. These suburbs are contiguous with both St. Paul and Minneapolis, and you can quickly reach either city center from them. Roseville is the business hub for the north side, while also having many great neighborhood parks and schools. Falcon Heights is its quieter, more reserved sibling, and tiny Lauderdale is like its quirky aunt. If you're looking to buy an affordable house, definitely include Lauderdale in your search. I haven't done the math, but I believe that Lauderdale is the suburb that has the overall lowest commute time to the 3 main clinical sites.

St. Louis Park (West Suburb) - SLP is a first ring suburb adjacent to Minneapolis' west side, so maintains good proximity to the city. It has a lot of post-war housing stock and is relatively dense for a suburb. SLP is not very diverse overall (77% white), but has a significant Jewish population and good access to several synagogues.

Richfield (South Suburb) - Richfield claims to be Minnesota's oldest suburb, founded in the 1850s. It is pretty diverse for a suburb (59% white, 18% Hispanic, 10% Black, 6.6% Asian), and has a lot of green spaces. It's comfortable feeling and homey, but takes a bit of effort to get to exciting places for a night out. It's a great place to be with a family, but I probably wouldn't consider it as a single person.

Maplewood (East Suburb) - Because of the hospital locations, not a lot of residents choose to live east of Regions in St. Paul. But if you're going to consider it, take a look at Maplewood. It is contiguous with nearly the whole eastern edge of St. Paul, with its "city center" feeling on the north side of this weirdly-shaped suburb. Many areas feel like the eastern St. Paul neighborhoods they abut, but may have a bit more elbow room between homes. Battle Creek Park on Maplewood's south end is sprawling, with many trails for walking, biking, and skiing, as well as a huge fully-enclosed dog park. My dog strongly endorses it.

North Loop (Mpls) - this is definitely the most young, fresh feeling area of town. Just northwest of downtown, North Loop has fantastic restaurants, bars, and nightlife. If you're looking to savor what's left of your 20s, look here.

West 7th (StP) - this is the most up-and-coming neighborhood in St. Paul. Situated along the north bank of the Mississippi River west of downtown St. Paul, it's more affordable than Highland Park and Mac-Groveland to its west, but has craft breweries, galleries, antique stores, trendy cafes, and plenty of restaurants. There is a lot to do here, and it has attracted a relatively young population who love being a part of it.

Uptown (Mpls) - there is a lot of disagreement within Minneapolis about what the boundaries of Uptown really are, but it's definitely lively along Lake Street at Lyndale and west to Bde Maka Ska, one of our more magnificent urban lakes to wander or paddle around. It's also a very diverse area with a rich history and is the commercial hub for south Minneapolis. I can't tell you why Uptown is south of Downtown, but it's a really fun area. Prince thought so too! Uptown generally has a more mature version of the hip kid than some of the other areas.

Northeast (Mpls) - Northeast/Nordeast is really a collection of 13 neighborhoods that are within Minneapolis but northeast of the Mississippi, across the river from Downtown and the rest of Minneapolis. Many undergrads live in the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the University (Dinkytown, Prospect Park), while other sections are more family-oriented (Audubon Park, Waite Park) or artsy (Arts District). Independent cafes, bars, and restaurants can be found all over Nordeast. Being within a few blocks of a business artery will mean a pretty walkable neighborhood, but some areas are more residential if you're looking to live near the party, not at the party.

Highland Park (StP) - just east of the river and south of several college campuses, Highland Park has long been considered a very desirable part of St. Paul. It's pretty walkable and has a lot of things to do and see, and is a popular choice for young families. It's also fairly pricy, FYI. Highland Park was formerly part of the Fort Snelling Reservation.

Edina (Southwest Suburb) - anyone not from Edina will happily rag on Edina any time, just like everyone outside New York will do for the Yankees. But the reality is that it's because they're generally the best at everything--academics, sports, shopping, all of it (see also, The Mighty Ducks, 1992). Edina is generally a fancy area, but you can still find affordable rentals and condos within the city limits.

Minnetonka (West Suburb) - Minnetonka is a second-ring suburb straight west of central Minneapolis, so it would be a bit farther drive to your clinic sites. But it's a very safe community with very good schools if you're looking for a thoroughly suburban lifestyle. Like Edina, Minnetonka has a reputation for wealth, but also has reasonable rental and condo prices available if you look.

Shoreview/Arden Hills (North Suburbs) - These second-ring suburbs lie around 694 for pretty easy access to the metro freeway system, and are part of the coveted Mounds View School District. This area has more affordable living options than most of Edina and Minnetonka, though there are certainly some fancy pockets as well.

Eagan (Southeast Suburb) - Eagan is very sprawling, so check on your commute times from specific spots--it could vary widely within this city's limits. Eagan is St. Paul's version of Edina. School District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan) covers most of the city limits and is very good at academics and athletics. Eagan definitely has a suburban feeling--fairly new construction homes and lots of space, as well as an outlet mall and the Viking Training facility (where the pre-professional women's soccer team, The Aurora, also play in the late spring and early summer). 

Minneapolis Public Schools - When you're enrolling, you get to rank 3 schools. You're guaranteed a spot in your community school. Magnet & Charter Schools are "space available."  Research school placement and their timeline before picking a home! It's a bit gerrymandered in some places, so the school closest to your home is not necessarily your designated community school. Lake Harriet Upper Elementary, Burroughs Elementary, and Kenny Elementary are listed as the top three elementary schools by US News & World Report.

St. Paul Public Schools - All students may attend their community school, and parents may apply for enrollment in one other school. You can learn more about placement criteria and school options at the SPPS website. Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy, Capitol Hill Magnet/Rondo, and Randolph Heights Elementary are listed as the top 3 St. Paul elementary schools by US News & World Report.