Move to Des Moines (West Des Moines: how much, find a job, neighborhood)

[Tek_Freek]

Lots of bike trails, lots of parks. Some nice lakes. Not huge, but nice.

State parks have been let go because of the economy. Hopefully they will use part of the $800 million dollar surplus they're so eager to spend on those.

[ElleTea]

Not ALL of West Des Moines is affluent.

Valley Junction area is in WDM, afterall.

[steel03]

Originally Posted by hare100

Hello,

I know some of these questions may have been addressed, and I've sorted through some posts for info, so please bear with me...

My husband and I are in my mid-30's with two young children. We are natives to MN but are ready for a change (we currently live in a Minneapolis suburb). We would like to complete a move before our daugther starts school in a few years. Initially we thought a total different part of the country, but have been drawn to the Des Moines area after a handful of visits--a very nice city!

First, it appears the school systems are good in all areas. Is one suburb better than another? It appears the Des Moines is good as well (here Minneapolis would not be considered as good as a suburb school district). What is the best place to live for a young family. We would like to be in a good neighboorhood/school district with some younger families and friendly area.

This leads to my next question, which may be a bit silly...are people generally friendly? MN is often coined for being "surface nice" meaning people are nice for small talk, but it's difficult to make a real connection with, especially with outsiders/transplants. I'm a native to MN and I often feel this! I've joined groups and classes and have found it hard to find some "true" friends. I don't expect to have a best friend the minute I step into Iowa, but what is the general feel? I know making friends takes time and every place and person is different, but just wondering if anybody has any experience/thoughts on this.

One more question...what is the weather like? I know it is similair to MN and we like the change of seasons, but do struggle with the many months of cold, dark and dreary days. Is Des Moines quite as cold, or does spring arrive a bit sooner then here?

Any help would be great! We are in the very early stages of even starting to think about a major decision like this, but again have found Des Moines to be a nice area. For anybody who knows about or has lived in both the MN twin cities area and Des Moines have any insight? Would moving to Des Moines essentially be just like living in the twin cities?

I moved to Des Moines from Minneapolis (I lived just off Larpenteur in Lauderdale), which essentially is where I grew up. To be perfectly honest Minneapolis is a way better city for me, and I miss living there a ton. I'd move back in a second if I had the right opportunity. But of course that doesn't mean at all that the same will be true for you, and that certainly doesn't mean I have any negative feelings toward Des Moines. I'm just a Minnesota boy at heart.

Des Moines has really blossomed over the last decade, and it's only getting better.

Regarding schools, I don't know if there's a best district. West Des Moines is comparable to Edina or Wayzata. Very big, very wealthy, etc. Southeast Polk is a bit like Roseville, albeit more removed from the core of the city. Johnston, Ankeny, Urbandale, and Waukee are all pretty mainline suburban districts. The Des Moines district isn't bad, and actually has some advantages over the suburbs once you get to the middle and high school level - you just need to know which schools to avoid (shoot for a Roosevelt or possibly Lincoln feeder if this is the route you go).

Many parts of Des Moines are great for young families, but I'd say your best bet is to look at the west side of town, any of the western suburbs, or Ankeny. Probably the highest concentration of "nice," family-friendly neighborhoods that aren't cookie-cutter (if that's something that matters to you) is east of I-80/35 and west of the river.

Iowa is very similar to Minnesota, frankly. Maybe a little less passive-aggressive. Certainly people are friendly, but yes, it can be hard to make close friends.

The weather is just a touch warmer, but you'll still be doing plenty of snowblowing and shoveling and scraping. It's about one notch less extreme than southern Minnesota. Early November in Des Moines is like October in Minneapolis; likewise, late February in Des Moines is like March in Minneapolis.

Living in Des Moines isn't exactly like living in the Twin Cities (you'll miss Leeann Chin and Baja Sol, for starters), but it's an easy transition. I've heard Des Moines described as a mini-Minneapolis. I often think of it as a cross between St. Paul and Madison. If you're sure you're ready to leave the Minnesota, Des Moines is a great choice. Absolutely recommend it!

[Tek_Freek]

^^^ That is an excellent post. RJ's going to freak, but who cares?

[tollfree]

An excellent post = just the right amount of pandering. Not too much, not too little.

I don't think Des Moines & Minneapolis have anything in common, then again, it doesn't surprise me at all that people do.

I do agree though - the weather is better in Des Moines.

[Tek_Freek]

That makes sense to me seeing as RJ has nothing in common with anyone else on this forum. There is a sort of equilibrium there that balances reasonable discourse with personal discourse. One being on a level with even-headed thinking and one on a level with unreasonable dislike.

[tollfree]

Yes, every other forum member here basically thinks DSM is Shangri-La. Then, one does not. Really isn't that a big deal.

I understand you'd prefer if you guys could corroborate, mention how amazing it is for its size, awesome breweries, best location in the US, is liberal for its size, how it's not too big, or not too small, has the perfect amount of everything, as good of restaurants as NYC, etc.

That's an interesting thing about mid-sized cities, it's 100 of the same drone-like replies. Has to get boring.

[Tek_Freek]

And that post perfectly presents the amazingly skewed view you carry not only about Des Moines, but about other posters and the opinions they hold about Des Moines.

[tollfree]

I fully understand I'm the only one who doesn't think DSM is Shangri-La. I'm ok with that.

[Tek_Freek]

That's the point. None of us do either. We're just more realistic in our opinions about the city and it's environs.

I know you've probably read a couple of my posts concerning DSM and it's problems and the reason we moved to WDM. From those it's very apparent that I am not a huge fan of DSM.

Or do you ignore those because they don't fit in with your perception of me so they're not allowed to enter into the equation.