Why Are People LEAVING Iowa?

As great as I think Iowa is, I have to admit the state may not be the right place for everyone. Why are people leaving Iowa...and where are they moving to? Is the grass greener in other states?
People move for a lot of reasons--jobs, weather, lifestyle, crime, politics, outdoor recreation, to be closer to family. Find out the reasons behind people's decisions to move away from Iowa!
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0:00 People Are Leaving Iowa
0:53 People Are Not Leaving Because of Crime!
1:43 States With The Most People Leaving
2:02 Most Common Reasons People Leave Iowa
2:28 The Age Group Most Likely To Move Away From Iowa?
2:40 Reddit's Opinion on Why People Leave Iowa
3:28 Iowa's Net Migration
3:49 Where Are Iowans Moving To?
5:28 Iowa's Brain Drain

[@uofa82]

I lived in Iowa for one year and left for all the reasons she said, especially no sun in the winter.

[@EmilyFarber]

What state did you move to?

[@uofa82]

@@EmilyFarber One in the South.

[@ryanboehmer5945]

The large number of people moving to and from Illinois is likely due to people moving to Iowa to get Section 8 vouchers and then many use the option to port back to Illinois after a year. It's driving up the cost of housing in Iowa and creating shortages.

[@dannypriceandthebloodmoney]

Downtown Des Moines is overrun every weekend with drag racing, and reckless drivers. Extremely dangerous area to walk around. Most of the racing takes place near the outdoor sculpture park. It's like a bad Fast & Furious movie every weekend.

[@AFellowCyberman]

That's every American city at this point.

[@PhilipRandolphREALTOR]

Thanks for the Savannah video clip cameo appearance - we do have great mild winters here. 🌴

[@EmilyFarber]

lol! Just trying to make you feel at home…I’m sure Savannah is a lovely place. It’s on my list of cities to visit!

[@kareencasey6899]

Love your information content.

[@EmilyFarber]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching.

[@dennisrockbottomskelly7948]

WoW! I left New York State 5 years ago and moved to SE Iowa. It's a better life here in Every Way. I will NEVER move back to NYS.

[@user-tf2pp3jt8e]

Born in Iowa, moved to CO in 84, moved back in 2012 because CO was getting too expensive and crowded. The population had doubled in 20 years and was expected to double again in the next 20 years. Traffic was getting unbearable. Road rage was on the increase because of over population. The only thing I do miss from CO is the milder winters. The pace of life is much slower in Iowa. I no longer wanted that 1000 mph pace I had in CO.

[@EmilyFarber]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! When you moved back to Iowa did you go back to your hometown or choose someplace else in Iowa?

[@user-tf2pp3jt8e]

@@EmilyFarber I moved to a different town, a larger place than my home town, but much smaller than in CO about 1/5th the size

[@erikahammer4337]

Besides the five years in the Marine Corps, and my five years driving OTR, I've lived in Iowa collectively for 25+ years. I have plenty of grievances with the political climate in Iowa, but I've driven all 48 continental states, and I really don't want to deal with the drivers elsewhere.

[@EmilyFarber]

Fair enough. Thanks for watching!

[@dustinshadle732]

People on ssi and ssdi, they want to leave because of the very low resource cap on net worth in iowa compared to places like Arkansas and Arizona

[@EmilyFarber]

Interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@GrimKreeper]

I mean, Des Moines just sucks. The Southside (Des Moines as a whole, really) has fallen off a cliff over the years. A lot of people I know who lived in Des Moines moved to Carlisle, Indianola, Knoxville, and other smaller towns nearby. Their reasoning was quote, "I'm tired of the bullshit." I'm sure that that is the same reasoning others in other parts of the state have as well, but I don't know.

[@jeffbennett6218]

I don’t know anyone that is leaving. Quite the opposite.

[@c_lee.]

I'm moving there and can't wait! Thank goodness we all don't want to live in the same place.

[@EmilyFarber]

I agree! Congrats on your move! What town are you moving to and where are you moving from?

[@Driftless-Ramblings]

Do you have an area in mind? We moved here just over 3 years ago (had moved around a fair amount with the Army, and chose Iowa after a lot of research). We love Allamakee county for its beautiful topography, access to the river, hunting and fishing opportunities, quiet pace, and very low cost of living. It is very conservative - but so are we, so that's perfectly fine.

