- Public SchoolsB-
- Crime & SafetyC
- HousingB-
- NightlifeA-
- Good for FamiliesB+
- DiversityA
- JobsB
- WeatherB-
- Cost of LivingB+
- Health & FitnessB+
- Outdoor ActivitiesB
- CommuteA
Homes for Sale
realtor.com®Real Estate
Median Home Value
$117,800
National
$178,600Median Rent
$754
National
$928Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Residents
Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$46,290
National
$53,889Children
22%
Des Moines Reviews
101 reviews
All Categories
I love Des Moines, Iowa. With the beautiful city scape and river passing on the downtown edge, there is always a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Many of the people you meet are welcoming and helpful, has that small town feel within a city atmosphere. Travel twenty minutes outside of Des Moines and you have beautiful landscapes of farms. I lived downtown for two years and loved every moment, always something to do, eat, or see!
Des Moines is a growing city for young professionals. The downtown area is growing and changing. There are many new loft apartments being built and they even now have a grocery store downtown. There are many things to do in Des Moines including a large farmers market every Saturday from May to September, biking trails and entertainment. Des Moines has multiple cultural events ongoing throughout the year including one of the top art festivals in the country with artists from around the world vying to take part in the weekend long show. Sadly we still are trying to get more popular musicians to include Des Moines in their tours, but are steadily getting bigger names to make stops in our city. Des Moines and the surrounding areas are growing and have been rated best place to raise a family. There is still a small town feel with larger city activities and the city is continually growing and changing.
Lived here whole life. Not much culture unless you make an effort to find it. Most people work 9-5 and take 1 hour to commute everyday to the personality-less suburbs, but if you look at people who are not mainstream, Des Moines can be pretty great.
The city bus and certain districts of downtown with parks, public art and bike trails is what the city prides itself on. (Other than the annual very vegetarian unfriendly Iowa state fair.) City planners are trying to update the downtown area and are doing a great job with projects like the sculpture park, new condos, recycling bins throughout the city, free bus week, free downtown shuttle, skywalk etc but they can't stop the unsustainable suburban growth. Maybe people wouldn't move to the suburbs if the city had a better school district? Because Des Moines has alot going for it.
The city bus and certain districts of downtown with parks, public art and bike trails is what the city prides itself on. (Other than the annual very vegetarian unfriendly Iowa state fair.) City planners are trying to update the downtown area and are doing a great job with projects like the sculpture park, new condos, recycling bins throughout the city, free bus week, free downtown shuttle, skywalk etc but they can't stop the unsustainable suburban growth. Maybe people wouldn't move to the suburbs if the city had a better school district? Because Des Moines has alot going for it.