Anyone from Des Moines?

dss62467

dss62467

Cathlete
I have just been contacted by a recruiter from Des Moines and the job she has sounds very tempting. I currently live in the Buffalo area and am playing around with the idea of relocating. What's the weather like there? How's the cost of living? How are the schools?

What about the people? The only good thing I can say about Buffalo is that it's a very friendly town.
 
Oh, I think it's highly unlikely that I will move. IF I get an interview, and IF I get offered a job, there's still the tiny little obstacle of convincing my husband to move. His whole family is here and he's not as hot on the idea of leaving as I am. Still...the job is a nice increase over what I'm making now....
 
I was born there. I now live in Denver but lived there until I was 12. DON"T DO IT! The weather is yukky. SO humid! I have been back to visit family and all I can say is BORING! No mountains or Ocean and well I just plain hate it! Can you tell :) The people there are nice if that's any help.

Terri :)
 
Well you just took all the excitement out of it.:(

When you say "no mountains", do you mean it's flat? 'Cuz there are no mountains where I am now, but there are hills.
 
Hi! I lived in Des Moines or technically West Des Moines for 3 years. Having grown up in Iowa ( I now live in Colorado) it wasn't that big of a deal to me, but here are some details...

Shopping is pretty good, they just built a new mall in West Des Moines so there are plenty of places to shop. They have a couple of the stadium seating movie theatres which are fairly new. The fine arts stuff is pretty good, they have an awesome art festival in June(?)or early summer that is located over bridges. Quite a few resident artists display their work as well as out of towners. There are bike paths, oh and lots of people are really into cycling due to RAGBRI (The Register's Annual great bike ride across Iowa). The restaurants are pretty good. There are a couple of major health clubs (one is brand new!). As far as the people are concerned, West Des Moines is definitely a little snooty (it's sort of the rich suburb of Des Moines), but there are some really awesome people there too. The weather is typical of the midwest--hot and humid summers, and cold winters with a couple of bone-chilling sub zero weeks in January and February (good for a snow day for the kiddies). You definitely get all of the seasons. There is farmland all around the city, and rolling hills. Iowa State University is perhaps a 30 mile drive from Des Moines and Drake University is located in Des Moines.

Cost of living is not bad, but I think you can do a websearch and there is a site where you can type in your location and compare cost of living to the place you are moving.

Good luck to you! I hope this helps.

Keli
 
Sounds like the weather is about the same as it is here in Buffalo. Probably the snow isn't as bad because Des Moines isn't right on one of the Great Lakes, though.

Thanks for the info! It was helpful.
 
Not from Des Moines, but from a small town in Southern Iowa.

And let me tell you, you won't find a better place to be!

Of course, I was born, raised and continue to life in Iowa and raise my kids here.

Less snow than Buffalo for sure. We talk inches, they talk feet of snow. Yes, it gets very humid here. More than Gulf States because the corn that populates the state actually makes more humidity than the Gulf. Sad but true. But the heat only lasts a short time. The rest of the time it's good.

Forgot to say, there are lots of hills. In fact there is small ski places in the state. I've never been there cause I can't get DH to go, but people I talk to say it's fun. They make their own snow, and do good business in the winter.

Of course, like I said, I'm an Iowan, and I love my state, the good and the bad.
 
Oh that makes me feel better. How are the schools? It looks as though your grammar and spelling are good, so they can't be too bad. LOL.

We actually don't get "feet" of snow that often. But it sure does get cold!!!!! It gets pretty humid here too, but if it's only for the summer I don't care. I can wear my hair back.

We'll see what happens with the job. They may not even contact me for an interview.
 
Donna-
I grew up south of Des Moines, live in Ohio now, but would go back to Iowa in a heartbeat. (Who offered you a job? Maybe I'll apply!!!!) I miss the friendliness of Iowa.
 
No one has OFFERED me a job. I was contacted by a headhunter. I've only just sent her my resume and she's taking it to the employer. I have a lot of what they're looking for, so I'm not sure what's going to happen. Probably nothing, but I just wanted to get an idea of whether it would be something to pursue if they are interested.
 
Schools here are great.

In fact many people I know who have moved away get hired very quickly cause they were "Iowa" trained. Iowa has a reputation of having good schools. For years our ACT scores were the best in the country. I don't know if we are stil no1 but we are still in the top 5 I think.
 
Hi,

I live in Council Bluffs, IA, which is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away from Des Moines, but I have been there several times. It's a very nice place to live and the cost of living in Iowa, or the midwest for that matter, is great!

I agree with all of the above comments about Iowa, it has great colleges and is very hilly, at least compared to Nebraska.

Just wanted to throw in that you would be within a good distance to both Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri, for that "bigger" city lifestyle too.

It's nice to hear there are other members from Iowa...thought maybe I was the only one!

Hope that helps,
Jen
 
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