The REAL Pros and Cons of Moving to Iowa

[@KM0AGA]

I was born and raised in Georgia. Ended up in California (Bay Area) after the Marine Corps. I moved to Iowa for work in 2002 from California. It is the best thing I ever did. You get used to the winters and the summers are not as bad as Georgia. I rarely wear a jacket when doing daily activities in the winter (even in January). I have winter clothing and use it when it is needed. I lived in Mt. Vernon for my first 15 years. It is a small college town (3500 people). All of my kids went to school there. Now, I live out in rural Iowa on 35 acres and am 10 miles from anything in any direction. I have been fortunate through my work to travel all over the US and the world, some for extended time frames (2 months or more). Iowa is a great place to live and raise a family. I'm never leaving.

[@EmilyFarber]

@@KM0AGA Mount Vernon is a beautiful town. I’m glad you found a place that makes you happy. I love living out in the country...although I don’t have as much land as you. Elbow room makes me happy, too.

[@427mc]

Can you suggest areas like you are living now? That’s exactly what I’m looking for. Rural but within 15 to 30 minutes from grocery gas supplies medical jobs and little nightlife. I’m living that now in ohio but looking for a change and a refresh. Been here in ohio my entire life. Trying to start over in 2025 and it seems the cost of living is good Iowa and a low crime rate is a big plus. Thanks

[@KM0AGA]

First off, in about 15 minutes, I can be in Anamosa or Monticello. These are small towns that have grocery stores and in the case of Anamosa, a Walmart. They both have doctors, dentists, schools, etc. Anamosa also has a small hospital. Both towns have a handful of local restaurants and shops as well. I am 45 minutes from Cedar Rapids and Dubuque. Cedar Rapids is south of me and Dubuque is north. Cedar Rapids has a population around 125,000 and Dubuque has around 60,000. Both of the cities have the amenities you would be looking for. My suggestion about moving here is to pull a map of Iowa find the biggest city you want live near and look at areas that are 15 minutes out on all directions. You should definitely come out a spend a week looking around. Southern Iowa is different than northeast Iowa. The northwest portion of Iowa is completely different than the rest of the state. Good luck.

[@RJMEX100]

Moved from Metro-Detroit area to Iowa 18 years ago. I love it here! One of the friendliest states around. Some of the best people I’ve ever met.

[@BrianPetersen-l2w]

As someone born in Iowa I spent most of my life in NY and CA. I always knew I would return, so when I retired from teaching I moved to Mason City and never looked back. A great place to live your best life.

[@EmilyFarber]

Awww. Thanks for sharing!

[@Ile-De-FranceSheepFarm]

I do not agree. I have lived in this area my whole life. This area sucks. I am looking forward to the day when I move away from the Mason City area. I am going to the Iowa City /Kalona area. Might need Emily to help me out.

[@BrianPetersen-l2w]

@@Ile-De-FranceSheepFarm Sorry to hear your story. I was born in Iowa City at the University hospital when my parents were getting their degrees. I always loved my grandparents farms in SE Iowa.

[@philchristensen2787]

My two-bits: Generally, Iowa repels the type of people that we're happy to see live elsewhere. But the bugs and the winters? These could chase away Grant Wood.

[@gerald-gs2vh]

I was born here in Cedar Rapids. Throughout my life I have lived in several states, and spent 3 years in Augsburg, Germany. I would only choose one place other than Iowa to live in, and that would be Munich. Iowa has a lifestyle that is calm, peaceful and safe. If anyone wants a safe environment to raise a family in, Iowa would be a prime contender.

[@wilsonaish]

An exception to the traffic: certain parts of Iowa City on home football game days or certain women’s basketball games.

[@EmilyFarber]

True. There are a handful of days in Iowa City where it is important to know what time Hawkeye sports games are beginning and ending and work your schedule around to avoid those times if possible!

