Moving to Ankeny

**besserheimerphat** · 07-19-2010, 11:00 PM

My family will be moving to Ankeny as soon as our house sells (see sig). I will still be working in Marshalltown and would personally prefer to be on the east side for easier access to Hwy 330. Lots of the houses we're finding are more on the west side, so I'd have to drive (presumably) 15 minutes across town before I could jump on the highwy. Are there any "bad" areas in Ankeny? I assume this is a stupid question and the answer is no, but figured I'd ask since so many here are in the metro area.

Yes I have considered moving to Marshalltown, but only for about 17 seconds. More opportunities for my daughters in Ankeny, and as it stands we drive down to DSM a couple times a month anyway. I already live about 25 minutes NE of Marshalltown, so the increase in commute will not be that much longer than what I'm doing now.

**ShortBus** · 07-19-2010, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

My family will be moving to Ankeny as soon as our house sells (see sig). I will still be working in Marshalltown and would personally prefer to be on the east side for easier access to Hwy 330. Lots of the houses we're finding are more on the west side, so I'd have to drive (presumably) 15 minutes across town before I could jump on the highwy. Are there any "bad" areas in Ankeny? I assume this is a stupid question and the answer is no, but figured I'd ask since so many here are in the metro area.

Yes I have considered moving to Marshalltown, but only for about 17 seconds. More opportunities for my daughters in Ankeny, and as it stands we drive down to DSM a couple times a month anyway. I already live about 25 minutes NE of Marshalltown, so the increase in commute will not be that much longer than what I'm doing now.

There are no bad areas in Ankeny. There are a ton of new homes for sale on the NE side by Otter Creek. Great schools and community to raise a family.

**ajk4st8** · 07-19-2010, 11:32 PM

Im from Gladbrook as well. We have 6 houses on our block for sale on the North side of Ankeny.

47 minutes to Marshalltown

Just over an hour to Gtown.

There are some people that work in Mtown in our neighborhood area.

**Jnecker4cy** · 07-20-2010, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

My family will be moving to Ankeny as soon as our house sells (see sig). I will still be working in Marshalltown and would personally prefer to be on the east side for easier access to Hwy 330. Lots of the houses we're finding are more on the west side, so I'd have to drive (presumably) 15 minutes across town before I could jump on the highwy. Are there any "bad" areas in Ankeny? I assume this is a stupid question and the answer is no, but figured I'd ask since so many here are in the metro area.

Yes I have considered moving to Marshalltown, but only for about 17 seconds. More opportunities for my daughters in Ankeny, and as it stands we drive down to DSM a couple times a month anyway. I already live about 25 minutes NE of Marshalltown, so the increase in commute will not be that much longer than what I'm doing now.

How old are your girls, remember Ankeny will be a two high school system in the near future, so where you move will make a difference in which High School they go to.

**besserheimerphat** · 07-20-2010, 07:25 AM

Right now my oldest daughter is 4-1/2. We will be homeschooling for the forseeable future. That's another bonus for Ankeny - a good homeschool network right in Ankeny and also in DSM. Plus we'd be right in the neighborhood for trips to the zoo, Science Center and Living History Farms.

**besserheimerphat** · 07-20-2010, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

Im from Gladbrook as well. We have 6 houses on our block for sale on the North side of Ankeny.

47 minutes to Marshalltown

Just over an hour to Gtown.

There are some people that work in Mtown in our neighborhood area.

I wouldn't be surprised if I worked with a few of them - there are only a couple companies in Marshalltown that are worth a significant commute in my opinion. In fact, a significant portion of the people that work here live outside Marshalltown - Ames, Ankeny, Grundy Center, Albion, Gladbrook, Nevada, State Center... I knew one guy who commuted from Cedar Rapids every morning

**Sterling4Cy** · 07-20-2010, 07:31 AM

I live in the "Southwest" side of Ankeny, just south of DMAAC. Lots of Developments in the area. Quick access to the interstates.

**flynnhicks03** · 07-20-2010, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by ShortBus

There are no bad areas in Ankeny. There are a ton of new homes for sale on the NE side by Otter Creek. Great schools and community to raise a family.

We just moved to the NE side, right off of Delaware (by Otter). I can go north on Delaware and get on I-35 at the Elkhart exit and be at highway 30 in less than 15 minutes. They are building lots of new houses in this area.

**mj4cy** · 07-20-2010, 07:37 AM

There is a neighborhood on the east side of I-35 near the 1st street exit that is building houses. It's about 35-40 minutes from Marshalltown from that point.

**4VR4CY** · 07-20-2010, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Sterling4Cy

I live in the "Southwest" side of Ankeny, just south of DMAAC. Lots of Developments in the area. Quick access to the interstates.

We live on the SW side just south of DMACC as well. We are between 14th St and 2nd Ave. (or State St. and Ankeny Blvd - but they aren't called that until Oralabor, I think). I used to work at ISU in Ames and it took me under 5 minutes to get to the interstate. I'd take NE 70th to Delaware and it was almost 0 traffic the entire way to the interstate.

We live in the Wildflower development, and there are a few homes for sale, not a lot. There are kids that are around your daughters age and also our old neighbors used to home school. I think there might be 1-2 other families that are going to when their kids are old enough too.

**dmclone** · 07-20-2010, 08:01 AM

I agree with being close to the interstate. This doesn't seem like a big deal until you move somewhere where you're not close.

**JD720** · 07-20-2010, 08:14 AM

I like the NE side too, especially if you are commuting to Marshaltown. There is a pretty large variety of homes in that area, depending on your price range. There are a lot of lots available too if you want to build.

Also, it should be noted that there will be a new I-35 exit being built at NE 36th. The last I heard it was going to start this fall and be done next fall.

**chuckd4735** · 07-20-2010, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Sterling4Cy

I live in the "Southwest" side of Ankeny, just south of DMAAC. Lots of Developments in the area. Quick access to the interstates.

Originally Posted by 4VR4CY

We live on the SW side just south of DMACC as well. We are between 14th St and 2nd Ave. (or State St. and Ankeny Blvd - but they aren't called that until Oralabor, I think). I used to work at ISU in Ames and it took me under 5 minutes to get to the interstate. I'd take NE 70th to Delaware and it was almost 0 traffic the entire way to the interstate.

We live in the Wildflower development, and there are a few homes for sale, not a lot. There are kids that are around your daughters age and also our old neighbors used to home school. I think there might be 1-2 other families that are going to when their kids are old enough too.

I also live on the SW side just south of DMACC! Unfortunately I have nothing to add to this thread...