Unique Neighborhood Research Tools
TRAFFIC VOLUME
dot.state.mn.us/traffic/data/tma.html
Traffic Numbers - https://www.dot.state.mn.us/traffic/data/tma.html
Is your potential dream home on a busy road? How busy? Over 15,000 cars pass my office every day on Lake Street on average! Plug in an address and you can see the AADT which is the theoretical estimate of the total number of vehicles using a specific segment of roadway (in both directions) on any given day of the year. This is one of those sites where you can get sucked in and waste a lot of time. Zoom in until you see the numbers and then click on the year to see details. Not every road has data but most of the larger roads will.
School District Research
One starting point for school research is the Minnesota Report Card. This site gives you easy access to understandable district and school data. Choose from several reports to learn more about the state of education in your local district, a specific school, or the state as a whole. Another great resources is US News ranking of Minnesota High Schools. Here you can quickly see graduation rates and a score for college readiness. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/minnesota/rankings
WALK SCORE
wwalkscore.comalkscore.com
Walk Score - walkscore.com
How walkable is that neighborhood? One place to find out is walkscore.com. Type in any address or pair of cross streets in the U.S. and the site maps the area and plots the nearby recreational, commercial, cultural, and social amenities. My current home is pretty good at 59 while my office in Uptown is a 97! Each location a walk score on a 0 to 100 scale which is very helpful when you are comparing neighborhoods.
Development Trackers
bizjournals.com/twincities/maps/crane-watch
tdtmpls.com/map
Development Trackers
Minneapolis & St Paul- https://www.tdtmpls.com/map
Entire Metro https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/maps/crane-watch
What’s being built down the road? Will a huge building be going up next door and blocking your view? These sites show current developments and those that have passed through zoning. I am keeping an eye on the vacant to next to my office! Love my view. No site can tell you future development, it’s not a crystal ball, but they do help give you an overview of what is currently happening and what has happened.