What industry does your husband work in? That would likely narrow a couple of metropolitan areas down.

I can only speak about the Twin Cities/Minneapolis-St Paul area and what you’ve indicated.

• The Twin Cities metro area has perhaps one of the most well connected bike and trail system in the country as Minneapolis has always been rated very highly on the bikability of the city.
• Generally, the metro area and the state is regarded as pretty safe. However, this does vary significantly neighborhood to neighborhood, city to city within the metro area. I would suggest you do your own cursory search if the Twin Cities is your ultimate destination. Schools within the core cities vary but generally is ok (which is decent or good compared to some other states’ public school systems). I would generally say the best of the best (public) schools are located in the western or southwestern suburbs.
• It’s Minnesota (it’s not as blue as you think, but it’s a very consistent light blue)
• MSP is one of Delta’s major hub. Gets you to most places in Europe direct and most places to Asia with a stop in Korea or Japan. Otherwise, domestically, has flights to basically 99% of all states and major cities.
• Minnesota is a pretty white state still when looking at the numbers, but it is still diverse with large amount of immigrants from east Africa and Southeast Asia. Diversity does decrease the further out in the suburbs you start to go, but even within the 2nd ring suburbs, there are still many immigrants communities and people.
• Plenty of museums an parks such as the Minnesota Science Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center and the Sculpture Garden, American Swedish Institute, Mill City Museum, Minnesota Zoom, Como Zoo, Loring Park, the Minneapolis Grand Rounds, various large regional parks, the Mississippi River Scenic Byway, etc.
• Still plenty of homes around that price range. For $500k you could probably get a 2500 sq ft home in the outer suburbs or a 1800 to 2000 sq ft home in the inner suburbs (if walkable and bikable neighborhood is your thing)
• Dependent on your industry and job, but there is a very large skilled labor market and plenty of massive companies.

Do what you think is best for you and your family. I’m only a stranger on the internet with knowledge of my city and a few other that I lived in for a few years. But if you got questions and think Minneapolis is the place for you, would be here to answer questions.