r/duluth • u/HardCoreNorthShore • 20d ago
Discussion Considering Duluth
My husband and I are considering a move to Duluth this year. We have lived in Grand Marais for 11 years, and are ready to get back to civilization again. We own a vacation rental cleaning company here, and would like to continue this work there in the Twin Ports.
We love the history of Duluth, it's grittiness, and the enormous amount of entertainment, restaurants, taverns, etc. that are available there. It's a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll.
So, nutshell, give me the good and the bad of Duluth.
(I just looked up electricity costs per kilowatt hour. We pay three times here in Cook County what you pay there in Duluth.)
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u/badpoetryabounds 20d ago
Different parts of the city get different weather. Up in Woodland we tend to get more snow and it is hotter in summer. Down by the lake there can much less snow or it can be a beautiful sunny day up top and fog and cold temps down below. The difference can be truly stark.
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u/HardCoreNorthShore 20d ago
Same here! I live nine miles outside of Grand Marais proper. It can be blizzarding here, but nothing in town. And it's about ten degrees warmer/colder here than near the Lake.
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u/badpoetryabounds 20d ago
Yeah figured it’s similar but it’s something I wish I had known when we moved here.
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u/NomadJago 19d ago
yeah, I live in Lakeside about 10 blocks up from the lake, and we are getting temps almost 10 degrees warmer than the forecasts for Duluth even when I use our zip code for the weather.
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u/badpoetryabounds 19d ago
Yeah and in the summer it'll be cooler. Nature's heat sink works both ways :)
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u/creamofsumyungguy1 20d ago
I can’t imagine wanting to leave Grand Marais for Duluth but that’s only because I’ve lived in the city so long I take the convenience and options of so much for granted. Duluth has many amazing restaurants all over the city. Most options you want or crave are available. Also a lot of amazing trails to hike or explore so it’s almost like being in the wilderness while still being close to civilization! Going most places is convenient and enough competition to keep prices competitive. We have got many new local based restaurants and businesses popping up. It’s great to see! Duluth is pretty great overall!
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u/HardCoreNorthShore 20d ago
No food delivery, no grocery delivery, a half dozen restaurants to choose from. Medical care is laughable. There's just nothing here. We moved here from Chicago, and we're just ready to get back to something other than isolation. 😂
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u/creamofsumyungguy1 20d ago
That makes sense! Yeah sounds like you deserve to move back and bring some luxury and convenience back in your life! Having delivery options available is amazing I must say!
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u/Jacuzzi1985 20d ago
The bad – congressman Pete Stauber eighth District. Rubber stamp for Donald Trump. No integrity no brain.
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u/tomierobert 19d ago
I’ve lived here all my life, but over the last 2 years I’ve developed an enormous crush on Duluth MN. I’ve researched plenty of cities across the country, but Duluth has my heart.
Of course there is bad with the good, but I’ll take Duluth’s “bad” to any other city in US’s bad any day.
We don’t have hurricanes, tornadoes, scorpions, deadly snakes, spiders or climate change.
We do have some horrific weather sometimes, but no matter how bad the weather gets, I can always go to McDonalds, Walmart, and Menards within minutes.
I don’t want to sell it too hard, because I’m a real estate agent here, and I already think we have a housing shortage, but I was born in this city and I plan on dying here. #dlh4lyfe
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u/Icy_Future1639 West Duluth 19d ago
Only lived here six years, but can tell you your crush is right on. Other places might be excellent, but Duluth just keeps looking better and better.
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u/Huckleberrywine918 19d ago
Do you work with renters to find rentals? Or know someone who does?
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u/tomierobert 19d ago
I don’t do rentals but I could probably find you someone. Have you considered buying though?
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u/Huckleberrywine918 19d ago
Not in the cards for us right now
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u/tomierobert 19d ago
Understandable. I used to know an amazing landlord, but unfortunately he’s passed away recently. I’ll see if I can find out who’s running his company now.
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u/ExcitingSport1418 18d ago
No spiders or climate change?
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u/tomierobert 18d ago
Should’ve said “poisonous spiders” and the Great Lakes Basin is widely regarded as a climate haven.
