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Who knew? Twin Cities area is No. 2 in magazine's 50 smart places to live
Pioneer Press ^ | 5-9-06 | kiplingers

Posted on 05/09/2006 6:34:27 AM PDT by Rakkasan1

Minneapolis-St. Paul is a "cosmopolitan gem," according to a new ranking by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Granted, "the winter weather isn't for wusses," Kiplinger's June issue reports, but the seven-county Twin Cities area has so many good things to brag about: cost of living and housing, quality health care, low crime rate, education, quality of life, cultural amenities, the economy and transportation.

St. Paul doesn't get short shrift either in the write-up: The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra are mentioned, among other pluses. Minneapolis is described as "progressive and hip, with a Midwestern sensibility." Anoka County and Lakeville are singled out for reasonable housing prices.

To read more about why this area is such a smart place to live, go to www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance.

Top five cities

1. Nashville, Tenn.

2. Minneapolis-St. Paul

3. Albuquerque, N.M.

4. Atlanta

5. Austin, Texas

our neighbors

16. La Crosse, Wis.

17. Rochester, Minn.

20. Madison, Wis.

28. Bismarck, N.D.

32. St. Cloud, Minn.

45. Oshkosh, Wis.

(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: cities; cold; kiplingers; liberal; live; mn; move; not; or; progressive; smart; twin; winter

1 posted on 05/09/2006 6:34:33 AM PDT by Rakkasan1
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To: Rakkasan1

Cold weather reduces "quality of life" to zero. ;)


2 posted on 05/09/2006 6:36:01 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("When the government is invasive, the people are wanting." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: MNJohnnie

Not so sure ping.


3 posted on 05/09/2006 6:36:27 AM PDT by rightinthemiddle (Islamic Terrorists, the Mainstream Media and the Democrat Party Have the Same Goals in Iraq.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

but makes the riff-raff head south or at least stay off the street.


4 posted on 05/09/2006 6:38:06 AM PDT by Rakkasan1 (lead ,follow or get out of the majority.start with our borders.)
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To: Rakkasan1

I spent most of last week in St. Paul on business and would love to live there but for the cold being used to balmy Chicago. It is a very nice city and appeals greatly to me.


5 posted on 05/09/2006 6:38:06 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: wardaddy

Nashville's No. 1 ping.


6 posted on 05/09/2006 6:39:32 AM PDT by bourbon (he who marries the spirt if the age will soon be a widower.)
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To: bourbon

I live here, and it sux.
Well, I'm not a leftist commie, that may play into it..


7 posted on 05/09/2006 6:43:54 AM PDT by CygnusXI (Where's that dang Meteor already?)
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To: Rakkasan1
I'd easily vote for Nashville
Pleasant, moderate climate
No Hurricanes

East Tenn. folk are very easy to live with
Lots of room to grow

Vanderbilt Sports are the pits however,
Have to go to Knoxville for good college football
Titans are OK, bad season last year though
8 posted on 05/09/2006 6:44:51 AM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: Rakkasan1
20. Madison, Wis.

Only if you're a Marxist.

9 posted on 05/09/2006 6:46:27 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: HangnJudge

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060509/BUSINESS01/605090339

And as a sidelight, Nashville has a close neighbor
Oak Ridge, Tenn. which is world famous in energy research

http://www.cortn.org/
http://www.ornl.gov/


10 posted on 05/09/2006 6:50:04 AM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: HangnJudge

Nashville. Where everyone feels like family. Cause it is.


11 posted on 05/09/2006 6:54:08 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Rakkasan1
>>3. Albuquerque, N.M. <<

Not that I disagree that Albuquerque is a nice city but I can see the line of Uhaul moving vans going into the City getting even larger than what it already is. Oh well. It will just mean my house will sell faster when I leave for rural America.

Muleteam1

12 posted on 05/09/2006 6:54:58 AM PDT by Muleteam1
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To: Rakkasan1; Lazamataz
Atlanta? That would be the navel on America, geographically.

Give me SE Alaska anyday!

13 posted on 05/09/2006 6:55:00 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Tennessee_Bob

fyiieeeeeeee


14 posted on 05/09/2006 6:55:33 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: justshutupandtakeit
"balmy Chicago"


10 degrees above zero in Chicago is as cold as -20 degrees below zero anywhere else. Nothing is as miserable as cold, damp and windy, unless you add in a blizzard like the one in 1978.
15 posted on 05/09/2006 7:00:15 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: bourbon
I can easily see why Nashville is #1. Been there a few times, love it!, and could totally see myself living there someday.

Beats the crap out of cold, dirty, 'Rat-infested cities up north.

16 posted on 05/09/2006 7:00:35 AM PDT by TonyRo76 (American by birth. Patriot by choice. Christian by grace.)
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To: Rakkasan1
but makes the riff-raff head south or at least stay off the street.

Or in Uptown...

