[MNham] Where to live in the Twin Cities

[Jason Hsu, Linux user]

I currently live in Dassel but will move to the Twin Cities when I finish my job search.  (I'm looking for a position as an embedded/firmware electrical engineer.)  When the time comes, I will be looking for a house to RENT.  (I'm not ready to buy a house.)

I'd like to live inside the Interstate 94/494/694 Beltway and west of Interstate 35E.  I want to avoid the area around the airport (far south Minneapolis; most of Richfield, Bloomington, and Mendota Heights) due to the airplane noise.

The type of house I'm interested in is a small house with a yard so I can install amateur radio antennas outside.  Thus, I am not interested in neighborhoods with CC&Rs.  (From the stories I've heard, you might as well live in Iran, North Korea, or Saudi Arabia.)

What areas are decent, yet reasonably priced?  More importantly, what are the neighboorhoods to avoid?

What do you think of Golden Valley and St. Louis Park?  These suburbs are in a central location, but I've heard that the neighborhoods are either expensive or rough.

Is Minneapolis worth considering?  I'm under the impression that most places within the city limits are either expensive or rough.

-- 
Jason Hsu, Linux user <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com>