[@kimdelong3429]

The only places their leaving is the cow towns out in the countryside. Places like Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids are growing i population!

[@EmilyFarber]

Yes, those areas are growing!

[@jasourwnjl]

If you look at some of the population trends for some of the super rural counties away from the I-80 corridor the situation looks pretty stark. Some counties have lost over 20% of their population since 2000 and are a 90 minute drive to anything that could be considered a metro area with services.

[@matts1166]

@@jasourwnjl Fort Dodge is looking sketchier by the day. More and more lowlifes there.

[@est8793]

Iowa is a tough cold state to live in.

[@chrysvest4746]

I have so many family members moving here from Illinois. I do have to admit it’s too cold in the winter and housings costs are ridiculous.But it’s a great place to raise a family and we like the political atmosphere.

[@polyrhythmia]

People been leaving Iowa for ages now. But sure have been seeing a lot more out of state license plates here in Iowa.

[@EmilyFarber]

Iowa is definitely appealing to people looking for affordability.

[@wickedflagon]

I found your channel because of your Riverside video, but I was wondering, have you come across or sold any haunted properties? Thanks!

[@EmilyFarber]

I have been in some homes that definitely have a strange feel about them. But I have not heard back from any buyer clients that they think a house is haunted. Iowa does not require any disclosure of being “haunted” nor does the state require disclosure of a death in the property unless the buyer specifically asks about it.

[@Indyjayhawk1]

There are a lot of reasons. Large metro areas in other states have job opportunities, amenities, diversity/culture, etc, which contributes to “brain drain” for recent college graduates. For retirees, it may be weather, top medical care, or even access to major airports for travel.

[@EmilyFarber]

Good points! Thanks for watching.

[@matts1166]

I live in an area in Iowa that is about an hour away from three large cities, all with airports. I kind of like having the option to go out of several airports. If you compare prices, depending on where you are going, you can literally save 20-30% on ticket prices.

[@semipenguin]

I love the Midwest. I’m a California native, but moved to Missouri back in the early 2000s. I live in Minnesota now, but at least once a week, I’m down in Iowa, making my deliveries. From Sioux City to Waterloo, and points in between. Ames is probably my favorite city in Iowa.

[@matts1166]

I went to college in Ames, and was there once a week for about 5 years after. Then I got married, years went by. When I finally got back to Ames SO much had changed.

[@TarkMcCoy]

Moving to Iowa? Be sure to ask us about our witness relocation special!

[@user-xc7pu7kb2v]

Reddit people get a little carried away lol.

[@EmilyFarber]

😂 As they often do…

[@robbyD649]

Moved to iowa 3 years ago has its pros and cons. I will be leaving as soon as I can sell my house.

[@UnionWireman292]

Some are slower than others... nothing more, nothing less.

[@sqeekykleen49]

Moved here in 2016, left southern California with $400 dollars, now i own a house, have 6 cars and an exmark to mow with... Fuck the rat race.

[@EmilyFarber]

I'm glad to hear you found some place to call home that works better for you. 🙂

[@temi4116]

I like this woman's comments. Good questions and comments. Things to think about. I live in CA, USA.

[@stevengrutzmacher]

I moved to Iowa from the suburbs of Chicago. I'd never go back! Iowa is prettier, all the women are blonde, and all the children are above average .....

[@dginia]

Getting people to move to Iowa has always been problematic, but the super majority of the Republicans Party in Iowa for the past 8 years or so is making things very much worse. We are worker poor, so new companies are not willing to move here. Recreationally we are not set up well, so that is not an attraction. If you want to have babies, be careful where you settle, because there are deserts as far as birthing is concerned. If you have a child that is LGBTQ you will not want to subject him or her to new laws and regulations in education. If you want to put your parent in a nursing home, be careful, as inspections are lax due to coddling by the state government. Now, abortion is under threat, even though a previous Iowa Supreme Court ruling held that abortion is a constitutional right in Iowa. Teachers are leaving Iowa and the profession in droves in part due to draconian legislative moves. Water quality was supposed to improve over the past ten years by a loose program that features individual responsibility. Of course, it has been a failure, as one would expect. In fact, the legislature defunded the operation of waterway monitoring equipment so the data could not even be collected. Local control of most everything by nearly every bit of local government has been diluted or taken away by the Republican legislature. You know, that group that has always been so vocally in favor of local control. Expect no logical consistency here.

