Median sale price for single family homes: http://northstarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/infoserv/s-v1/jxeX-QoV
Move to St. Paul and be part of “15 small towns with one mayor.” The metropolitan area’s neighborhood-based life is nurtured by 17 district councils that encourage grassroots involvement.
With about 300,000, the population in St. Paul has been growing after several decades of loss and stagnation. A growing array of cultural, entertainment, sporting and fine dining attractions — along with a corresponding growth in housing options — have been luring young professionals and retirees alike looking for walkable neighborhoods filled with amenities. Yet, the city maintains its quiet, calm feel.
Plus, the parks and recreation options in St. Paul are second in the nation only to neighboring Minneapolis, according to the nonprofit Trust for Public Land. The parks and recreation department manages 160 parks and 41 recreation centers – and over 1,500 organized sports teams. High on the list of amenities is the city-run Como Park, which boosts a free zoo, Victorian conservatory, amusement park, Japanese gardens, Como Lake, golf course and cross-country ski area. Indian Mounds Park is the site of 2,000 year old Native American burial ground. St. Paul’s largest lake is Lake Phalen, home to a city golf course and host to events like a solar boat regatta, the annual Dragon Festival Asian cultural festival, and a gigantic holiday light display. When it comes to community festivals, St. Paul does it up big. The most well-known is the annual Winter Carnival in January which celebrates the best of winter with ice sculpting, an annual treasure hunt, winter food, activities, and an ice palace. There’s also Grand Ole Days in June and the State Fair in August.
Downtown St. Paul is a draw with its great music venues, inviting restaurants, funky night spots, the Saints, and the Wild. Families are drawn to both the Science Museum and Children’s Museum, as well as the Minnesota History Center.
St. Paul’s neighborhoods are each very distinct, and the character of the city changes markedly between neighborhoods.
Lowertown, the former industrial part of downtown, is gradually transforming into the arts center of St. Paul, hosting two annual annual art crawls, live outdoor music and performance, and a music festival featuring the best local classical, indie, jazz and pop musicians.
Alot of development is also happening along the river in the West Seventh/Fort Road neighborhood where old factories are being turned into housing and new executive condominiums are being built. This diagonal neighborhood is named for the main thoroughfare, Fort Road, which begins life as restaurant- and bar-lined West Seventh Street in downtown St. Paul, and runs in between the Mississippi and Interstate 35E, turning into Fort Road on the way.
The area between downtown and the Mississippi River to the west is home to several affluent and longstanding neighborhoods. Crocus Hill surrounds the eastern end of Grand Avenue, in between Macalester-Groveland to the west and downtown St. Paul to the east. Main attractions here are the shopping, American and international restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, bars, and galleries on Grand Avenue.
Summit-University is St. Paul’s oldest residential neighborhood. Its name comes from the high river bluffs. Summit Avenue has impressive Victorian mansions, several independent restaurants and shops along Selby Avenue, and the magnificent Cathedral of St. Paul. It’s proximity to nearby colleges of St. Thomas and Macalester also make it popular with students.
The affluent residential Merriam Park is nestled along the Mississippi River and is beautiful year-round. Surrounded by parkland in several places, it’s a popular place for a walk or a picnic, particularly along East River Parkway. The neighborhood is home to several beloved local businesses, including Izzy’s Ice Cream, Tillie’s Farmhouse (formerly Trotter’s Cafe), and Choo Choo Bob’s train store.
Just south of Merriam Park is Macalester-Groveland — or MacGrove to the locals. The western half of Grand Avenue runs through Mac-Groveland, which means there’s a wide an array of shopping and dining opportunities. The neighborhood is also home to St. Thomas and Macalester universities, so many students live here. They often stay and settle as young families. Professionals also like this neighborhood for the attractive housing, nightlife, and proximity to both St. Paul and Minneapolis. Expect house prices here to be higher than average for the city.
Highland Park provides a welcome retail area with a mix of big box and independent stores centered around Ford Parkway and Snelling Avenue. The vast park the neighborhood is named after is a large open space with wooded areas, resident deer, a golf course and cross country ski trails. The expansive Ford Motor Company plant property is currently being redeveloped, adding new housing stock and businesses to the neighborhood.
On the east side of the city is Dayton’s Bluff, an early residential neighborhood with many attractive older houses. Residents appreciate the high bluffs with attractive views of the river and downtown. Previous inhabitants of this area had great respect for the river, too, as this is home to Indian Mounds Park, a 2,000-year-old Native American burial ground overlooking the river.
The residential neighborhood of Payne-Phalen sits east of Interstate 35E. It’s name for Phalen Park, a pretty park surrounding Lake Phalen, and Payne Boulevard, the main north-south street. A varied neighborhood, it has some of the highest levels of crime in St. Paul, but also many safe residential streets and quiet parks.
In the middle of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the neighborhood of Hamline-Midway is a mix of residential, light industry and business parks. The new soccer stadium along the lightrail line will expand the entertainment options when it opens.
Como is a lovely and quiet residential neighborhood surrounding Como Park and its attractions, Lake Como and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The State Fairgrounds is on the western border of this neighborhood, and the event is a source of income for those who offer parking during the 12 Best Days of Summer.
