No. 9: Des Moines, Iowa
By Marc A. Wojno, Senior Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
July 2008
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MAGNET FOR FAMILIES
Population: 532,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 9.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $53,384
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.3%
Des Moines’s friendly, hometown atmosphere, top public schooling and affordable cost of living make it an ideal place to raise a family. But it also has big city amenities, including a growing arts scene with galleries, a symphony orchestra, a ballet and opera, trendy shops and an expanding skyscraper cityscape.
The local economy is gaining momentum as well. Jobs will increase mainly in finance, insurance, government and manufacturing. About 60 insurance companies here make the city the third largest insurance center in the world
Housing is still affordable. The median price for a single-family home is just under $150,000. In the northwest suburbs, for example, a 2,100-square foot three-bedroom home will go for $165,000. For those seeking trendier accommodations, a one-bedroom condo in the downtown’s newly redeveloped Western Gateway neighborhood can fetch a price of under $130,000, while a 2,700-square foot, newly renovated Victorian home in the western suburbs can go for just under $330,000.
For summer fun, Des Moines offers trails for hiking and biking and lakes for boating and fishing, the Adventureland amusement park, an annual arts festival at the city’s Western Gateway Park and the annual Iowa State Fair. While you’re there, don’t miss the traditional "butter cow" sculpture made from 600 lbs. of low-moisture, pure cream Iowa butter.
Reader Comments (7)
Posted by: Mary at 06/19/2008 02:18:02 PM
Sorry, but I grew up in Des Moines and find it to be one of the most depressing places ever. There is nothing to do, ok so they say there is a symphony and all that stuff, but on a day to day basis, it is so boring. As for the economy, it is not doing well either, despite what they are saying. So many people have gotten laid off in the past few years. It is freezing in winter beyond belief, it is hot and humid and full of mosquitos in summer. Some people can be nice, and of course you cannot generalize everyone, but most Des Moinesians...Only the older ones are nice. People from other moderate sized cities in Iowa are usually nice though, so if you want to move to Iowa, pick another city like Dubuque or Davenport...Everyone says it is such a great place to raise a family, but that is probably based on the fact that there is nothing to do unlike the L.A. scene and other big cities. But bored kids get into way more trouble than kids who have access to interesting things to do...Omaha is much better and prettier and cheaper cost of living too. Way more to do there. As for Des Moines schools, sure they are pretty good, but you can find those elsewhere too. It is 500 miles away from anything scenic, like mountains, so you are limited in your outdoor recreation choices. It is just flat, so you can bike or play tennis, but you will die of heat exhaustion in the summer...Pick another city on the list, seriously.
Posted by: Jane at 06/19/2008 04:55:40 PM
We were a military family and have lived pretty much...everywhere! My husband and I and our four kids moved to Des Moines a year ago. All I can say is that it deserves to be on the top ten!!! This is by far the favorite city we have ever lived in. For a mid-size city the crime is extremely low. The city is neat and clean. There are abundant walking and biking trails, museums, and a wonderful library system. One thing we just love about Des Moines is that, unlike one's preconceived notions of Iowa, it is very wooded and hilly. Two rivers converge here and the vegetation is lush. Instead of doing what some cities have done and just bulldoze all the trees and put up buildings, the city works hard to keep the environment sustained. There are trees everywhere! We have more wildlife in our suburban back yard than we did living in the country in some other states. Great schools, great medical care, friendly people, what's not to like?
Posted by: Lindy at 06/20/2008 03:42:13 PM
I'm sorry Mary had such a sad childhood growing up in Des Moines! I have lived here most of my life and have never wanted to relocate. The job opportunities are great. We are home to Wells Fargo, Principal, and many other large financial companies. Our Art Center is located in Greenwood Park surrounded by a lovely residential neighborhood. There is a new Science Center in our downtown area, the Civic Center brings in all the popular Broadway shows and other events. We have a new Wells Fargo Events Center for sports and other large happenings. The already wonderful Blank Park Zoo is looking to expand and we have many shopping centers within the Greater Des Moines Metro. East Village offers great restaurants and fun shops. Ingersoll area is renovating to accommodate pedestrian traffic for restaurants, coffee shops, etc. We have many neighborhoods that offer charming homes in all price ranges while West Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston and Waukee are some of the suburbs that are expanding. Drake University is in the center of town and attracts attention in the spring by bringing the best track athletes together for the Drake Relays. Iowa State is just 30 miles away in Ames and also offers many opportunities for cultural activities. In the past few decades we have attracted new cultures to our state. We have made welcome Vietnamese, Cambodian, Bosnian, Sudanese and many other fine families to share our opportunities....Of course we don't have mountains or oceans, but there is nothing more beautiful than a short drive to the country to enjoy the gentle rolling green hills of our farms with the lush black earth peeking through the rows of crops. The midwest offers a slower pace, shorter commutes and yes, friendly people of all ages. Come see for yourself!