[@EricElkanich]

Moved to Anamosa IA in 2017 from Gray Maine. ZERO regrets. Our adult children ended up following us within 2 yrs of our move. Now we are expecting our 3rd grandchild and we all live within 1 mile of each other. Pro’s for us as compared to S Maine: Less snow, more sun, MUCH lower all around cost of living, less traffic, friendlier people, better deer hunting and in general…. An easier place to live. Con’s: Restaurants are much better in Maine (it however has gotten much better here in the last couple of years), outdoor spaces are much nicer in Maine (clear lakes & rivers East - very muddy here except for NE Iowa), most towns here do not use sand on the snow / ice packed roads which was and still is a complete surprise to us and they just shut roads down for weeks / months at a time to do road construction (open 1 day closed the next - very frustrating) I found Anamosa on the map before even moving here and it ended up being the perfect fit for us. Population is about 6k, 45 mins to Dubuque, 45 mins to Iowa City, 30 mins to Marion / Cedar Rapids and just over an hour to Waterloo. The landscape and amenities sold it for the rest of the family: hills / trees / river running thru it (reminiscent.of Maine), 2 grocery stores, Eye Dr, Dentist, Hospital and a handful of restaurants in town. Hope this helps someone!

[@billking3923]

Yes, chain links are better for the wind. In Reno NV we have big wind and the wood fences take a beating.

[@chinchilla836]

Hi, I'm from Palm Beach Florida and I'm graduating from college next fall. Im thinking of moving to Iowa because I want to escape the year-round heat, traffic/congestion, and expenses. Iowa seems very nice, but what concerns me is living in the winter. Ive seen both winter videos and it still seems like a challenge. But do businesses shut down during a bad storm? Also, what are some nice cities/neighborhoods? Thanks and have a nice day

[@rebekahwebster3104]

I’ve been in Iowa City now for 2 and a half years and as to businesses shutting down for really bad storms they really don’t close early. Sometimes there are tornado warnings where employees and patrons all go to the safest place or designated storm shelter area till the all clear, but that’s it. I think once in the time I have been here the university has recommended professors cancel classes or sometimes if the roads are really icy and dangerous students who commute for class gain an exception to attend remotely.

[@GMDasLied]

Love this list! Just wanted to point out that there are, surprisingly, a couple gated communities near Des Moines: Glen Oaks and Napa Valley

[@EmilyFarber]

Thanks for the info!

[@lakotaphillips5324]

Looking to moving to fort dodge . Any suggestions?

[@ChauveneMayenikini]

Pourquoi la plupart des maisons à IOWA sont en bois ?

[@EmilyFarber]

Wood is a common building material because it is readily available, renewable, affordable and holds up well to our weather conditions.

[@Flowersandtrees]

Best place to retire in Iowa?

[@WolfgangMotif]

Basements flood. Stuff ruined. Thanks for mentioning tornados. 👍

[@cosmic1920]

No place is a paradise. You have to decide what you want the most.

[@thomasskadow3983]

Don't drink or swim in the water.

[@Gemini_Samura1]

Moving from Baltimore to Dubuque. Kind of excited.

[@EmilyFarber]

@@Gemini_Samura1 Wow! That’ll be a big change! Welcome.

[@timolson6168]

Can't say much,gotta live here.

[@charlesb7019]

Pro - it’s cheap. Con - it’s cheap for a reason.

[@AmitKumar-Inferno]

Cost of living low but also nothing to buy.

[@WolfgangMotif]

Background music is annoying and too loud.

[@Fitnessman-h6q]

Why all these videos have a warning in the clickbait😂😂😂😂

[@MichaelJDargan]

Don't live downhill from a CAFO.

[@johnM-Jr]

taxes are high, lots of bugs and insects, very humid, crazy winters. lot of conservatives. nothing to do except watch corn grow. nope, stay away.

[@charlesb7019]

Don’t move to Iowa - just don’t. Boring boring boring boring.

[@EmilyFarber]

🥱 Boring is as boring does.

[@Ben-g3s1t]

Please don’t come to Iowa

[@charlesb7019]

Iowa is horrible. Boring, right wing, and unwelcoming people. RUN away!!!

[@eclypse3d]

Its kinda funny go to MA and that is the exact statement rational country loving moral people say about the left, except there its actually true, if do no think like them the world is ending... if you go through life seeing one thing maybe you need to look in the mirror, ask yourself if you are the baddie and move to NY or CA and enjoy the mental case cj there..

[@jentoy02]

Don’t move here.. it sucks

[@zoecore2204]

Elaborate

[@eclypse3d]

You should live in MA, then say Iowa sucks..