Best places to live in St. Paul: The best neighborhood

While St. Paul is sometimes over-shadowed by its neighbor, St. Paul is city in its own right. And it is a great place to live. If you are lucky enough to be moving to St. Paul, check out these neighborhoods to rent an apartment or buy a home. The city is the capital of Minnesota and has numerous colleges and universities.

Mac-Groveland: This neighborhood has great restaurants along Grand Ave. There is a Whole Foods and the historic Grandview Theater. This neighborhood is a great place to live whether you are a student at a nearby Macalester College or St. Thomas University or if you want to raise a family.

Selby-Cathedral Hill: Along Summit Ave. the mansions of another era still stand. But all around them are affordable apartments, condos, and homes. From this neighborhood one can walk downtown to the Xcel Energy Center, home to the Minnesota Wild. The jewel of this neighborhood is the beautiful Cathedral that overlooks downtown and upstages the Capitol.

University Avenue has always had a mixture of residences and businesses but the entire face of University Avenue and the neighborhoods along the route between Minneapolis and St. Paul may be about to change because of the addition of the Central Corridor light rail line. For now, the area is a mess of construction, but when it is done, this area will be prime real estate for those who want a quick train ride into the city. Expect University and the adjoining neighborhoods, Como, Frogtown, and Rondo to experience something of a renaissance as more people see the advantages of being minutes from either downtown.

Falcon Heights/ Roseville: Falcon Heights is the home of the Minnesota State Fair. These neighborhoods are great if you want a suburban feel without a long commute. Even though this neighborhood touts a Super Target and the Roseville Mall, easy access to 280 and 35-W makes for a short commute to Minneapolis or St. Paul.

St. Paul has many suburbs that allow for easy commutes. West Saint Paul and Mendota Heights border it to the south, and Cottage Grove borders it to the southeast. To the north and northeast are Little Canada and White Bear Lake. White Bear Lake, with its namesake body of water has recreation year round. While housing costs vary widely among these burbs, each has its own advantages.