Sports bars and farmers markets? Please sell Des Moines to me! I'm genuinely curious. Keep in mind I'm 44, not married, and have no kids. I will say I enjoyed living in DM proper more than the suburbs though.
Property taxes in the metro are outrageous and unless you like to drink there is absolutely nothing to do. At least MSP, KC, and Chicago are easy drives. The one thing DM does have is pretty good paying jobs relative to the cost of living.