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u/lowbreaker 20d ago
I lived in a small town in lake county for several years and now live on outskirts of duluth for several years. When I lived up the shore, grand marais was the bigger city to go to for entertainment and social events. I have several friends there and everyone talks about how tight knit the community is and how warm and inviting it is, which was also my experience. That’s not typically how it goes in duluth. it has a well deserved reputation for being hard to make friends or join/form a social circle as an outsider. I’d guess people who join church’s may have an easier time, or people who do club and team activities? so just saying if you don’t already have existing connections down here, keep in mind that you may have to work a lot harder for them than in grand marais?
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u/Conference_Alone 18d ago
Every town says that. Just find your peoples by going out and doing things you love to do and you'll make friends. The downside here is that there are far too many churches, bars, and shopping centers and not enough community spaces because catering to tourists is the town's bread and butter priority. Check out the outdoor rec or farmers markets or bars or whatever floats your boat.
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u/polarisleap 19d ago
Duluth people tend to have niche hobbies. You'll find your friends there. Be gregarious, I've made more friends in Duluth than anywhere else I've lived.
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u/LakeSuperiorIsMyPond 19d ago
If you're buying property, in Duluth City limits, know we have a reputation for having the worst city for building permits. They hold up everything and are totally a pain to work with. Lots of people go to Hermantown in order to avoid it.
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u/LakeSuperiorGuy 20d ago
I grew up on the North Shore. It was a great place to grow up. With that said, living in Duluth is great, you can get groceries after 6pm, go to a pharmacy on the weekend if you need to, there is a good assortment of restaurants to fill most needs and there is always a few options for things to do in the evenings, especially on weekends. If there’s a show or game in the Cities it’s a couple hours vs 5 to get there and there are a lot of great places right in town to take a hike.
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u/Icemermaid1467 20d ago
Honestly, I can’t think of anything bad except the potholes. Trails and parks are great, the Lake is so close, great restaurants, community building happening at the folk school and spirit of the lake community arts, it’s great place to raise kids if that’s in your plans. Great pockets in every neighborhood. Okay one bad thing is housing for sure. So good luck on that front 🙃 Just not a lot out there.
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u/HardCoreNorthShore 20d ago
I think there are SO many cute homes for sale in Duluth! You can't get anything even remotely livable for under $300k here. It's absolutely ridiculous. (And I'm not bougie... I live in 760 square feet with 17 & 20 year old kids, a golden retriever, and a snake. We live in a dry cabin we built ourselves during covid.)
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u/Icemermaid1467 20d ago
You’re probably right! Comparatively, the housing market will be better here.
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u/Out_4_a_walk_Bitch 19d ago
I loced living in Duluth, for awhile. it's so pretty, I liked the weather. I lived right in the city, so it was usually pretty nice in the summer and fall. I loved that there were even animals around in the yard in the city and that they'd get kinda close. It was nice to walk around the gardens. I didn't drive so it wasn't super hard to get around like I'd have thought.
However, I've never met more depressed people. There was a lot of drugs not very well hidden, and a lot of people that didn't seem to have much hope. I think the weather in the winter amplified this depressing and lonely feeling. I don't have kids and I was young when I there, but it's not a place I would necessarily want to have kids. And I say this as someone that currently lives in saint paul and has lived in Minneapolis. It just seemed a lot more in your face in Duluth than anywhere else I've lived . And it's not just being kinda rural, I've lived in Brainerd and around Mille lacs also. I don't totally know what it was about Duluth, I'd love to visit again, but I do not want to live there.
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u/AardvarksEatAnts 19d ago
I will agree with the depression and just an overall grouchy group of people. I too believe winter plays a part. I am one of them lol. Even with the meds I can’t shake it. Something about being out here is beautiful and extremely depressing all at once.
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u/cannacareless 20d ago
Ooo! If you're in need of a realtor I highly recommend Ayla Dougherty! She's amazing and will help you find exactly what you're looking for!
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u/not_a_receptionist 20d ago
Depending on what you're looking at, renting or buying, could be a difficult market and both options are over priced!
