Don't do it. Just kidding!

I grew up as the 5th generation from Minneapolis, but moved to Duluth over 10 years ago. This town is much tougher job-wise than the Twin Cities. We came here because my wife was offered a job and the housing market in the cities was unbelievably inflated. 10 years later and we have great jobs and a cheaper house with a beautiful view. It is much more of a struggle for that job, but when you get it you appreciate it more than maybe someone who has experienced the ease of the cities.

I used to miss a lot about the Twin Cities, especially the theater and that national bands came to town. With small children that isn't as important, but there are many great things to do with little ones up here. The key to being happy in Duluth is to go out and find things to do and see. Enjoy originality and accept that it won't have some things as easily available... At Valleyfair you get lots of rides, but if you go to the county fairs and the Timber Twister at Spirit Mountain you can enjoy the same kind of thing.  Willie Nelson at Target Center isn't as cool as Willie at Bayfront. 

It is a transient town more so than most Minnesota cities. Friends come and go, but I am in the opposite boat with my family bugging us constantly to move back to the Twin Cities. A few years ago I dropped my area-code and went all in for Duluth. It is tough here, but you don't sit in traffic jams and have to drive 30-40 minutes to get anywhere you need to go. Everything is a hop-skip-and-a-jump away here. 

I wouldn't move anywhere just to be close to family because family can move too. This also isn't a town to move to without a job. It is tough here, like the weather and the people. You have all the communities of the Twin Cities squeezed into a smaller area. 

My wife and I love Duluth and plan on staying here the rest of our lives. The schools are great here, but as in any city it all comes down to location, location, location.

@The Prize

Good points. As someone who grew up in Minneapolis I forget about that anonymity aspect. I can't go anywhere without seeing people I know. The jobs are way more plentiful and high paying in the Twin Cities as well.

That being said, I think we have many new restaurants up here that are on par with the cities. My family constantly tells me how cold it is up here, but there isn't that much of a difference. Go to Saint Cloud in the winter where it is colder than here I think.

The grass always seems greener. I would suggest to anyone that they should live in different places in their lifetime. It is fun to get to know a new place or return to an old one. If I lived in another big city it wouldn't be Minneapolis though. I'd go bigger like Chicago - prettier and way more to do. I like living on the Great Lakes, but there is something to be said about living on the Mighty Mississippi too...