17 posted on 05/09/2006 7:02:36 AM PDT by akorahil (Thank You and God bless all Veterans. Truly, the real heroes.)
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To: HangnJudge
I grew up in Knoxville, so I prefer East TN over Middle. That said, Hillbilly Hollywood - AKA: Nashville, TN is a great city. Vandy is the biggest University there, but it is far from being the only university. Great health care as well.

As for the other cities:

2. Minneapolis-St. Paul - Nice place to visit. I'd live there just to listen to "Garage Logic" in the afternoons.

3. Albuquerque, N.M. - "but, it's a dry heat."

4. Atlanta - if by Atlanta, you mean Dunwoody or Buckhead, then yes. if by Atlanta, you mean Techwood, then no.

5. Austin, Texas - "keep Austin weird!" Um... OK. I like Dallas better.

16. La Crosse, Wis. - Great hunting and fishing close by and truly wonderful people. I also found a great Barbecue place there.

17. Rochester, Minn. - no, but thank you. Costly, cold, and lots of people who are sick. Health care there may be the best in the US, but it's not for me.

20. Madison, Wis. - an island of socialism surrounded by the reality of Wisconsin. Hated the place. Some nice folks, and the university is great in my field. But, I could never, ever live there.

28. Bismarck, N.D. - No idea. Never been there.

32. St. Cloud, Minn. - Great town. Beautiful gardens and the university is great.

45. Oshkosh, Wis.- Oshkosh by gosh! Nice folks.

18 posted on 05/09/2006 7:08:52 AM PDT by Volunteer (Just so you know, I am ashamed the Dixie Chicks make records in Nashville.)
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To: rightinthemiddle

It's all Pawlenty's fault!!!!!


19 posted on 05/09/2006 7:10:54 AM PDT by MNlurker
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To: Dixie Yooper

Lol my wife was pregnant during that one. We were attending Lamaz classes.


20 posted on 05/09/2006 7:15:02 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: Rakkasan1

Let me guess. The majority of the top smartest places to live are dominated by leftists? Am I right? I know the twin cities are. I know Madison is. Anyone? Anyone?


21 posted on 05/09/2006 7:17:57 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: Rakkasan1

Austin at # 5?

Yeah right. This place sucks.

I moved here a little over a year ago and am already packing my bags to get back out in the country. Too many damn liberals, mexico plates, freaks, robberies, and so on.


22 posted on 05/09/2006 7:19:05 AM PDT by TheZMan
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

I didn't know anything to pick at this about until I saw Atlanta. A truly HORRIBLE place! ugh. Horrible, HORRIBLE traffic, and the city pols are so corrupt both in the past and now.
No one could pay us enough to live in or close to Atlanta.


23 posted on 05/09/2006 7:20:35 AM PDT by Shimmer128 (Well, i WAS proud of America....sigh)
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To: Rakkasan1
8. Ithaca, NY

  
24 posted on 05/09/2006 7:22:53 AM PDT by Libertarian444
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To: Volunteer

"Atlanta - if by Atlanta, you mean Dunwoody or Buckhead, then yes. if by Atlanta, you mean Techwood, then no."


It's been awhile since you've been to ATL apparently.

Buckhead is now the hip-hop hotspot of the city. I.E. It sux. And Techwood isn't quite the drug-slinging hellhole it used to be...although I wouldn't walk its streets at night...


25 posted on 05/09/2006 7:22:59 AM PDT by Blzbba (Beauty is just a light switch away...)
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To: Volunteer
"3. Albuquerque, N.M. - "but, it's a dry heat."

So is a pizza oven!

I can't stand anything over 70 deg.
26 posted on 05/09/2006 7:25:38 AM PDT by Beagle8U (Juan Williams....The DNC's "Crash test Dummy" for talking points.)
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To: Rakkasan1

Went to school in Minnesota and loved everything but the brutal winters...worked in Atlanta and consider the 'burbs okay but the central city could be a twin to east L.A., south Detroit, Lagos or Mogadishu as far as filth, crime, corruption and gangs are concerned! My favorite city: Charleston, S.C.!


27 posted on 05/09/2006 7:27:41 AM PDT by meandog (If I were to draw the odious Islamic prophet Muhammad, he would have horns, a tail, and a ptichfork!)
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To: Rakkasan1

Ithaca was in the Top Ten, so already the guide is suspect.


28 posted on 05/09/2006 7:30:26 AM PDT by D-Chivas
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To: Dixie Yooper; justshutupandtakeit

Some northern Minnesotans refer to "Da Cities" as the banana belt...


29 posted on 05/09/2006 7:30:27 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (Meep Meep)
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To: Volunteer
32. St. Cloud, Minn. - Great town. Beautiful gardens and the university is great.

If I had to live in Minnesota, that (or one of the smaller surrounding towns) would probably be the place...decent infrastucture, nice folks and pretty terrain.