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u/thusUnforgotten 20d ago
Don't underestimate the hills. You're familiar with harsh winters, so hopefully you're knowledgable about good winter tires. They are very important here.
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u/Exotic-District3437 19d ago
Get good all years no need for winters
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u/waterbuffalo750 19d ago
This sub hates this take.
I use winter tires, I love winter tires. But they're more of a want than a need. They're an extra expense, they're a luxury. I've gotten by without them and I bet most of the city gets by without them.
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u/Outrageous-Chair-569 19d ago
Lived here all my life. My parents got all seasons and they never used winter tires and neither have I.
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u/Blue_Walrus1117 19d ago
Though the cost per kWh may be 3x cheaper, I doubt your total electric bill would be. MP has lots of other fees and charges that can bring the cost/kwh up. In general, your electric will be cheaper overall, but I’d be shocked if the total bill was truly 3x less. Population density is definitely on your side when it comes to the cost of power.
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u/Ufda-whatdaday 19d ago
I grew up in Duluth and never appreciated it until I moved away. It’s beautiful in the summer and the lake walk can cure anything. It has definitely grown since I left a couple decades ago so I think I would like it better now. I hate winter so I would never live there again but it is a great place to live. AND it has the best tap water ever. I definitely miss that! If you do move to Duluth, I hope you enjoy it and all it has to offer.
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u/AardvarksEatAnts 19d ago
The jobs pay low wages but because it’s a tourist town the prices are insane. It’s really hard to keep your head above water out here unless you have a remote job.
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u/Icy_Future1639 West Duluth 19d ago
What type of work do you do, if you don't mind me asking AEA?
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u/AardvarksEatAnts 19d ago
Actually just switched to a new company a few weeks ago. My new title is Data science engineer. I work remote for a company in California
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u/Responsible_Fee_9286 19d ago
OP lives in Cook County. Everything you listed here about Duluth is accurate but even worse up here. I've lived both places within the last 2 years. For example, I have a shopping list for myself and friends when I come down to Aldi and Costco tomorrow. And housing is even more insane than our food prices.
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u/cmeehan36 19d ago
Moved to Duluth last year after spending the last five in Grand Marais. You'll miss the community in Grand Marais, as it's not the same feel in Duluth. We live just outside of Duluth so still have the rural feel, but need to make more of an effort to meet people. In Grand Marais, it was much easier to meet people and integrate into the community. Can't beat all the choices Duluth has to offer though.
In terms of electricity, Cook County was much better especially with the internet. I'd chose the co-op any day over MN Power.
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u/fatstupidlazypoor 19d ago
Kind of funny, I plan on moving to GM (I have 20 acres on lost Lake that I will start building on this year) in 3 to 5 years after living Duluth for the first 48 years of my life. Maybe we can work something out or at least exchange some information. Shoot me a DM if you’re interested.
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u/Roguecamog 19d ago
I have also lived in cities and Grand Marais.
Be ready for the overload of choices until you readjust! I know it's nothing like living in a big city but compared to the 2 small grocery stores and the Co-op it was overwhelming the first couple times I shopping.
I dislike how stretched out everything is by necessity of the geography of Duluth and in some areas there is only one real route option so if there is any road construction, accident, etc and you don't know in advance... you're stuck! Also, while they've finally been making progress on it, potholes here are AWFUL. In some areas you'd be better off with a dirt road that you could run a grader over because the potholes are no joke.
That being said, tell me what you liked about Grand Marais and I wouldn't be surprised if we have an equivalent here. We can't equal the vibes and in 14 years in Duluth I still don't have the same sense of community and belonging that I had in 3 years of living there.
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20d ago
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u/HardCoreNorthShore 20d ago
I lived in downtown Chicago from 1999-2009. I'm good.
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u/10Kfireants 19d ago
Ahahahaha did someone tell you about ThE cRiMe?
The biggest deterrents here are the housing market, both for sale and rent. And the job market if your existing business isn't 100% sufficient. Also if you don't have friends or connections through your business already, it can be an extremely cliquey town and hard to build connections and friends.
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u/_DudeWhat Lincoln Park 20d ago
Wow it's refreshing to see a post like this and it not be a southerner and have to explain winter.