West Des Moines - #1 Place to start family

**CyinCo** · 06-08-2010, 07:41 AM

I'm in Clive, not West DM. Clive didn't make the list. Clive must be an unacceptable place to raise a family despite WDM being number 1. Interesting.

**HILLCYD** · 06-08-2010, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by superdorf

Here we go with all the DSM haters... How long till the east/south east side gets some flak from this thread?

No one from there can read, let alone get on the internet...that would be a waste of time.....

**azn4cy** · 06-08-2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by CyinCo

I'm in Clive, not West DM. Clive didn't make the list. Clive must be an unacceptable place to raise a family despite WDM being number 1. Interesting.

I'm pretty sure the Des Moines-West Des Moines thing was meant to encompass the entire metro. Note how the others on the list were Provo-Orem, etc.

**dmclone** · 06-08-2010, 09:10 AM

I find it funny that people say WDM is expensive. Only in Iowa would you say $250K for a new 2,000 sqft house, nice yard, 3 car garage, etc be expensive.

**capitalcityguy** · 06-08-2010, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

I find it funny that people say WDM is expensive. Only in Iowa would you say $250K for a new 2,000 sqft house, nice yard, 3 car garage, etc be expensive.

Agreed. There are also reasonable apartments, townhomes, and condo's as well.

**The_Architect** · 06-08-2010, 10:06 AM

WDM ftw!

**dmclone** · 06-08-2010, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by azn4cy

I'm pretty sure the Des Moines-West Des Moines thing was meant to encompass the entire metro. Note how the others on the list were Provo-Orem, etc.

What he said.

**linkshero** · 06-08-2010, 10:28 AM

WDM might be more expensive than Ankeny, but I'm pretty sure relative housing in WDM is still lower than it is in Ames, or IC. The only issue with WDM (Clive, Waukee, Adel, Van Meter) is most growth now is coming nearly 15-20 miles west of Downtown.
When you compare housing in these areas, it is still substantially lower than other areas of the country.

The down side to WDM, and Iowa really, is you have very limited, if no access to large metro areas, Mountains, large lakes, or the ocean. Some people don't care about that type of thing, so for them, it might be ideal.

**cycoOJfan89** · 06-08-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by isucy1234

Opened up yahoo news and saw the Des Moines skyline on the front page... pretty cool.

Looks like WDM was voted as the #1 city to start a family in for 2010.

Article: America's Best Places To Raise A Family 2010 - Yahoo! Real Estate

I love Des Moines and all but the best metro area to raise your family? Really? Des Moines is a series of cookie cutter neighborhoods and chain restaurants. No real identity or character to the city. I guess if you want your children growing up naive and going to school with a bunch of kids of the same social class I guess WDM is the route to go. But we all know it does them zero justice when entering the real world. The only places I would consider letting my children go to school in DM would be either Roosevelt or Lincoln.

I firmly believe I had the best childhood possible and I grew up in the Grande/Bever Ave area (a few blocks from Wellington Heights) in CR. Boy, now that is a neat neighborhood; old money, huge trees, hills and a diverse population. Don't forget if you live there your children goes to the most recognized and best high school in the state. I wouldn't trade it for the world (except the hawkeyes got annoying)

My point is, raising a family in a cookie cutter white collar neighborhood is nice and safe and all but you develop children in an unrealistic representation of life that doesn't prepare them for the real world. Thank God I was raised in SE Cedar Rapids and went to Washington High School.

I don't mean to slam the place, it's really pretty and nice and has an amazing skyline for it's size but it has no culture.

**capitalcityguy** · 06-08-2010, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by cycoOJfan89

I love Des Moines and all but the best metro area to raise your family? Really? Des Moines is a series of cookie cutter neighborhoods and chain restaurants. No real identity or character to the city. I guess if you want your children growing up naive and going to school with a bunch of kids of the same social class I guess WDM is the route to go. But we all know it does them zero justice when entering the real world. The only places I would consider letting my children go to school in DM would be either Roosevelt or Lincoln.

I firmly believe I had the best childhood possible and I grew up in the Grande/Bever Ave area (a few blocks from Wellington Heights) in CR. Boy, now that is a neat neighborhood; old money, huge trees, hills and a diverse population. Don't forget if you live there your children goes to the most recognized and best high school in the state. I wouldn't trade it for the world (except the hawkeyes got annoying)

My point is, raising a family in a cookie cutter white collar neighborhood is nice and safe and all but you develop children in an unrealistic representation of life that doesn't prepare them for the real world. Thank God I was raised in SE Cedar Rapids and went to Washington High School.

I don't mean to slam the place, it's really pretty and nice and has an amazing skyline for it's size but it has no culture.

You've captured Waukee and Ankeny nicely, not Des Moines. Do you know how many chain restaurants are in downtown Des Moines, along Ingersoll, or Beaver Avenues? Me neither, but it is very, very few. ;)

I think your impression of Des Moines is warped by having spent too much time in the western suburbs and not enough in DM proper.

**AntiSnob** · 06-08-2010, 11:38 AM

obviously climate is not part of the criteria if it includes places like Des Moines or Omaha.

**isucy1234** · 06-08-2010, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by cycoOJfan89

I guess if you want your children growing up naive and going to school with a bunch of kids of the same social class I guess WDM is the route to go. But we all know it does them zero justice when entering the real world.

You lost me with this one...

So people that grow up in WDM have no idea what the real world is like? Is that what you are trying to imply?

**capitalcityguy** · 06-08-2010, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by linkshero

The down side to WDM, and Iowa really, is you have very limited, if no access to large metro areas, Mountains, large lakes, or the ocean. Some people don't care about that type of thing, so for them, it might be ideal.

No access to large metro areas? First off, what are we lacking in big city life that would be detrimental to being a great place to "Start a family"? I would say nothing, but would be curious what big void my family should feel not be subjected to the congestion, traffic, and crime of a bigger metro ( note: I'm an urban loving guy so we live in DM proper...not the 'burbs) .

staying on that topic...what do you consider "access"? KC is 3 hours, Minneapolis 4, and Chicago 6. Do you need to be closer for some reasons and if so, for what and why?

Mountains...ocean.....yeah. Give me a good job, nice house, entertainment & cultural options, low crime, etc...and I'll happily wait and visit those things on vacation and later in life when retired.

**isucy1234** · 06-08-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Mountains...ocean.....yeah. Give me a good job, nice house, entertainment & cultural options, low crime, etc...and I'll happily wait and visit those things on vacation and later in life when retired.

Amen, brotha.