Rick Ellis's review of West St. Paul Minnesota
| Weather | | Safety | | Neighborhoods | | People |
| Winters in central Minnesota can be tough. Most years bring an excess of 40 inches of snow, which includes several substantial snow storms. Once the snow begins to stick on the ground in October, it's generally there until April. On the upside, summers can be mild and beautiful. The highs range from the mid 70s to the low 90s and the winds off the plains can be a positive cooling effect. | | Due to West St. Paul's wide range of demographics, crime is a bit higher than in surrounding communities. There is a steady amount of minor property crimes and thefts associated with the long sprawl of stores along Highway 3. The northern part of the city also suffers from a fair amount of street crime and drug-related activity. | | The worst part of town is the older residential area near the intersection of Robert Trail and Caesar Chavez Boulevard. The area has a reputation for gang activity and other related problems and much of the housing is rundown and badly in need of repair. Many of the houses are more than 75 years old and some date back to the early 1900s. The best part of town is the area east of Highway 3 and closest to the border with neighboring South St. Paul. The housing is newer, very upscale and the crime rate is substantially lower than in other parts of the city. Most of the houses are large two-story family homes located on larger-than-normal lots. | | Where you fit in has a lot to do with who you are, how much money you make and your comfort level with a multicultural neighborhood. If you aren't middle class and are comfortable with a mix of ethic businesses, than the northern portion of St. Paul would be a good. Housing is relatively inexpensive and while the neighborhood is losing a battle right now with gang violence, the schools are still very good. If you're an upscale white family, then the best option would be the southern half of West St. Paul, in neighborhoods on either side of Highway 3. Those areas are safe and lovely, but don't offer much in the way of ethnic diversity. |
| Schools | | Single life | | Noise | | Compared to other places |
| The West St. Paul school district falls into the middle range of school districts in central Minnesota. They aren't as impressive as the schools in nearby Inver Grove Heights or Eagan, but they are substantially better than the ones in St. Paul. | | West St. Paul includes a wide variety of bars, ranging from major chain such as Buffalo Wild Wings to small family-owned corner saloons. | | West St. Paul is in the direct flight path of Minneapolis International Airport, which ensures residents hear a steady procession of planes flying overhead nearly 24 hours a day. | | South. St. Paul lies directly east of West St. Paul and both cities are in desperate need of some new roads and city spending. But unlike West St. Paul, South St. Paul has a visible downtown and it's location close to the river offers some impressive views. Housing in parts of West St. Paul are also higher due to the proximity to shopping, although that is a mixed blessing. Mendota Heights is directly to the west of West St. Paul and the much smaller town has all the upsides of its larger neighbor with none of the problems. The Mendota Heights residents are primarily middle and upper-middle class and although the city doesn't have a lot of major chain stores, it also doesn't have the traffic problems. |
| Tourist attractions | | General comments | | | | |
| The West St. Paul sports complex is an impressive facility, with multiple areas for sporting events and well-maintained parks and playgrounds. | | While the people are friendly and there are some really impressive parks and recreational areas, overall West St. Paul can seem rundown and in drastic need of new infrastructure. The Highway 3/Robert Trail business corridor includes an impressive array of chain stores and businesses. But there are a troubling number of failed storefronts and Robert Trail Rd. is so bumpy and filled with potholes that it feels as if you're driving on a country road. The infrastructure needs are even more pressing in the northern portion of the city. The housing stock is tired, the roads dreary and in need or repair. Driving through, it looks as if no one has spent a penny on improvements in the past fifty years. | | | | |