Posted by: Dale Kooyman at 06/20/2008 04:56:51 PM
I've lived in DM and Sacramento as well as Cedar Rapids, SF, LA, Chicago, D.C., Long Beach, Inglewood, etc. Also visited quad-cities A LOT. Sorry, Mary, what there is to do in any city is what you choose to find to do. The grass ain't always greener elsewhere. There is definitely a more cosmopolitan feeling in downtown DM than Sacramento but the incredible thing about Sacramento is its Midtown with the largest most beautiful residential historic district on the west coast. Officials and developers in Sacto ignore and seem intent on destroying this incredible place to live, which offers canopy shade trees (which the city also seems hell bent to cut down) for long cool walks even in the heat of the summer. Midtown is a major reason for the #8 and downtown has great potential--just slow in taking off. What is missing are corporate offices like DM and other cities have. DM destroyed its midtown years ago and that charm is gone. Incidentally, your population data is for city AND county of Sacramento---not just the city. Definitely come to Midtown and enjoy both it and downtown.
Posted by: Jamie at 06/23/2008 01:13:02 PM
Wow Mary...you are entitled to your opinion but you need to come back through here sometime and actually live here again (how long ago did you live here?). I am a single woman in my early 30's and love love love this city!! The people here are absolutely the best and you are definitely in the minority with your negative opinion about the city. Flat? Are you kidding me? This city is clean, beautiful, green, safe.. sure there are some places in the older part of the city that offers negativitiy but what city doesn't? There is something going on every weekend for my friends and I to do when we are craving a Girls' Nite Out -- there are a ton of wonderful restaurants, shows, festivals for my boyfriend and I to go to together -- and when my parents come down, they can't get enough of the abundant shopping, the ease of getting around, the friendly people and it thrills them that all 3 of their classy, sophisticated, professional children have made a wonderful home here. Lay-off's? Really? I've lived here for 8 years and know one friend who has been laid off. One. And I have a lot of friends. :)... please come and see for yourself. You won't be sorry.
Posted by: Mike Shediwy at 08/18/2008 01:31:14 PM
I moved to Des Moines forty three yers ago. It was a lousy place back then. Over the years the city had completely redone downtown and developed the Grays sand pits into a nice lake and rec area. The Court ave district with bars and reataurants. Low crime. I moved to Denver when I retired in 02. Truly loved the city. I marveled at what a wonderful transportation Denver had. With a bus pass and a bike, you do not need a car, Des Moines has not quite reached that yet. Because of grandchildren I moved back to Des Moines. Denver is more expensive to live, but for youg people there is so much more to do if you can afford it. If I were young and starting out I would choose Denver. The weather is better their also, but Des Moines is home.
Posted by: Michelle at 09/21/2008 10:08:56 PM
I grew up in northern Iowa near the Minnesota border then moved down to Urbandale where my husband, daughter and I lived for 12 years. In 2003, we moved to the Gilbert, Arizona (suburb of Phoenix)area. After living here for over 5 years, I can definitely say leaving Iowa was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my adult-life. I took everything so for-granted when I lived in Iowa; things like real trees (not just sticks poking up out of the ground), cool mornings and evenings in the middle of summer, fireflys, NEIGHBORS (Arizonians can go years without even knowing what their neighbors look like, because of the 9 foot cement walls encompassing their homes!), the great Iowa storms - including snow! The school systems in Iowa are unsurpassed as is the opportunity for a successful career in just about any field! We're waiting for the economy and housing market to bounce back, so that we can pack up and go home (to Iowa)!