30 posted on 05/09/2006 7:33:35 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (Meep Meep)
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To: ErnBatavia
The Twin Cities have lakes. Not fake dammed up river type lakes, but real glacier formed lakes with relatively clean fresh water you can swim in when it gets warm enough.
31 posted on 05/09/2006 7:39:40 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: Rakkasan1
I think the reason Minneapolis-St. Paul is on the list is because they dump all their filth into the river, so it goes downstream to taint other communities. Pigs. Leftist hypocritical pigs.

Go Packers!

32 posted on 05/09/2006 8:08:35 AM PDT by mallardx
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To: Rakkasan1

One of the worst things that can happen to a nice community is inclusion into one of these lists. The two legged trash will beat a path into the city, drag down the infrastructure, raise the taxes and lower standards.

If you have these folks looking around your town, moon them ...


33 posted on 05/09/2006 8:13:02 AM PDT by mgc1122
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To: Muleteam1

What's the elevation there?

Aren't they at nosebleed elevation?


34 posted on 05/09/2006 8:21:05 AM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Americans need to remember Osama's "strong horse" -"weak horse" analogy. Let's stop acting weak.)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
When it's minus 55 in Feb; have to agree with Jeeves.

Southeast AK has tremendous fishing, hunting is crowded (you won't go all day without seeing another hunter, but the constant rain would kill me.

Fish the Situk sometime and you'll see what I'm talking about.

35 posted on 05/09/2006 8:39:04 AM PDT by Eska
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To: Finalapproach29er

What's the elevation there? (Albuquerque)

A little higher than Denver...around 5300 feet.

36 posted on 05/09/2006 8:46:02 AM PDT by elli1
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
Are saying that the family trees in Nashville don't fork.
37 posted on 05/09/2006 8:47:55 AM PDT by oyez (Appeasement is insanity)
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To: Rakkasan1
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze.......give me a physical break.

Who the hell writes these stories.

Certainly not some common sense person.

Probably some womb brain getting their kicks.
38 posted on 05/09/2006 8:48:28 AM PDT by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: Finalapproach29er
The average altitude in Albuquerque is about 5800' although one can live in the NE right under Sandia which is over 10,000' or live down in the River valley. No problems with nosebleeds except for the dry air and the "introduced" plant species which are tough on allergies.

Muleteam1

39 posted on 05/09/2006 9:01:56 AM PDT by Muleteam1
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To: Obadiah

Minneapolis is sister city of Madistan.


40 posted on 05/09/2006 9:03:55 AM PDT by Rakkasan1 (lead ,follow or get out of the majority.start with our borders.)
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To: facedown
20. Madison, Wis.

Only if you're a Marxist.

There's actually a phrase "Madison Liberal" that describes a particular breed of moonbat. Ask anyone over 50 that lives in MN...

41 posted on 05/09/2006 9:07:56 AM PDT by cryptical (Wretched excess is just barely enough.)
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To: Blzbba
"Buckhead is now the hip-hop hotspot of the city. I.E. It sux. And Techwood isn't quite the drug-slinging hellhole it used to be...although I wouldn't walk its streets at night..."

What????

Yes, it has been some time since I have been in Buckhead. I used to love the area. My last trip to ATL, I was told to stay out of Techwood or I might get shot. But, that was also the better part of 10 years ago.

42 posted on 05/09/2006 9:18:19 AM PDT by Volunteer (Just so you know, I am ashamed the Dixie Chicks make records in Nashville.)
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To: Rakkasan1

Minneapolis is becoming a third-world sh*thole.


43 posted on 05/09/2006 9:22:37 AM PDT by Spruce (Keep your mitts off my wallet)
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To: Spruce

turd world.

Anoka is nice.(and the Halloween capitol of the world!)


44 posted on 05/09/2006 9:28:11 AM PDT by Rakkasan1 (lead ,follow or get out of the majority.start with our borders.)
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To: HangnJudge

I used to live not far from Nashville. I liked it.

MN also has this interesting little place called the Laurentian Divide.
On the north side of this site, the divide directs the waters to empty into Hudson Bay and on to the Arctic Ocean.
On the south, water flows into the Mississippi River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2455/places/12034/


45 posted on 05/09/2006 9:33:05 AM PDT by Rakkasan1 (lead ,follow or get out of the majority.start with our borders.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Cold weather reduces "quality of life" to zero. ;)




Well, that's just silly. Snow and ice are not that big a deal. You just turn up the furnace, fire up the snowblower, and scatter a little calcium chloride.

The twin cities are great, and that's from someone who moved there from California almost two years ago.


46 posted on 05/09/2006 10:16:01 AM PDT by MineralMan (non-evangelical atheist)
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To: MineralMan

As I keep telling people HELLO...it's January...it's Minnesota...it's supposed to be cold.


47 posted on 05/10/2006 5:21:25 AM PDT by Valin (Purple Fingers Rule!)
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