[@302Rmack]

This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you

[@Driftless-Ramblings]

Yep, moved to Iowa from a deep blue state to escape the very things you appear to embrace. Freedom, low taxes, and great outdoors opportunities can be found here in Iowa - without being subjected to a daily freak show, and government in every aspect of your life. Love Iowa's Republican majority! All I can say, is good luck elsewhere commie.

[@SymphoniasStories]

We're considering moving to Iowa. We live in Maryland. My husband spent his early years in the suburbs of Chicago and we have relatives in Iowa. The problem with trying to move is how to get work from out of state.

[@EmilyFarber]

What types of jobs are you guys looking for?

[@CraigSList-ik9if]

If you're conservative you'll fit right in. If you're liberal or progressive you're going to regret moving here.

[@chrishayden7016]

Depends on the area. Gated communities and areas with HOAs attract the Conservatives, folks that have difficulty making their own decisions and live in fear of meeting someone who looks 'different'. Ordinary neighborhoods welcome everyone with affordability being the main criteria.

[@wwlt.trevor0512]

@@chrishayden7016 Emily, where are the "ordinary neighborhoods" in Cedar Rapids?

[@darrellschleif6688]

@@wwlt.trevor0512 Cedar Rapids is nothing but "ordinary neighborhoods"! Czech Village and New Bohemia would be my pick.

[@matthewlee9728]

iowa dosnt allow nfa legal transferable machine guns so thats a no from me ill stay in missouri

[@Wreckitralph1976]

Not understanding. I know several people here who have licenses to have machine guns.

[@matts1166]

@@Wreckitralph1976 As do I. Hell, the local gun store rents them out for their in-store shooting range.

[@garybowler5946]

Doesn't Iowa have the 2nd highest rate of cancer in the US due to all the farm chemicals in the water.

[@momiowa9509]

The political climate is Great! Makes me want to stay. Love to move to Michigan but NO WAY! Don't want to be locked down or taxed away.

[@chrishayden7016]

Stay in Iowa and those taxes are about to climb. Property Taxes is the growth industry, since the income tax is going away.

[@Driftless-Ramblings]

Completely agree in how the political climate is a retention factor for my family, as well. The stability, low taxes, and pro-Constitution atmosphere make Iowa a great place to be. Looking at our freak show neighbors in Illinois and Minnesota, I am very thankful that we haven't gone down that path.

[@AFellowCyberman]

? Iowa's population, especially in the cities are growing in population.

[@MarySchumann]

Take it easy on MN. 😂

[@EmilyFarber]

Taking pot shots at neighboring states is pretty much a national pastime, is it not? 😁

[@josephchaney4732]

Most iowans aren't interested in moving to Maryland because of inflation

[@danmaster333]

Is this the state that made some healthcare criminal? I'm from the South and haven't heard much about Iowa, so thanks for the informative look at its incoming and outgoing citizens!

[@unityagar7385]

Lived in Iowa my whole life. Wanted to leave my whole life. There's no job opportunities here that can keep you alive in many places. The reason it's mostly older generations is because they still have the money to leave in the first place. The rest of us that I personally know across Iowa, and others, just have no real prospects on how to even get started because it seems too daunting a task. We have no capitol to make it out of state, or to start somewhere else in the first place. We're completely blocked in monetarily.

[@backinblack1982]

Interestingly, a lot of Iowans are quite happy to not live in a blue state. People complain about it being too red, but seriously, what did they expect. There are obviously blue states out there, so go there

[@Gmx92]

Whats going on in Missouri and Illinois? The blacks of Kansas city, st Louis, and chicago

[@timnewman1172]

Lifelong Iowan here, I grew up when Bob Ray was governor. Iowa truly was "A place to grow" back then... sadly, this state is barely a shadow of it's former glory under our current "leader"!!!

[@85jongo]

Kim Reynolds and the Iowa GOP have done immense damage to this state and it seems like they will keep going.

[@chrishayden7016]

Then you also remember when Governor Ray refused to endorse his Lieutenant Governor, Branstad, as a worthy replacement. Governor Ray KNEW what a disaster Branstad would be and his choice of Kim Reynolds as his second proves that.

[@timnewman1172]

​@@chrishayden7016 there certainly was no love lost between them!

[@falconinflight6235]

For jobs.......

[@Jeffindsm]

Deleted comment

[@EmilyFarber]

You deleted your comment or I did? I sometimes delete comments when they are particularly hateful, racist, misogynistic, or just basic trolling.

[@urbugnmetoday3183]

Good, keep it even more quiet here…

[@urbugnmetoday3183]

The Rasmussen group…

[@reedre6177]

One of the worse laws in Iowa is common law marriage makes you want to stay single

[@drdwgmd14]

HAWKS!

[@EmilyFarber]

go hawks!

[@storqe]

The legislature has been basically against everything that actually helps people for decades and people are tired of it.

[@bfree247365]

IOWA = Idiots Out Wandering Around. Sorry, couldn't resist. Go Huskers! 🌽

[@EmilyFarber]

Har-har-har.☠️🤣

[@timnewman1172]

Lifelong Iowan, GBR!!!

[@user-tf2pp3jt8e]

Iowa is the leader in the nation for pork production, some years # 1 in corn production other years second, #3 in soy bean production, has 10 millions laying hens that produce 5 million eggs, is second in wind generated power, soo if you like to or need to eat, thank an Iowa farmer.

[@timnewman1172]

​@@user-tf2pp3jt8e how many "farmers" actually own those pigs & chickens? The answer is damn few! I had a 4,400 head hog unit move in next door and had ZERO say even though I was the 4th generation to live on our Century Farm. I eventually moved, this is no longer farming!!!

[@user-tf2pp3jt8e]

@@timnewman1172 WOW sorry some one got triggered , sounds like some unresolved issues there. I was just responding to the Husker calling Iowans idiots.

[@swalker2549]

Iowa is very divided and college town grads are choosing not to live in a state that goes against all of their education that includes an understanding of the importance of diversity and women's rights. Could it also be their ridiculous 7.25 minimum wage while Illinois has 15.00? Iowa no longer embraces diversity, and honestly, lots of smokers and drinkers monopolize the state.

[@user-hz4gw6no9w]

From what I've seen on the brain drain Iowa hasn't lost anything

[@PZDirtyBeard]

More and more Muslims and Aficans every day

[@zacklittle1185]

Coming from an Iowa native.....stay out :)

[@cbjork29]

Its Iowa. GO NEBRASKA

[@EmilyFarber]

LOL. Come on now. We should just mutually agree to hate a different state together instead of each other, don'tcha think?

[@cbjork29]

@@EmilyFarber not sure that's asking a lot of me. LOL

[@cbjork29]

@@EmilyFarber could we hate Colorado since they have the Buffalos'

[@deweyplanck9850]

That’s an easy answer. Iowans.

[@EmilyFarber]

Pfft. That's not very nice.

[@temi4116]

Lol!!

[@danielrobey1759]

I think the red vs blue state thing is pretty simple, if you like high taxes and high crime rates then a blue state is for you...

[@oofoof6577]

Yeah high crime states like Arkansas and Tennessee are really blue capitols aren't they?

[@ChiCityLady]

Also higher incomes and higher life expectancies for blue states.

[@YouTube_Censors_Me]

How do you have higher life expectancies in a state with higher crime rates??? One of the dumbest comments I've ever seen on KZbin or TT... No wonder they're moving to MN they'll fit right in!!!!

[@rubenluna7865]

Iowa is not too red, voted for Obama twice for God sake.

[@davidwilkins5932]

Evidently, so did a lot of Trump supporters, or so they claim. EVERYTHING changed when the vile man entered the scene.

[@UnlikelyToRemember]

It's been almost 16 years since Obama was first elected. The state has taken a hard turn towards theocratic despotism since then.

[@wwlt.trevor0512]

What area voted for Obama twice in Iowa?

[@UnlikelyToRemember]

@@wwlt.trevor0512 maps here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Iowa & en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_presidential_election_in_Iowa -- but mostly draw line from NW Iowa to SE Iowa and above that line was for Obama

[@darrellschleif6688]

@@wwlt.trevor0512 2008 Obama carried Iowa and received 53.93% of the vote. He was stronger in eastern Iowa. In 2012, Obama carried Iowa and received %1.99% of the vote. He again did better in eastern Iowa.

[@kylerjohnson3323]

If Trump wins and he does that year long celebration of America in Iowa as he promised, Iowa will become an Economic powerhouse and it will be amazing.